You don’t have to search for too long after arriving in Florence to be greeted with endless photographic opportunities with engaging subjects, compositions, and surroundings. Whether street photography or travel photography is your thing, there is plenty on offer in Florence. The city is renowned for its history and architecture. It draws millions yearly, and numerous landmarks and exciting areas are located here, including Florence Cathedral, Ponte Vecchio, and the Uffizi Gallery.

In this post, I'll highlight some of my photos and discuss what I feel makes them enjoyable and engaging.

Photo 1 - Kiss

This photo was taken at Piazza della Repubblica. I was in this area for a while, trying to find some interesting compositions in the late afternoon light. This photo is relatively simple in composition, but I consider a few aspects to elevate the impact of the photo. First is the moment, an affectionate one that passed in seconds. The kiss alone is enough to tell a story, but I think the shadows are a significant addition to the impact of the photo. In the lower left is my shadow, and to the right, an unknown person’s shadow near the bottom center points toward the subjects. I often avoid my shadow in compositions, but lately, I’ve been embracing its addition.

As this is a photo of love and connection, my addition as an onlooker adds a sense of placement. That may seem unnecessary, as capturing this photo is evidence enough of being there. It feels like two people finally arriving in Florence after years of dreaming and waiting, and I was there to capture this moment. I could be looking too far into this; however, I would like to believe that this was a special moment for them. I wonder what the real story is.

Photos 2 and 3 - Duomo and Morning Light

Starting with the first photo, I hope that one aspect stands out immediately: the vertical split. I was positioned to get the sun peeking around the Florence Cathedral, and the height of the cathedral and the continuation of the shadow below created a split in the composition. I’ve tried to visualize this photo without any people in the frame to see if it would work better, but I don’t think it would. This photo is a JPEG image; I think the colours are right here. I remember this being my last morning in Florence, which was forecast to be sunny, and I spent a considerable amount of time enjoying this last stunning morning.

The third photo was taken in the usually lively area of Florence, Loggia dei Lanzi. At peak time, this gallery is filled with people. Fortunately, I had arrived early in the morning, and the area was still manageable. Sunlight shifts quickly, and I was hoping someone would step into the light, but I thought it would take some time for someone to position themselves for the composition I was looking for. After a few moments, the employee overseeing things that morning walked into the scene exactly where I wanted; she was retrieving a newspaper that someone had left there. In addition, I enjoyed how I captured her as she looked toward the light.

Photos 4, 5, and 6 - Black and White at Piazzale Michelangelo

These images were taken at Piazzale Michelangelo on my first day in Florence. I will discuss the following three photos as they work well as a short series. I converted these images to black and white as I felt that colour added nothing to their effectiveness and distracted from the individuals' actions.

The location at Piazzale Michelangelo has some of the best views of Florence, overseeing the Florence Cathedral and the Ponte Vecchio. Because of the stunning views, people sit on the stairs, listen to live music, people watch, and generally enjoy their time there. It’s a beautiful place that anyone visiting Florence needs to see. If you are fortunate enough to be there around sunset, all the better.

Are these three photos technically perfect or special? Not at all. They symbolize the enjoyment and awe of the view before them, and I always think it’s interesting to wonder about the intersecting lives of everyone involved. Chances are, the people pictured are primarily tourists and, as a result, are from all over the world. I think it’s fascinating that all these people cross for the first and last time and eventually return to their corner of the world. Is that a bit deep for three black-and-white photos of random people? It could be, but to me, there is a story here.

Photo 7 - Reflection

This vantage point is looking down upon the Arno River. Panning to the right, the Ponte Vecchio would be visible. The water was relatively calm at this time of the day. What I like about this photo is the division of foreground and background, with the boat as the central focus. The location is not immediately identifiable as it reflects the structures along the Arno, and the vibrance of the foliage in the foreground contrasted with the sky reflected is also a pleasant addition. I might have passed on this photo during post-processing if there had been more cloud coverage, as it would have resulted in less clear skies, which could have made the photo too busy with a loss of focus.

Conclusion

It’s enjoyable to look back on photos and discuss the intentions behind them, but also the pleasant surprises. When you travel and enjoy a place, it’s easy to get caught up in your current experience and the rush of travel. It’s essential to take the time away to look at what’s in front of us. Embrace what you are experiencing because you never know when or if you will return. Appreciate that moment for everything it is.