Bella Bella Italy - We Enjoyed Our Visit So Much!

Italy. The food, the wine, ancient history surrounds you, photo opportunities at every corner. Go in early spring, fall or winter when less are less crowds and tourists and more time for you, your family and friends, and to enjoy!! Here are some photos from our May 2024 trip to Florence, Chianti, Siena, San Gimignano, Cortona, and the Veneto (Venice, Burano, Murano) and more!

Aerial shot of Florence, Italy by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Artistic Cypress Trees line a Tuscan hillside in Chianti by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Sunrise, a Tuscan vineyard, Cortona Italian villages, and the mountains by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Siena’s city hall at high noon where the Palio is an annual event by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Tuscan hill-town San Gimignano by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

San Marco, St. Marks Capenella and the Doges Palace in Venice, Italy by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Island of Burano and painted houses on the canal, near Venice, Italy, by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Murano glass balls, Island of Murano near Venice, Italy by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Gondolier, a gondola, sails on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy, by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Black and white gondola glides through a canal alongside Venetian buildings by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Sunset on the Arno River and some boating activity on the river by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Dancing in front of the San Marco Basilica, Venice, Italy by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

A gondolier in his gondola passes under the Rialto Bridge on the Grand Canal by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Loading up colored bags onto boats on the Bridge of Sighs canal by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

International Hare Krishna dancers in Burano, outside of Venice, Italy, by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Wedding photos at San Marco Basilica, Venice, Italy by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Rich and Jolly taken after wine tasting in Chianti, Italy! Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington.

Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington, info@jollysiendaphotography.com, T: 240-899-5295, Facebook, Instagram, Jolly’s Website

Kotor and Kusadasi Cats and Trieste Lights Warm our Mediterranean Souls by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio

Sailing to Mediterranean ports, 2022 trip, to discover and learn about different cultures and history is what Rich and I love to do. On these trips, I take two camera bodies and three lens, the trilogy: 70 x 200mm, 24 x 70mm, and 16 x 35mm to create and document what we’re seeing and where we’ve been. So, cheers to Kusadasi, Turkey, Kotor Montenegro, and Trieste, Italy!

Kotor, Montenegro is a naturally beautiful place; rugged and very Mediterranean, by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Lights go on at dark on the historic Trieste, Italy buildings by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington.

Vibrant old town Kotor, by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington.

Kotor, Montenegro landscape by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, WA.

Our Lady of the Rocks, Montenegro, by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, WA.

Kotor cat and graffiti by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, WA

Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio located in Bremerton, Washington and offers a wide range of photography services: headshots, portraiture, branding photography, engagements and weddings, commercial photography, real estate photography, fine art photography, travel and photography instruction. Contact Jolly at www.jollysiendaphotography.com, 240-899-5295, info@jollysiendaphotography.com, Google, Facebook, and Instagram.

Oh for the Love of Greece - Hellenic Republic and a lot of Mediterranean Beauty by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio

Ludus is playful flirtatious love, Eros is romantic passionate love, Philia is affectionate friendly love. Greece is all of this and more! On our 2022 Mediterranean trip we visited Greek islands and the mainland of Greece: Kefalonia, Peloponnese, Santorini, Corfu, and Crete. Love the food, colors, landscape, friendly people, and the wine!

Thira or Fira an aerial view, Santorini, Greece by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Lovely seaside old town of Chania, Crete, Greece by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington.

Beautiful red tile and blue dome Greek Orthodox churches, Pelopponnese, Greece, by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio.

Gorgeous interiors of Greek Orthodox cathedrals and churches, Santorini, Thira Cathedral, by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Hiked up for a view of old town Corfu by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio located in Bremerton, Washington and offers a wide range of photography services: headshots, portraiture, branding photography, engagements and weddings, commercial photography, real estate photography, fine art photography, travel and photography instruction. Contact Jolly at www.jollysiendaphotography.com, 240-899-5295, info@jollysiendaphotography.com, Google, Facebook, and Instagram.

Malta is a Mediterranean Jewel - by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio

I remember stories my step-father told me of flying sorties into Malta during WWII. This year, I visited Malta, the island of Gozo and Valletta for the first time and both Rich and I fell in love with the people, food, architecture and the rich culture. Malta gained independence in 1974, and was previously ruled by Romans, Moors, Knights of Saint John, French and the British. With that said Malta has a very rich history.

Entering the walled city of Valletta at midnight on a ship by Jolly Sienda Photography, Bremerton, Washington

Inviting old town square at Rabat outside Valletta, Malta by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Malta is know for its ornate limestone, painted fixtures, and colorful balconies by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington

Walled fortress on the bay in Valletta, Malta by Jolly Sienda Photography, Bremerton, Washington.

Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio located in Bremerton, Washington and offers a wide range of photography services: headshots, portraiture, branding photography, engagements and weddings, commercial photography, real estate photography, fine art photography, travel and photography instruction. Contact Jolly at www.jollysiendaphotography.com, 240-899-5295, info@jollysiendaphotography.com, Google, Facebook, and Instagram.

Travels to the Mediterranean - Featuring Alberobello, Naples, and Sicily by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio

Prego and welcome! Cruising the Mediterranean is a dream, especially in late September and October, shoulder season, and there are fewer tourists, the weather is warm but not too hot and prices are cheaper. Join me for highlights from southern Italy and the island of Sicily!

Cathedral in Palermo is grand! Imagery by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington.

Trulli - Trullo houses in Alberobello, Italy are like something from a fairy tale by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, WA.

Outdoor fruit, vegetable, and food markets are everywhere in southern Italy - Palermo, Sicily market by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, WA.

Mount Vesuvius and Herculaneum Ruins - close to Naples, Italy by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, WA

Beautiful Bay of Naples with Mount Vesuvius by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington.

Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio located in Bremerton, Washington offers a wide range of photography services: headshots, portraiture, branding photography, engagements and weddings, commercial photography, real estate photography, fine art photography, travel and photography instruction. Contact Jolly at www.jollysiendaphotography.com, 240-899-5295, info@jollysiendaphotography.com, Google, Facebook, and Instagram.

Travels in the Mediterranean -- Featuring the Veneto by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio

Travel fills the soul and teaches us so much about other cultures and customs. This year, Rich and I traveled to several Mediterranean countries by airplane, train, van, and cruise ship. Welcome to the Veneto region of Italy!

Gondolas on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Washington.

Arena in Verona, Italy, and a concert is being set up. Photo by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, Wa.

Dante marble sculptures and terra cotta buildings in Verona, Italy by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, WA.

Veneto Italy wine country where Prosecco grapes are grown by Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio, Bremerton, WA.

Jolly Sienda Photography and Studio located in Bremerton, Washington offers a wide range of photography services: headshots, portraiture, branding photography, engagements and weddings, commercial photography, real estate photography, fine art photography, travel and photography instruction. Contact Jolly at www.jollysiendaphotography.com, 240-899-5295, info@jollysiendaphotography.com, Google, Facebook, and Instagram.

Travel Photography - How to Capture the Local Culture of a Place - Be a Story Teller!

When I’m discovering a new place and culture, I am eager to capture, with my camera equipment, how people live and something unique about the place. I enjoy watching people and walking the streets. I look for color, every day lifestyle, movement, and dogs and cats. I take photos using different light sources and angles. To protect my knees, I wear knee-pads, so I can get down low to photograph my subject without pain. No matter where I am, I am always looking for a story to document in my photographs. I believe if you start to think about telling a story with your photographs, you will see improvement in your photos too. Here are some photos from our recent trip to Patagonia (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands). Enjoy!

When your shooting - using a natural frame, like the tree limb adds something of interest to the photograph. The Coca-cola photo is nice; however having the lady selling her vegetables and the bike adds even more interest an authenticity to the image. And, when you are photographing indoors with flash remember to turn up the ISO on your camera. The photo on the left is a graffiti image of Pedro Bonifacio Palacios, an Argentine poet; iconic Coca-Cola signage and local lifestyle, and the dome of Santera Cathedral in Montevideo, Uruguay.

San Telmo, Argentina architecture, graffiti, and basketball courts and hoops

Collectable stuffed animals at the Sunday San Telmo collectable and antiques market, San Telmo, Argentina

What makes this photo work is the dogs in the picture.

Graffiti wall, Montevideo, Uruguay

Lady in red walks past an art mural, Montevideo, Uruguay

Dog and a sunbather at Floralis Generica, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Cooking steaks in Argentina. Did you know, people in Argentina eat more meat and steaks than anywhere in the world? We thought the steaks were delicious!

What to become a better photographer? Jolly Sienda Photography offers private one-one lessons. Contact Jolly at info@jollysiendaphotography.com.