You wouldn't read about it /  by Mario Mirabile

Libreria Alta Acqua may not be the oddest bookshop in the world, but it's probably up there. It's almost certainly the oddest bookstore in Venice. Tucked away on a hard to find back street, it's well worth looking out if you're in the area. The jovial owner sits perched at the register greeting and chatting with each potential customer as they enter. If you're lucky one of the resident cats will be there to greet you as well. It sells a huge and eclectic variety of books, mostly, but by no means all, in Italian.

What makes it odd? Well, where do I start. Perhaps it's the gondola full of reading material which runs most of the length of the main room, but this is Venice after all. Perhaps it's the bathtubs full of books scattered here and there - very handy in case of flood I suppose, as would be the gondola. Perhaps it's their way of sorting books by tossing them into unreachable locations on top of already teetering piles, cursing, then tossing them back till they stick if they dare to fall (all the while with a cigarette dangling from the corner of your mouth). Perhaps it's the staircase constructed of old and weighty tomes in the courtyard which customers are encouraged to climb so they can admire the canal on the other side of the wall (can you imagine the health and safety issues this would raise in Australia????). Perhaps it's a bit of all of it. You wouldn't read about it - but you just did.

P.S  I found out today that I should have checked out the book sorter's interesting collection of erotica. Sadly, I'm now on the other side of the country and not likely to return soon.

The locals /  by Mario Mirabile

Venice is a fascinating place to visit, but I doubt I could live here. Most people who work in Venice live in the surrounding areas and commute in by train or bus - there are no cars or bikes anywhere. But people do live here - some 60,000 of them. Private residences are scattered throughout the city, even in the most touristy areas. Like any other community, it has schools, supermarkets, corner shops, public transport and the odd church or two (well, 139 according to Google). 

I can't imagine what it what it would be like to open my front door and gaze into the passing hordes of tourists, not to mention the odd annoying photographer. But people seem to cope, and I've yet to witness any aggravation against the blow-ins. They go about their business, walk their dogs, have earnest conversations (they always seem earnest - perhaps it's all the hand gestures) in loud voices, sit and contemplate life and the children play street soccer against a backdrop of medieval buildings. The dogs surprised me somewhat. For no particularly good reason I was surprised to see so many of them here. The other thing that I couldn't work out for a while was why it it seemed so strange to see people using their mobile phones. It finally struck me that that they were talking on them. Only the tourists text here. I suppose you can't gesture while you're texting.

Back streets /  by Mario Mirabile

If you see a picture postcard view of a Venetian canal, it will almost certainly certainly be of the Grand Canal. That's as it should be, the Grand Canal has its charms and runs through the heart of Venice. It's busy, bustling and lined with major attractions. And with tourists. Tourists in hordes,  along with everything that goes along with them. Burger King, genuine Chinese made Venetian souvenirs, touts, pickpockets - the list goes on.

But wander only 50 metres or so from the Grand Canal and the true charm of Venice is revealed. There are locals wandering around seeing to their business, shops and cafes are smaller and less crowded, the coffee and food cheaper and better. The canals are not nearly so grand, but without the ceaseless churn of ferries, water taxis and gondolas, they appear more or less what they are. Local back streets.

Landed /  by Mario Mirabile

Well,we've arrived in Venice (a couple of days ago actually...). The flight was uneventful and as tedious as any 24 hour international flight can be. I've seen so many images of Venice, but didn't really know what to expect or how I'd react. As it turns out, I continue to be charmed and amazed every time I walk round a corner, particularly away from the main tourist drawcards.

Although we're yet to see the sun and the light is very flat, I've been snapping away happily. I haven't had any downtime to speak of till now (it's raining) to have a good look at what I've been capturing, but I did promise you a picture of a gondola to prove we've arrived, so here it is. The second picture is from the end of our "street" - our accommodation is down the end on the right. And, just in case a gondola doesn't float your boat, how about a gondolier?

P.S. If the pictures look a bit funny, it's because I'm editing them on my laptop, which must have one of the worst screens known to man.

Taking flight /  by Mario Mirabile

The male Superb Fairywren is glorious bird in its breeding plumage. Unless you're very lucky, they're hard to get close to, prone to taking flight at any moment.

Like them, I'll be taking flight in a couple of days (I know, I know, a terrible segue....). - I'm off to Italy and Ireland with Trish. We'll be gone 5 weeks, but don't despair, I hope to be posting regularly while we're away. We'll be arriving in Venice,  where we'll be spending the first few days.  I'll post a picture of a gondola so you'll know we've arrived.

Military memories /  by Mario Mirabile

April 25th, Anzac Day, is the day when Australia commemorates those who served in conflict. It’s a day which has not always been without controversy. Through the 60s and 70s, during the height of opposition to the Vietnam War, there was a widespread perception that it glorified war. That view has largely waned, and it is now seen more as a celebration of national identity as well as a way to remember and honor those who fell and those who returned.

However you feel about Anzac Day, those who fought the battles were everyday men and women. They lived and loved like any other, and given a choice between being at home or being at war, few would choose war. For those who returned, Anzac day is a chance to reconnect with those who shared the experience, to remember the good times and the bad, and be glad they found their way home.

Sally sings /  by Mario Mirabile

5:30 Pm on a Thursday - the height of the commuter rush hour for Flinders Street station. Quite a good time to ply your trade as a busker you'd think, but Sally Chatfield had drawn only a small, albeit appreciative audience. Perhaps rushing to get on a train and get home to put your feet up or get dinner for the family was more on most peoples mind. But those who did stop to listen to Sally accompanied by Millie Tizzard were treated to an outstanding performance.

Sally, who wowed the audience on the X-Factor a few years back, has a sensational voice and real presence. She deserves a bigger stage and audience. So next time you're rushing to catch a train, stop and take the time to listen and appreciate if Sally and Millie are strutting their stuff. You'll be well rewarded, and there'll be another train in a few minutes.

Arcade art /  by Mario Mirabile

The Block Arcade off Collins Street is probably the most classically elegant of Melbourne's many heritage shopping arcades. Richly decorated with mosaics, wrought iron and sculptures, it houses many elegant and extravagant shops, including the fabled Hopetoun Tea Rooms. 

The owners are also patrons of the arts. A while back, I photographed the lovely Camille Hermans as she performed sublime operatic arias. Last week it was the supremely skilled Lewis Brownlie, who was in the process of drawing the arcade. Given the intricate detail of the surrounds, I imagine it's a difficult task under any circumstances. But when your canvas is a couple of metres wide, the task becomes as much a test of patience as of artistic skill. Lucas was four days into his opus when I had a chat with him, and not yet half done. I haven't been back to check on his progress for a few days, but he may well still be at it.

Scooting around /  by Mario Mirabile

Variations on the motor scooter have been around for more than a century. The step-through design and relaxed riding position set them apart from other motor cycles. They became a more popular mode of transport following WWII when the Italians introduced the Vespa and Lambretta. With typical Italian flair, they rapidly evolved to be more than just a utilitarian mode of transport. They became imbued with a sense of style and glamour, wonderfully portrayed in the 1953 movie Roman Holiday, where Gregory Peck squires Audrey Hepburn around Rome on a Vespa.

Cheap to buy and run, they remain essential an element of transport infrastructure in some parts of the world. Not so in Melbourne. A small number are used for regular getting around and commuting, but quite a few also form stylish props for cafes and fashion houses. Like vintage fashion, they just refuse to go out of style.

Going up, going down /  by Mario Mirabile

I must be getting harder to please, or at least more critical of my own work. I look at pictures which I took two or three years ago and I wonder what I was thinking sharing them online. Pictures which I would have happily posted then are now relegated to the dusty back rooms of my Lightroom catalogue, never to see the light of day. I guess it has something to do with an imagined need to achieve some sort of perfection, and anything which doesn't constitute a step in that direction is unworthy to be shared. This is, of course, pure nonsense, but I still need to convince myself of that.

With that in mind, I present two images for your consideration. One, I feel, meets the necessary criteria for publication, the other I'm not so sure about. I'll leave it for you to decide which is which.

Write on /  by Mario Mirabile

I have written in the past about my fascination with fountain pens. There's something about their essential simplicity coupled with their elegance of form that appeals to me on many levels. The fact that something made 80 years ago as an everyday use item can, with just a little bit of maintenance and TLC, still function as well as the day it was originally sold also gets me going. It also doesn't hurt that they come in a bewildering array of jewel-like colours, and often with a little bit of gold which is both decorative and functional. But, these are not just collectibles as far as I'm concerned - they all get filled with ink and put to work writing from time to time.

I had a little project in mind over the weekend. I pulled out a few of my more attractive pens and set to work arranging them in a variety of ways. It's not as simple or easy as you might think, and I've come away with renewed respect for product photographers. I think I've got the look I was after in the second shot - something dark and moody, The first has all together too much bling. on display., but I'm certainly not going to complain about that. After all, unlike most bling, it's quite useful.

(A belated) happy new year /  by Mario Mirabile

I've been busy with a couple of photography projects in recent weeks, so I just haven't found the time to blog. One was something I always said I'd never do - a wedding. I feel like I got away with it (only just though), but it's reinforced that it's just not the sort of pressurized photography that appeals to me. It also deepens my respect for those who do it for a living, and do it well. The other was preparing for an introductory course I'm part of delivering through my club. If you live anywhere near Murrumbeena in Melbourne and would like a grounding in photography, feel free to contact me.

I've caught up now, which had me breathing a huge sigh of relief. In any case, I did find time last week to drop in and see the Lunar New Year display at the casino. It's the year of the monkey, but the casino put up a display featuring all twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. For mine, I'd say go with the dragon every year, it's certainly the most spectacular of the mythical beasts. But it was the monkey's turn to hold pride of place at the top of the grand staircase, so a  (belated) Happy (Lunar) New Year to you all, you cheeky monkeys.