La Strada del'Amore

If one were to write a script about an idyllic day about a man with his wife in Italy, today we lived that script. A morning of museum jaunts, a lunch which lasted well into the late afternoon and then a leisurely drive to the lake-district north of Milan.

The sun was only visible if you count its ability to illuminate clouds that refused to let the ground out of arm's reach. The low hanging clouds and the moody light lent a magical sheen to a region already dripping with drama. This day was defined by light that defied dimension but it was a day that will be measured by long lasting and loving memories.

Our favorite dining establishment in Milan, Ristorante Al Mercante, punctuated the middle of our day. The food, the service, the ambience are each astounding. And just outside of the restaurant is the intriguing portico that for centuries housed the main open-air market of Milan. 150 years ago, it was a bustling place of commerce from morning until night. It is used infrequently these days as a market but, today, it seemed to be lover's lane.

I decided to leave the big camera in the hotel today so this was shot with the pocket kit and, as such, I needed to crank the ISO to ridiculous levels to counteract the severely muted light of the day. And, while I am not one entirely comfortable with post processing, I tried to finish this image in the spirit of Robert Doisneau. His grainy and moody romantic images have always been a favorite of mine. As I said, I tried......