{"id":5640,"date":"2015-03-26T17:13:29","date_gmt":"2015-03-26T15:13:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/?p=5640"},"modified":"2017-01-04T11:18:12","modified_gmt":"2017-01-04T19:18:12","slug":"discovering-nofilter-milan-with-london-city-airport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/26\/discovering-nofilter-milan-with-london-city-airport\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering #NoFilter Milan with London City Airport"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this month, I was asked to judge London City Airport\u2019s<\/strong> #NoFilter Milan<\/span><\/a> photography competition.<\/p>\n

If you’ve never flown in and out of City Airport…it’s soooo nice, and much more convenient than either Gatwick or Heathrow \u2014 last year when I flew in there I was in the city center less than 30 minutes after we touched down\u00a0which, if you know London, is fast<\/strong>, not to mention cheap with the Tube being right there, and still reasonably priced if you take a taxi.\u00a0The airport is\u00a0mainly for short-haul flights so if you’re originating in Europe somewhere, look to see if you have an option to fly in or out of there.<\/p>\n

But back to the #NoFilter Milan competition.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>This fantastic initiative involved 12 bloggers posting their unedited, unfiltered photographs of the city. As someone who knows how much effort it takes to take pictures, select the best shots, edit them with post-processing tools, and publish them, I do appreciate the luxury of being\u00a0able to take pictures with my iPhone quickly and sharing them immediately (on Instagram<\/a>, for example).\u00a0And why not pop a filter on it to make it stand out?<\/p>\n

Post-processing and filtering images on our phones is\u00a0almost too easy<\/strong>, which is why I love this initiative to post unedited photos of Milan, and to encourage each other to shoot #nofilter as often as possible.\u00a0Being Italy\u2019s business and commerce capital, Milan does not always get swept with the same rustic-charm beauty brush as other classic Italian destinations. You have to pay more attention in Milan to catch its beauty\u00a0and\u00a0its charm, which is\u00a0why I think seeing the city through others’ eyes reminds me, too, that\u00a0there is more to Milan.<\/p>\n

In addition to showing the bloggers’ #NoFilter photos, I thought I’d share a few #NoFilter photos of Milan which I’ve taken, and my tips for taking great #NoFilter shots.\u00a0After my photos, you can see all the participants with one photo from their entry. Click on through to each of their sites to see and read more about #NoFilter Milan!<\/p>\n

Sara, Ms. Adventures in Italy’s #NoFilter Milan<\/strong><\/p>\n

My #NoFilter photo tip:\u00a0<\/b>It’s all about loving & appreciating the light you have, and holding steady on your camera to reduce grain and noise. I actually shared some\u00a0Photography Tips for Better Photos, No Matter What Camera You\u00a0Have<\/a> on my tech\/biz site and they definitely apply for #NoFilter photos!<\/p>\n

One of my favorite views of Milan is inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele – be sure to look up at the dome during the holidays, they usually have a beautiful display. And a slightly filtered version<\/a> here.
\n\"Galleria<\/p>\n

A view of the Bosco verticale, the vertical forest, in one of the newer residential complexes in Milan. The Isola area changed so much since I first moved there, and it’s the only place I ever lived in Milan.
\n\"VerticalForestMilan_MsAdventuresinItalySaraRosso\"<\/p>\n

When the sun shines in Milan, be sure to catch the colors that come out to play.\u00a0And a slightly filtered version<\/a> here.
\n\"MilanShines_MsAdventuresinItalySaraRosso\"<\/p>\n

Participant Gallery<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Here is a selection of some of the best images from London City Airport\u2019s #NoFilter Milan competition, alongside some useful #NoFilter tips and pointers for visiting Milan<\/span><\/a>. Keep scrolling to find out the winner!<\/p>\n

Mariella\u2019s #NoFilter Milan<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Clock<\/p>\n

Mariella\u2019s #NoFilter photo tip<\/b>: \u201cThe key to photographing a city like Milan is to\u00a0chase the light, <\/b>or surfaces that reflect it. Also: Milan is a place full of history, so remember to look up! Look at the balconies, the vaults, you will find\u00a0art everywhere.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Saana’s #NoFilter Milan<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Spinning<\/p>\n

\u201cGalleria Vittorio Emanuele II<\/i> is located at the square [\u2026] According to an old tradition, placing your right heel on the testicles of the bull and spinning around three times will bring good luck and drive away the bad spirits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ally’s #NoFilter Milan<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Museo<\/p>\n

\u201cWe loved the\u00a0Museo\u00a0Del Novecento\u00a0in the Palazzo dell\u2019Arengario which hosts a collection of 20th century art, focusing mainly\u00a0on Italian works. This is probably my favourite photo from Milan. I love the way your eye travels around the photo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ally\u2019s #NoFilter photo tip<\/b>: \u201c<\/b>Great photography is all about having an eye for composition\u2026what is it about the scene in front of you that\u2019s beautiful? Don\u2019t just stick the subject of your photo in the middle\u2026where do you want your audience\u2019s eye to move from and to?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Allane’s #NoFilter Milan<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Top<\/p>\n

\u201cPrevious to my visit to the top of the Duomo di Milano, I had never seen what the city looked like from above. I must say I was impressed by the breathtaking view, and by how different Milan looks from above. Hard to stop staring.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Allane\u2019s #NoFilter photo tip<\/b>: \u201cThe secret? If you don\u2019t naturally have an eye for photography, simply look around, observe and find the right moment. Light and colour, they will help\u2026 a lot. Also, don\u2019t be afraid to try different angles and take as many shots as you can, you never know which one will look better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Menorca’s #NoFilter Milan<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gelato<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat struck me most about Milan was the sheer contrast of people you find in the city. I was mostly expecting to see shopaholics frequenting the luxury\u00a0malls. But, that wasn\u2019t the case. The area around the Duomo was extremely lively, with all sorts of people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Tiana’s #NoFilter Milan<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Castello<\/p>\n

\u201cI love a good stride-by\u00a0shot [\u2026] This shot was taken at Castello Sforzesco. It\u2019s a great open space to take portraits or just architecture shots.\u201d
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Tiana\u2019s #NoFilter photo tip<\/b>: \u201cBe patient and have your subject try multiple versions of stride-bys. I have about five versions of this stride-by.\u201d
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Jenny’s #NoFilter Milan<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Antonio,<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was Antonio’s tiny shoe repair shop that stopped me in my tracks. \u00a0It is no wider than a pair of French doors and I found him sitting in his sunny shop window carefully repairing a pair of beautiful Italian shoes obviously worn down by their owner’s daily\u00a0passeggiata<\/i>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jenny\u2019s #NoFilter photo tip<\/b>: \u201cIf you glimpse someone of interest, stop and ask permission to take a photo. Rarely will someone say no and through the conversation that follows you may discover an interesting story or little snippet of history.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Aurora’s #NoFilter Milan<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Porta<\/p>\n

\u201cThe gates of Porta Nuova were built in 1810 in friable sandstone and after a long period of urban decay, Porta Nuova is transformed in\u00a0one of the most impressive zones in Milan, thanks to the “Progetto Porta Nuova” and innovative modern architecture.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Aurora\u2019s #No Filter photo tip<\/b>: \u201cHistogram\u00a0– It’s a tool that helps us to get a graphical representation of the tonal range in image. A histogram will measure exposure more objectively and it can also describe the amount of contrast in an image. Of course it can’t replace your eyes and your knowledge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Melanie’s #NoFilter Milan<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Red<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/b>It just wouldn\u2019t be a showcase of Milan without an image of a red Vespa scooter \u2013 they\u2019re everywhere in the city! Before capturing this image I played around with the \u2018selective colour\u2019 function on my camera to only capture\u00a0the red \u2013 Absolutely no post-processing (or application of filters) has taken place with this photograph!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Melanie\u2019s #NoFilter photo tip<\/b>: <\/b>\u201cColours are important:\u00a0Grey and dreary photos aren\u2019t very nice, however capturing scenes or objects with a beautiful colour scheme will instantly give you an image worthy of a masterpiece. When you capture perfectly-lit photographs containing vibrant or even soft colours, they won\u2019t require a filter to make them look great!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Heather’s #NoFilter Milan<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Colonne<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Colonne di San Lorenzo, also known as \u201ctheRoman Wall\u201d, dates back to the 5th century. Sitting\u00a0in front of the beautiful Basilica di San Lorenzo, it is a gorgeous slice of life and history in the center of the city.\u00a0This angle is one I usually don\u2019t take, but was trying\u00a0to catch that beautiful rare blue winter sky. I love the details it captured.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Heather\u2019s #NoFilter photo tip<\/b>: Look up! Anytime the sky is blue in Milan it seems like a miracle and I always try to get some of that lovely\u00a0blue in my photos. It\u2019s naturally beautiful and you will also capture details of buildings or other parts of the city that make it special.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jasmine’s #NoFilter Milan<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

I loved the light at play in this image…it was a close second! Lovely photo, Jasmine :)<\/p>\n

\"Galleria<\/p>\n

Jasmine\u2019s #NoFilter photo tip<\/b>: \u201cFocus on something unexpected; when everyone else is taking the typical tourist photo of the building itself, try taking the sign or entrance instead, or even another architectural detail.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Samantha’s #NoFilter Milan<\/b><\/a><\/span> (winning image)<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The winning photo had to be Samantha\u2019s image of the Duomo. Although probably one of the most photographed sites in Milan, she has caught the winter sun on the cathedral\u2019s facade and her image really illustrates the beauty of #NoFilter photography. Coming out of the metro at the Duomo stop is one of my favorite views of Milan<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gothic<\/p>\n

Samantha\u2019s tips for making the most out of Milan:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCLIMB the steps to the top of the Duomo for an incredible view of the city from above. Don\u2019t take the lift if you can avoid it, the steps and the walk to the roof top is a great experience, giving you a chance to get super close to the Gothic spires that makes this cathedral so unique.<\/span><\/p>\n

WALK everywhere. You will stumble across so many more hidden gems, peaceful parks and amazing churches if you wander the city by foot instead of taking the metro or tram.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This contest and my participation in it were sponsored by London City Airport. Opinions are my own.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

See unfiltered Milan through my eyes and the eyes of twelve other bloggers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6365,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[103,2,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-discovering-italy","category-italy","category-milan","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/GalleriaVittorioEmanuele__MsAdventuresinItalySaraRosso-e1427373128678-1.jpg?fit=2448%2C2448&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4uB1-1sY","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":373,"url":"https:\/\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/2007\/07\/27\/sunset-aperitivo-in-venice\/","url_meta":{"origin":5640,"position":0},"title":"Sunset Aperitivo in Venice","author":"Sara, Ms. Adventures in Italy","date":"July 27, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"When my friends came to visit me earlier this month, they had a heck of a time getting here for just a 9-day trip. 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