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This is the blog of Steve Burkett of Italy, Our Italy

A Plethora of Transformations

Index of Articles

Garnering a Sense of Accomplishment

Have you ever looked back at something that you had accomplished and thought, “I can’t believe I did that!”? Maybe it was preparing a particularly complicated Italian dish. Perhaps it was a feat of strength or endurance that you had thought to be beyond your abilities. Or, you painted a masterpiece that you had no idea was within you. Or, even more daring, perhaps you took a huge leap of faith, moved to Italy, and created a fabulous wine empire…right?

“I was recently looking over my transformations, and I thought, ‘Wow! I did that!’.”

Whatever it might be, there is often something that stretches you beyond your comfort zone to do that which, when accomplished, gives you a sense of pride. And with that pride, you have a sense of satisfaction and even awe that you did it.

Transformations Generated Thus Far

Today, I want to share with you my own recent sense of accomplishment. One that encourages me to keep going with my photography. You’ve seen the various transformations that I’ve performed over the past 6 years. I was recently looking over those transformations, and I thought, ‘Wow! I did that!’. And, as I looked back, I was a bit self-impressed in what I had done. So, I thought I’d just share with you a retrospective of transformations.

Below, I give you both the very raw snapshot with which I started, as well as the completed photo . And as usual, you can click on any image to get a larger view. Each subject is presented from oldest published, to the more recent publications. And, if you want to know more about the circumstance surrounding a photograph, just click on the dated title of the transformation (and you can access all of the transformations from the Index of Articles).

Enjoy.

June 16, 2015 — Serendipity, Stakeouts & Targeting - Part 2

A transformation by assembling a composite of various elements.

September 1, 2015 — Transforming the Copse

One original with three variations of transformation.

September 15, 2015 — Transforming the Pieta

Simply transforming a snapshot of a glass-encased masterpiece, complete with reflections.

October 6, 2015 — Transforming the Bee Fountain

The subject: a 17th century street-side sculpture by Bernini.

October 13, 2015 — Securing Your Haven

This door has a plethora of locking mechanisms installed.

October 27, 2015 — Transforming L’Uomo Della Pizza

Just what is that pizza man thinking?

November 3, 2015 — Transforming A Sunken Door

Seems to be an ill-conceived doorway, just welcoming high water in Venice to enter the premises.

November 30, 2015 — Transforming the Cathedral of San Andreas

What does this church in Amalfi, with its breathtaking mosaic front, have to do with Scotland?

February 9, 2016 — Transforming the Punta della Dogana

This is the point where the Grand Canal of Venice joins the Bacino San Marco (St Mark’s Basin), with Santa Maria della Salute sitting proud.

March 1, 2016 — Transforming the Pozzi

Many years ago, these water wells were Venice’s source of fresh drinking water, collected during rainfalls.

March 8, 2016 — Transforming a Blue Boat

A blue boat with modern motor and an unbalance scene due to a single balcony…all resolved.

March 29, 2016 — Iron-Bar Windows

Each of the windows along three sides of the campo-level of this building has a uniquely patterned iron-barred window. I’ve compiled them into on collage.

August 30, 2016 — Rome Tunnel Composite

I saw the car on a street and envisioned putting it into a Roman tunnel. Done!

January 24, 2017 — Transforming a Corte

Yes, the basketball hoop was there…no, the basketball wasn’t.

February 25, 2020 — Transforming an Abandoned Water Gate

I removed a gondola, and inserted a gondola.

March 17, 2020 — Transforming a Venetian Glassblower’s Door

Gas lines abound in this Murano-based glass factory.

March 31, 2020 — Transforming the Courtyard of the Blacksmith

A very small portion of the original photo is featured in this Murano canal-side scene.

August 25, 2020 — Transforming with a Flip-Flop

I envisioned symmetry…I got symmetry.

September 29, 2020 — A Transformation with Substantial Alteration

This was delicate work, as the brickwork was crumbling before my very eyes.

February 2, 2021 — A Promised Transformation

We saw this door desperately needing transformation on our quiet walk through Dorsoduro, remember?

March 9, 2021 — Head On!

Like the very first transformation above, here is a composite of separate images.

April 6, 2021 — Haiku on a Blue Door

Thanks to Connie for the Haiku, which inspired publication of this transformation.

May 11, 2021 — Lamplight on a Blue Door

A lonely, unplugged lamp just sitting/standing there, wanting to cast its light.

I hope that you enjoyed seeing the retrospective of transformations that I’ve published to date. Rest assured that more are on the way and that a future retrospective will be in the offing.

Ciao for now.

Steve

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Transformation x 2

Just a couple of transformations today, as I’ve bene busy shoveling snow! Someone has to do it…right?

Trasformazione Uno

For this first transformation we go from a really blah snapshot of a door on a slightly inclined street, to something much more appealing. So, let’s get started.

Here’s that blah snapshot. I wasn’t wrong about the blahness, was I? I’m glad you agree.

As usual, I want to get rid of modern distractions, like the plumbing and its tarnishment, the address plaque, and that vestige of graffiti to the right of the door.

Now that it’s cleaned up a bit, it’s time to work on the color. I’ll work on the plaster by giving it a bit of old-world patina.

And as you know, I just have to do something with that humdrum door. So, here is the final image. Better, huh?

Trasformazione Due

Ouch! Why did I even bother to capture this image?! I guess that I thought I could do something with it back home, so I might as well give it a try.

Such a clutter of ‘stuff’ to resolve, like the address plaques, mail slots, doorbell ringers, chotskies, etc. So, here goes.

Here I am back after a bit of clutter removal. I’ll give the door a bit of color while I’m at it…I’m not happy with that dark green. Now that reflection behind the iron work has to go.

Reflection done and gone.

I’m ready to give the plaster some of that patina that I like so much.

And, for the final product, I’m going to brighten up that door so that the photo will look better on our wall.

There you have it. Two quick transformations in one sitting. Now I’m going out to shovel a bit more snow. I’ll be back next week with more on our favorite place…Italy, Our Italy.

Ciao for now,

Steve

Major Renovation

I recently completed a major renovation. 'At your home?', you ask. 'No', I say, 'it's another remodel in Venice.'

“As you probably know by now, I don’t want to present today’s Venice to you, but one from several centuries ago. So...with tools in hand, I begin the renovation.”

 

That's the subject of today's article...another Italian door transformation, but this one, a major renovation. See what I mean below.

Below is the original snapshot that I captured in Venice in 2012. As we find in many renovations, there was a lot that I didn't like when I saw this door, but I also saw some potential.

The original snapshot showing the renovation job ahead of me.

Here is what I didn't like about the scene as it appeared before me. I felt that the symmetry was ruined by the sliver of canal on the right. Does that drainpipe and bit of window on the left add to the architects vision? I don't think so. 

As you probably know by now, I don't want to present today's Venice to you, but one from several centuries ago. So, the six apartment ringers on the left and the one on the right need to go. With tools in hand, I begin the renovation.

The canal demolition was easy...with crop tool in hand, all I had to do was chip away a bit at the right side of the image. 

I removed the ringer at the right and then patched the hole that was left. Ditto the set of six ringers on the left...but it took a bit more plaster to complete that job.

That pesky drainpipe was a problem. As was the short half pillar. And then there is that bit of wall with window. But, as they say in Italy, "Nessun problema!"

With the proper tools, I was able to cut out the drain pipe, form up and cast the short pillar, and I even though I'm not a stone mason, I had the skills to do some repair to the stone pavement. I'm beginning to see that this job is not insurmountable. 

So, below is the current status of my renovation. 

Here is the current status of this renovation 

Now, this is more of what I had envisioned when I saw the scene before me. Things are beginning to take shape.

There is still a bit more to do, though.

I think that only a designer with a skilled eye can see the changes wrought below, which mainly constitute applying a bit of darkened patina to the plaster work.

But, you with your skilled eye can, I'm sure, see that I've missed a significant element in my renovation work. Yes, it's the mail slot! That mail slot has to go...and it did. Don't bother to look around in nearby trash bins, as I've hidden it away where the residents won't be able to find it!

But, after I got rid of the mail slot, I felt that the huge knocker on the right sat lonely. I went to my catalogs and was able to find a duplicate, which I duly ordered and then installed on the door on the left. Better...I find the two big knockers to be satisfying.

Oh, I then called in an un-locksmith to un-install the modern lock. Gone.

And then as most renovations end, I went through paint chips so that I could apply a fresh coat of paint to the doors. The basic color was the same as the original doors, but I selected a more saturated blue, with just a bit more white in it to lighten the color.

That's it for this week. A complete renovation of a Venetian door. This one fairly dramatic with the removal of that wall et al on the left...and the complete removal of a Venetian canal.

Those knockers remind me of a knock-knock joke. Here it is. I'll leave it to you to start it off -- go ahead:

  • You: 'Knock-knock'
  • Me: 'Who's there?'
  • You: 'Uhhhh....'
  • Me: [I'm laughing uproariously] 

 

Ciao for now,

Steve

The Venice That Isn’t There

If you've taken a look at my Ancient Venetian Doors collection, what you see is a Venice that doesn't really exist. 

What you see in the door photo below isn’t exactly what you would see walking the streets of Venice today.  What I create for you is the door you would see if you were walking the streets of Venice 600 years ago.

I spend hours removing electrical conduits, mail slots, bells, and any other items that contradict the feeling that you are in the Venice of yesterday – which is just where I want you to be.

You can see the difference in the ‘before’ photo below.  That’s the year 1415 above, and the year 2015 below. It’s the same door, it’s the same surrounding brick, stone and plaster – it’s just a different time.

Now here is another example of the classic Venetian door of yesteryear. 

While below is the door of today – laden with ringers and extraneous piping.  This is the Venice that I don’t want you to imagine in your dreams.  It’s not the more romantic Venice of a time gone by when electricity was not even an imagined concept.

Finally, the example below finds us passing a more modest door – this one not an entrance to a canal-side palazzo, but a more humble abode.  No matter the stature of the residence, I believe in presenting the entrance in a more generous light…giving it the best chance of a days-gone-by charm – just for you.

Notice that I’ve taken the liberty of moving the early peacock-themed plaque from above the wall  to the place where a window used to be.  We’ve moved from an entrance with very little charm, to one loaded with charm. This takes us from a blot on the conscientiousness to an agreeable memory.

Whether in Venice or any other Italian town, I just can't pass up a door or window without stopping to take a photo.  Sometimes I really have to stretch my imagination to visualize a dramatic improvement from what is before me.  But, this transformational process is what fuels my passion for processing my photos.

Each of the ‘Ancient Venetian Doors’ on the website illustrates how I am dedicated to bringing you a fine-art photographic memento of your dreams of Venice…your dreams of walking through Venice in a different time…your dreams of love and romance in a timeless city in a magical lagoon within a by-gone world. I hope you don't mind!

 

Ciao for Now!

p.s. Feel free to comment below

 

 

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