Cell Phone Photograhy

Who takes this kind of photography seriously?
I don't know, sometimes I feel sort of ashamed admitting how much joy I get from photographing with my cell phone. I like the convenience, I like that it doesn't require me carrying my camera because after all, after that experience in Como, Italy of dropping my camera, I am even more afraid to carry it around too much. Besides, it seems that electronics and I don't seem to get along too well.
Don't even get me started about my last year with cell phones. In 2010 have gone through four phones, one iphone and three blackberries. I am over expensive cell phones. It appears I am not responsible enough to own an expensive cell phone so I caved in and got a simple phone. Unfortunately, there is a price to pay, my new cell phone only has 2 mega pixels. I didn't think about this fact, after all my second calling in life is cell phone photography. Oh well, such is life.
So in honor of the cell phone images I have taken in the past, I decided to share some of my favorite ones from my trip in Europe this summer. Besides I am suffering from wanderlust but hey, what else is new?

 London, England

Beveren, Belgium

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: My friend Siemen, who I met in California summer 2009.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: My wonderful Greek friend George that I met while in Holland.

Den Haag, The Netherlands

Den Haag, The Netherlands

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: My Dutch sister Joanna aka Juanita

Paris, France (do I really even need to label this?)

Paris, France

Florence, Italy: The best breakfast in all the world, cornetto and cappuccino.

Perugia, Italy: Umbria Jazz Festival. The band playing is Libbico and the Almost Blues.

Perugia, Italy

Perugia, Italy

Loro Ciuffenna, Italy: The studio of the amazing artist Venturino Venturi.

Chianti, Italy

Chianti, Italy

Milan, Italy

Como, Italy

Como, Italy

Barcelona, Spain: Casa Mila

Barcelona, Spain: La Sagrada Familia

Barcelona, Spain: Parc Guëll

Barcelona, Spain: Parc Guëll

Barcelona, Spain: Parc Guëll

Barcelona, Spain: ME!

Italia: Castelfranco di Sopra, Siena, and Firenze

Ok, so if you think it's bad that I only took a few photos in Amsterdam, you are going to be disappointed with the results in these three beautiful cities. Castelfranco di Sopra was not exactly the village I was staying in while I was in Toscana but it was pretty darn close. I have to say that the countryside in Italy was absolutely relaxing and the village of Castelfranco di Sopra was exactly was I always imagined a tiny Italian village to be like. Thank you to my friend Andrea, who allowed me to stay at his vacation rental there. I loved exploring this provincial landscape and it was a great opportunity for me to speak Italian because no one in this village knew how to speak English (at least who I spoke to). 

Lucky for me, Andrea was my tour guide in Siena and Firenze. In Siena, I learned a little about its history and the famous horse races that take place each summer. When we got there it was night time and I didn't have a tripod :( but I still think you can see the beauty of the architecture of Piazza del Campo. In Firenze (Florence to us in the English speaking world), I visited the Uffizi which has some the most famous Italian Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque pieces. I got to see my favorite paintings, Primavera and The Birth of Venus, from my favorite Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli. I also visited Galleria dell'Accademia where I finally saw the real statue of David by Michelangelo. Yes, Firenze is filled with art! I finally got to see all those infamous works of art that I have learned about in my art history courses.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see everything I wanted to see but I figure it's ok because something tells me that it will certainly not be the last time I am in Toscana. I hope you enjoy the few photos I have of this beautiful region.

I love these random religious figurines located along the road.

An old abandoned elementary school building

Piazza del Campo

Andrea

Firenze

I thought this was so cute and I had to photograph it. It says, "Genio, I really hope that one day I can show you this dedication...and we can laugh about it...together."