The weather experience: Milan sightseeing turned into an amazing adventure.
I’ve been in Pavia, Italy, cat-sitting for a friend. Pavia sits amongst paddy fields and the humidity is crazy, temps reaching 44C. It’s not far from Milan so I took a day trip in to the city for some sightseeing and a cool down, although I might later regret that idea.
Having dodged the crowds in the centre I was roaming the suburbs for ice cream and coffee after a great vegan cafe lunch.
During the afternoon the sky turned pink and then something I’ve never seen before, green! Realising it was likely about to rain I started to move towards shelter.
The light change was sudden; mid afternoon turned to night time in minutes. Without warning a super strong wind hit followed by a storm with ferocity I’ve never before witnessed; the thunder a constant rumble, the lightning like a pack of paparazzi flash guns, non-stop fireworks.
And then came the rain.
Horizontally.
With the wind that meant shelter around a buildings corner was better than overhead.
The streets became fast flowing rivers, ankle deep everywhere. No place avoided some element of the storms power.
After an hour or so it passed. Leaving a post apocalyptic stillness. Zero, wind, rain or noise apart from a distant alarm. The last of the light colouring the city in an unreal pink hue.
Completely soaked to the skin but
I loved every bit of it!
About the photography: Background story and geekery corner.
Hope you enjoyed the story, thought Id add some background context and something for the nerds.
I had taken my camera with me to Milan expecting to do some street photography. I wasn’t in the central tourist area for more than 10 minutes before I had to get the hell out of dodge, definitely not my scene. Wondering the back streets I discovered that Milan, like Pavia, is also a ghost town in August. One because everyone goes away on holiday and two, the ones that are left stay indoors away from the overwhelming daytime heat.
I hadn’t managed to get many photos of people and actually put my camera away to observe the cities unusual modern architecture as I wandered and wondered.
The darkening sky was interesting, but not photo worthy, then when it turned green, that was new for me, I had to get the camera out. It was mainly the crazy ambient light colour that interested me. I don’t know if I like this as a public post yet, but I liked it!
As the rain became crazy heavy and the wind quite scary I put my camera away so my hands were free to assist others and steady myself. I used my phone for the two shots of the cars and in the edit I’ve tried to soften the over sharpened computational photograph look that phone photos can sometimes have.
The camera is the A7R3 and the lens the Sony Zeiss 35/2.8. I love this set up for street and travel photos, so small yet so powerful. I don’t need the novel gadgets of the later released cameras and may even buy another A7R3 if this one goes caput. But I doubt it. I still have the R2 and sometimes take that instead. The phone is the Pixel7, I bought it for the colour reproduction of the camera and I like the phone but I do miss having a memory card slot so may change that one day.
Anyway, geekery corner over and out!
The Kit
I don’t usually do this bit but people ask, so without getting into too much detail…
Sony A7R3 camera https://amzn.to/4769O2M
Bought from launch so its been going a while. If it ever breaks I’ll probably get the same again.
Sony Zeiss 35mm f2.8 Lens https://amzn.to/3YZfb1w
Best street lens, especially with the discreet lens hood design (and it is metal!).
Lightweight Neoprene case https://amzn.to/4fX5SFh
Awesome stealthy case, super lightweight. Stops camera knocks but its mainly to make the camera comfortable to wear and keep it out of the worst of the elements. But it isn’t waterproof.
LoweAlpineAirzone35 Backpack https://amzn.to/3yQRL3K
Mine is the much older version and it is awesome! I’ve had it around 15 years now. It still handles storms and it’s been all over the world with me. Long hikes, rock climbing and plane hand luggage accepted. Really clever design that is ultra comfy and doesn’t give a sweaty back.
Also, I don’t by branded camera bags as it’s like having a sign saying “steal me, I contain valuables!”.
Instead I buy awesome bags and then a padded camera insert https://amzn.to/3yGIL1f
(and I do have the orange one, makes it a little easier to see all the kit inside it).
Also Nakd Bars and a bag of nuts – essential plant-based energy!