David,
I agree with the others , I love taking photos, have a fairly decent camera but have little knowledge, especially of digital.  Perhaps it's in the passion rather than the skill where the enjoyment lies. It's all about time and place and remembering rather than the technicality of the photograph itself that's  feels important.
I adore Florence and agree perhaps anyone should be able to take a decent photo there but like you the photo is taken rather selfishly for me and therefore I want to remember what I saw and not what some editing suite has managed to recreate.
I also enjoy looking at photographs as art and these especially in black and white and sepia create a feeling of art in dimension and atmosphere...so a few more posts wouldn't go a miss !

Thanks as always
Geoff