Street Lamp, Rome

Street Lamp, Rome is a reminder that sometimes you just need to look up. Even on an overcast day, with a chilly breeze, there’s loveliness to be found.

That’s it. A short story suits a minimal photograph quite well, me thinks.

Filed under:
365 days of stories, Italy, My Art, Rome by Courtney

When In Rome

I had originally called this image Tchotchke View of St. Peter’s, but I think I should change the title to When In Rome. This tongue-in-cheek phrase (pun intended) seems to fit the mood of the photo a little better.

A lot of my feelings around this photo are captured in a previous post, “Holy Tchotchke!”. It’s funny how foreign yet how similar a place can be all at once. (more…)

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365 days of stories, Italy, My Art, Rome, Silliness by Courtney

Door, Vatican City

This seems to be a favorite photo of many who admire my work. Vatican City is such a small space, nestled within Rome. Most pictures you see are of the Pope, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s, and all of the other reasons you actually go visit this walled city-state.

We entered through the metal detectors and marveled at the sheer size of St. Peter’s Square. After viewing some of the church below, marveling at its size as well, we began our ascent to get a better look at the dome. After getting to the top of the first set of stairs, we were at the base of the dome, and had a beautiful view of the city.

As I wondered around, I stumbled upon this door. Peachy, creamy colors, and a weather worn door. The only thing that made this picture more perfect is that warm glow that seems to permeate all of Rome. Click! I had captured that instance. I enjoyed viewing a lot of beautiful art that day, but this simple, rustic door was one of the more beautiful moments I captured.

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365 days of stories, Italy, My Art by Courtney

Cats of Boboli, No. 5

Cat Number 5, as I lovingly refer to him, is one of my favorite cats from Boboli Garden. Some might ask why, since he’s only showing me his behind, but it’s more about the feeling of the photograph than the actual subject (sorry Number 5).

This photo reminds me very much of Dutch paintings in the 1600s. Partly it’s Number 5’s position. He looks as if he has cornered something, and it brings to mind the metaphors of the paintings. The lighting also is a bit reminiscent of the Dutch paintings. While we don’t get into the full-blown black of the Dutch pieces, there’s definitely shadow and light playing together in the image, with the warm overtones from the fading sunshine and the dark wood.

So, of all the cats in the Cats of Boboli series, that’s why Number 5 is my favorite. Behind and all!

Filed under:
365 days of stories, Florence, Influences, Italy, My Art, Others Art by Courtney

I stare at this ceaseless, rushing crowd and imagine a time a hundred years from now. In a hundred years everybody here—me included—will have disappeared from the face of the earth and turned into ashes or dust. A weird thought, but everything in front of me starts to seem unreal, like a gust of wind could blow it all away.

– Kafka Tamura, Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

Filed under:
365 days of stories, Books by Courtney