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"Every Photo has a Story" ~ Materozzi of Siena
This image has a great background story!! I saw this old Italian man the same day I saw "Bella Anna". I really wanted to photograph him but thought he probably didn't speak English so I followed him into the gelateria and bought a coke and chips while I mustered up enough courage to ask for help. I asked the guy at the bar if he spoke English...he didn't but went to get someone from the back who did. They people working at the "Bibo Bar" were so nice and helpful when I explained that I wanted to take the gentlemans portrait! I had about 5 people helping!! We went outside and he just sat on the bench while I snapped a few images. I really do love how the Italians dress up.
The funny part of this story is that I received an email a month later that said "Greetings from Bend, Oregon". I opened it and began laughing as I read the email. This lady was friends with Thad and Sasha, the couple I met at San Galgano (another story to tell!). They were talking about me so she looked up my website and saw my blog.....she wanted to let me know that she saw me in Siena taking photos of Materozzi! I asked if she was just outside or inside.....she said she saw the whole thing! I was a little embarrassed but I'm sure I was entertaining!! It's such a small world!
I can't wait to do more portraits on my next trip. I treasure all my memories from my photography trips to Italy!! |
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"Every Photo has a Story" ~ Valley View
I love this image. It is my most popular photograph! My friend Peter and I were...you guessed it..driving in the middle of nowhere and I'm telling him about this little building I would love to find but they never say where it is....it's just listed in "Tuscany". About five minutes later I'm digging thru a bag of film or something and Peter says "You mean like that one??" I'm not kidding! If I would have waited to say anything I would have missed it! I'm all excited and he thinks I'm kidding but he pulls over so I can check it out. The light is horrible so I ask him if we can go to the next little town and have gelato! We lucked out because the town was having a festival - everyone was dressed up and listening to the band playing on the church steps. We went back around 7pm - the light was perfect! The sun was behind me lighting up the building! I've only gone back for a couple of images and I'm really glad I did for this one. |
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"Every Photo has a Story" ~ Frosini Bar
So I'm driving down the road in the middle of nowhere.....along SS73....southwest of Siena and find this little Tuscan town. I think it had a population of 10. (I just googled it and found a bicycle travel blog that says it the population dropped below 30 in 1900!) Anyway, I was traveling alone or I'm sure I wouldn't stopped. This little roadside bar caught my eye. I love the texture and color of the wall and brick, the handmade sign and the woven black chair. While I had my tripod set up with my camera in the perfect position, a bunch of older Italian guys come out carrying paper bags filled with bread...and look at me funny (yes, I get this a lot!). They seem interested so I had them look thru the camera so they could see what I saw. Then I had one of them sit in the chair and I took some fun photos of him! I followed them inside so I could see the inside and had a drink with this guy and the owner. I had a coke and they had Chianti....even though it was early afternoon! I wandered around this town for about an hour and a half. This is one of my favorites from my 2007 trip. I also have the "Frosini Church" image from this cute little town. I'm glad I stopped to get acquainted with it! |
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"Every Photo has a Story" ~ Sevilla Gate
This gate detail is from the church in Sevilla Spain. It's gorgeous! I love the patina color of the door behind the gate. The story behind this image is that while I had my tripod set up and clicking the shutter, I heard someone yell my name from across the street...it was Andrea and Jamie! I had photographed their wedding a month before and now they were on their honeymoon. It's such a small world - I love it! There were rails along the street making it impossible to cross so all we could do is yell back and forth but we ended up running into each other again at a Flamenco show that night....Peter, who is a great friend and travel partner, always goes by the Rick Steves travel books....and so does Andrea! That's why we ended up at the same show. So funny!
Our flight home got delayed because they French were on strike so we ended up hanging out on the plane for 5 hours and going thru London....I ended up seeing a couple who I did their engagement photos in the waiting line! They got married in New York...Peter is never surprised when I run into someone I know! |
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"Every Photo has a Story" ~ Green Bike
My "Green Bike" image is one of my favorites. Jill, one of my friends I know thru mountain biking, was walking around drizzly Bologna, Italy with me when I saw this bike! Many of the buildings in Bologna have a covered walkway around them....this makes for great light! Plus we don't get wet! Anyway, I started getting my tripod ready as we are walking up because I'm so excited! I still shoot film for my fine art work....Fuji Velia...my favorite film in the world! My excitement was derailed when a man walked up with a really ugly bike and started to park it right in front of my new subject. Maybe he felt my disappointment, I don't know, but he moved his bike to another spot.....yey!! I was on a creative high again! Jill was just laughing at me and my roller coaster of emotions. There was also a couple walking by that saw the whole thing too! All my images are "found", meaning that I don't set them up, I couldn't have planned this image any better if I tried! Please check my website for other images. This is one of many "bicycle" images I have in my collection - they make a great series! |
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"Every Photo has a Story" ~ Siena Kiss
My trips to Europe have always been for my fine art work and I never really photographed people....this time I wanted to do an "engagement session" so I actually stood along a street watching people walk by. Italians have such style while the tourists, including me, dress so "comfortably". I would love to bring stylish clothes and shoes but they don't fit in my luggage! Oh, and not to mention I am carrying about 35 pounds in camera gear and my laptop! Then this beautiful couple walked by me! I went up to Gergana and Nico and asked "Scusi. parli inglese?" They did - lucky for me since my Italian isn't nearly as good as it should be! I told them I was a photographer from California, showed them some of my photographs and asked them if they wanted to wander all over Siena doing a photo session. They said yes! Of course I couldn't find this spot when I was looking for it again so they went to one of the local cafe's while I continued my search. I even had to ask for directions! I have to say that getting lost and finding incredible new subjects is one of the things I love about traveling though!
Nico emailed me later....this was his description...."do you remember the beautiful couple with the fantastic Bulgarian lady and the depressed Italian man". How could I forget?! We had so much fun! I mailed them 5x7's of all the photos I took thank them. I think they got married in Bulgaria last year. Would have loved to photograph it!
Do you know anyone getting married in Europe, especially Italy? I would love to be introduced to them! Thanks in advance! |
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"Every Photo has a Story" ~ Bella Anna
Let me introduce Anna ~ I call her Bella Anna...beautiful Anna. I met her Siena the same day I met Gergana and Nico, the couple in the golden gate from the last newsletter. I saw Anna and another woman who was helping her walk out of her house. I thought she was so pretty all dressed up in her hat and coat. She even had a little lipstick on! I wanted to take her photo but didn't want to bother her......but then I couldn't resist and asked "Scusi. parli inglese?" Anna didn't speak english but the other woman did - lucky for me! I told her to tell Anna that I thought she was beautiful and wanted to take her photo. The woman translated and Anna lit up and smiled at me. It was pretty funny...she thanked me and told me I was beautiful too...trust me...I don't look that great while I'm traveling but it was nice of her to say! She was on her way to the taxi so I only got to take about 5 images of her...this is my favorite. I got her name and address so I could mail prints to her. She hand wrote a note, actually a postcard of Siena, to thank me and wants me to visit next time I'm in town. I really need to practice my Italian so we can have a conversation. I'm sure she has lots of interesting stories. By the way, I love Siena. It's beautiful and was my travel "hub" last trip. I always did my laundry and found a great internet place to upload my blog and catch up on emails. |
