This is Verona, inside their amphitheatre, many years ago. For being June, it was very hot, turning the theatre into a veritable melting pot. On this picture, my son is taking a rest from the heat. You can really see that he needed the dark and cold atmosphere in there, he was tired and warm after a while out on the theatre balconies. I enjoyed the cooler air too. I also liked the symmetry in the room, the heavy curtains in the background that shut out the harsh sunlight. I liked the high contrasts that accentuated all textiles and stone. The man in the passageway with the ladder on his shoulder catch my interest. He would probably never come up with the idea taking a short-cut right over the theatre (out in the sun) to save a few footsteps. There were only us tourists out there, climbing all the way from the bottom up to the highest galleria, where indeed the view over the theatre and Verona thankfully paid off. I had a great time out there, making lots of photos, which I later on tried to stitch into panoramas. However, it turned out that I liked this panorama most, the one I could have had without getting out at all. On the other hand would the photo hardly have become the same, that way. To me, it is my son that makes the entire picture, in his tininess compared to the room and with a gesture that tells more than thousand words.
I made this panorama photo out of three exposures, and if you look carefully, traces from this can be found on the red carpet. Self-criticism, I know, it sucks. On the other hand, this was many years ago, when I was still a rookie in the digital world. Exif data from the original files reveals:
June 26, 2003
1/60 s
f/2.8
ISO 100
Konica KD-400Z at 8 mm (35 mm eqv: 39 mm)
3 Comments
My eyes first went to the light and the man with the ladder but then came quickly back to your son. There’s many interesting details in this photo and many stories that could be told. I agree your son makes it. i like it.
Both figures are key in establishing scale and that is a big part of the impact of the image for me. But, finally your son’s story is the most intriguing to me. I agree that the gesture tells a fascinating story. I also particularly like the reds and the way they carry me through the image. It’s almost as if some of the warmth is wrapped up in those reds. The blues in the curtains are a wonderful balance.
Earl, thanks a lot for your nice comment, it makes me happy that you enjoyed it. Regarding stories that can be told from this image, you’re absolutely right. I could have written much more around this, not only personal reflections but also about this amphitheatre’s extraordinary history. But sometimes, the image has to speak for itself, and I guess that is they way we all want it. Thanks, Earl!
Anita, I’m happy you took your time describing what you felt about the image. I quite agree with you regarding the colours, the reds do carry a lot of the heat with it, but the blues cools it down. Thanks, Anita!