Harold Davis's Blog, page 122
October 20, 2016
Il Campo, Siena
Il Campo is the central square in Siena, Italy—famous for its horse races, as a hang-out spot, and as a demonstration of the civic power of the historic republic of Siena. I visited Il Campo many years ago when I was a college kid to hang out, and not much has changed in all the intervening years. The surrounding restaurants and shops are louder and glitzier, and the crowds larger and more prosperous, but of course the architecture doesn’t change.
Il Campo, Siena © Harold Davis
Speaking of architecture, I climbed the campanile tower above Il Campo to make this photo, all 330 stairs, no tripod or camera bag allowed. My fisheye lens was in my pocket, and when I reached the top and caught my breath I switched it on the camera, and held it out as over the brink as I could to make the image.
October 19, 2016
Clerestory Window
This large clerestory window in the Duomo in Trento, Italy struck me as quite like a mandala with bright, overcast light shining through. I underexposed the image to emphasize the effect. The only possibly discordant element is the small eagle, perhaps Hapsburg, in the center of the piece.
Clerestory Window © Harold Davis
October 18, 2016
Autumn on the Slopes of Tuscany
Who knew you could ski in Tuscany (at least in the winter)? I photographed these beautiful autumn trees on the upper slopes of Monte Amiata. This is the dominate peak in southern Tuscany at about 5,700 feet (1,700 meters). Under the trees are chair lifts and dozens of hotels, chalets, and the appurtenances of the ski trade—all a little run down, as if skiing in Tuscany is like skiing in the Poconos. These days, it isn’t such a stretch to get to the Dolomites.
Autumn on the Slopes of Tuscany © Harold Davis
October 17, 2016
Guitar Solo
From the tower hanging above the central piazza in the Tuscan hill town of Montepulciano, I heard lucid guitar chords rising on the wind. I looked down to find the musician. The solo guitarist in the words of singer and songwriter Joni Mitchell, “played real good…for free.”
Guitar Solo © Harold Davis
October 15, 2016
Tuscan Landscape
Rising not quite with the sun, on my way over to the breakfast room, I saw the landscape below with patches of fog, a veritable pattern of lights and darks, layers and counter-layers.
Tuscan Landscape © Harold Davis
October 14, 2016
San Gimignano in the Rain
Today was a long day! I left Milan in the morning, walked across the street to the train station, and took the express to Florence. In Florence I took a taxi to the rental car agency, Europcar, and found myself behind the wheel in Italy. It’s always a blast to figure out the new systems of each car, like, why is the bluetooth-phone interface talking to me in Spanish? Doesn’t it know this is Italy, and I am American.
San Gimignano in the Rain © Harold Davis
After I arrived at the Cesani Agriturismo, an organic farm with wine and olive oil, and a few bedrooms, the rain began coming down. Mindful of Ansel Adams’s famous dictum, that if you aren’t out in the rain you can’t capture the clearing storm, I got in the car and headed a few miles down the road to San Gimignano, famous for its towers.
Climbing the highest tower of all the San Gimignano towers, I heard thunder peeling, and watched the storm front rush towards me. I wasn’t surprised when the guard told me to come down and once, and they closed the tower. Rain poured down in sheets. I consoled myself with a Tuscan meal of bean soup with toast, wild boar chops, and a delicious desert.
More adventures getting back to my room, with flooded roads, fog in the headlamps, and generally treacherous conditions. But obviously I made it to write this story.
October 13, 2016
Heart of the Dolomites
The Dolomites, in northeastern Italy, are a spectacular range of pinnacles forming the southern reaches of the Alps. These mountains have characteristically grand rock formations, and if you like landscape scenery they should definitely be on your “bucket list.”
Heart of the Dolomites © Harold Davis
Yesterday, in the heart of these mountains, there was a fierce blue sky with traces of new snow on the peaks. It was cold on the peaks, and I was glad to have some layers with me—and could easily believe in the coming of winter!
October 12, 2016
Duomo di Pavia
The ancient Lombard city of Pavia lies on the Ticino River near its confluence with the Po. Pavia is about twenty miles south of Milan. A long time ago, Pavia was the capital of Lombardy. Today it is a bit of a back water, but with some marvelous structures, including a covered bridge over the Ticino that was originally from the 1300s, but was rebuilt after being destroyed in the second world war. The Renaissance cathedral, the Duomo di Pavia, boasts a vast brick and masonry dome, one of the world’s largest. The interior of the dome is shown in this image.
Duomo di Pavia © Harold Davis
I photographed the dome with my camera on a tripod, using my 16mm rectilinear fisheye lens, and combining five manually bracketing captures. The result, when viewed head-on and without the appearance of depth and height, reminds me a bit of a mandala.
Click here for more domes, and here for Mandahlia!
October 8, 2016
Dawn on Lake Como
I’ve been in Italy only a couple of days, and already it seems like there have been some incredible adventures (but not much sleep). This morning I woke in the dark at the family villa of my friend Mauro on Lake Como. I dressed in warm clothes, and turned on my headlamp. Wandering down ancient, cobblestoned paths I found the shores of one of the fingers of Lake Como, and photographed the lights of the town of Lecco across the water in the misty dawn.
Dawn on Lake Como © Harold Davis
October 2, 2016
Pont Neuf, Toulouse
On a sunny and warm early spring day I explored Toulouse in southwestern France. Heading down to the Garonne River, I found the banks occupied by university students enjoying the weather. The not-new-and-really-pretty-old Pont Neuf (finished in 1632) spanned the Garonne—with flotsam and jetsam from winter storms still visible below the arches.
Pont Neuf, Toulouse © Harold Davis
