The Art is in the Details

Many photographers visit Pisa, Italy and focus on the obvious:  the Leaning Tower and other historic monuments.

Those who look closely will find the 12th Century bronze door panels on the Cathedral of Pisa by architect and sculptor Bonanno da Pisa.  There are 24 panels on the door that trace the lives of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.

This bronze door panel depicts the Nativity. 

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

Illinois Girl Saves Historic Italian Landmark

At the end of June, my family and I traveled to Pisa, Italy.

This obvious photograph is the forced perspective view of  my daughter holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa (She should be given a medal by the Italian government for ensuring that this historic landmark didn't bite the dust).

Cristina, uprights a 500 year-old wrong in Pisa, Italy.

She corrected the lean so that the tower now stands straight for the first time in 500 years.  You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

Shooting Photos in the Rain

I like to shoot photographs in the rain.   Dark clouds provide contrast.  Wet streets reflect light.  In fact, a cloudy, rainy day can provide the perfect conditions for photographs that might otherwise be mundane.

The Gothic cathedral in León, Spain wasn't nearly as interesting for photography before a short, but intense rainstorm added reflections to the scene.

Here's the same cathedral in color.

This is the scene in León, looking away from the cathedral entrance.  I was lucky enough to capture a rainbow, along with the glassy pavement shortly after the rain stopped.

Umbrellas, clouds and reflections add to this nighttime street shot.

While the rain had subsided several hours earlier, the streets still shone with a glossiness that made this photograph stand out.

While it hadn't yet rained in Castrillo de los Polvazares, Spain, the low, dark clouds provided contrast for a dramatic photograph.  I wish I had been able to photograph the stone streets during or after a rainstorm.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

Children are the Missing Element...

Often, I'm at a photogenic spot -- a historic building or scenic location.  I point the camera and get a stunning photograph -- but upon further inspection, something is missing.  Maybe the missing element is children.  Below are some examples of the child or children making the photograph.

This is a very scenic location in the central plaza of Salamanca.  It needed children to make it interesting.

This dramatic photo of the Arch of Santa Catalina in Antigua, Guatemala works because of the young soccer player in the foreground.

Children were jumping like crazy for the bubbles from this street performer in Bologna, Italy.

These active children were perfect subjects for a photo in a León, Spain park.

The accordion playing street performer was a good subject for a photography, but the little girl makes it a human interest story.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

Venetian Carnival Masks

Venetian carnival masks have been around since at least the 13th century.  In Venice, the masks are everywhere, with expensive masks in high-end shops and very inexpensive souvenir masks at vendors' booths and stands across the city.  They're also great subjects for photography.

Many Venetian masks are colorful.  However, in my opinion, they're perfect for Black and White photography.

These masks were in a very high-end shop in Venice.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.

More Favorites

In my previous blog entry, I shared some of my favorite photos from my recent trip to Spain and Italy.

Here are a few more.

 A street performing violinist in Venice.

A poppy field between León and Salamanca, Spain.

Street Scene.  Castrillo de los Polvazares, Spain.

Stone building.  Castrillo de los Polvazares.

Arches.  León, Spain.

Accordion player captures the interest of a little girl.  Madrid, Spain.

Bubbleman.  Street Performer. Bologna, Italy.

Perseus with the Head of Medusa.  Florence, Italy.

Sculpture in Bologna.

This is one of my favorite photos from the trip.  It was the end of the day and my family and I were headed back to the train station in Venice.  We saw a mirror on the wall in front of the canal.  We decided to be silly.

You can view my website at:  www.tombellart.com.