The Eternal City, Rome’s history spans more than 2,500 years. Founded in 753 BC., legend suggest that Romulus and Remus weren’t content to remain with the wolves, but instead founded the world’s oldest continually occupied city. When Romulus killed his brother Remus in a dispute over where the city should be, the Roman Empire was born.
I spent a day in Rome. We didn’t have a plan. We thought we didn’t need one. Everywhere you turn there is something ancient and interesting. With a church on nearly every corner, we lost track of which was which. We couldn’t go in them all. We couldn’t see them all. We could have spent weeks, months studying, learning, enjoying and capturing the beauty of this ancient city with a modern vibe. I will go back.
Designed to hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, stadium builders still use the Colosseum as a pattern for modern venues.
Commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, the Catholic Church dedicated the Pantheon to St. Mary and the Martyrs in the 7th Century.
Representing the Emperor Septimus Severus’ victory in A.D. 203, this Arch still stands to welcome travelers to the glory of ancient Rome.
Legend claims that Peter was crucified upside down and Paul was imprisoned near the basilica just outside the Forum.
Ancient Rome and Catholicism coexist on top of one another.
Designed both to intimidate and illuminate, many Cathedrals in Rome provide stark contrasts between the light and the darkness.
Master works by artists such as Bernini and Michael Angelo can be found on the alter pieces of many Cathedrals throughout Rome.
Intricate stone angels and demons inspire visions of heaven and hell in many Cathedrals throughout Rome.
Intricate designs draw the eyes to heaven.
Massive stone pillars provide support near the grand entrance to St. Peter’s Square.
The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43.3 meters.
Dedicated as a Catholic church in the 7th century, two kings of Italy are buried in the Pantheon; Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I.
Numerous shrines to the Virgin Mary can be found in the most unlikely places throughout Rome.
As the sun sets on the piazza, night walks begin. Historic sights in Rome are beautiful by day or night.
If my umbrella didn’t work, the naked Romans would intimidate me, too.
A wedding party was just gathering as we happened upon the Piazza del Campidoglio.
Intricate artwork crafted by the masters adorns the ceilings of nearly every Cathedral in Rome.
Intricate stone work and detailed artwork adorn buildings along the Via della Conciliazone, connecting Saint Peter’s Square to the Castel Sant’Angelo.
An Angel holds the golden crown of celestial glory above the Cathedral alter.
I had one day to shoot B-Roll in Rome. And, it was my birthday. My wife surprised me by flying to Rome and meeting me at my hotel. It was a great birthday present. I still had to film but we saw the sights of Rome together.
Rome has this interesting vibe of Ancient Rome overlaid with Catholic Religiosity. The people are friendly. The city is dirty. The food is good. And the places–unbelievable–almost as unbelievable as the legend of Romulus and Remus being raised by a She-wolf. Still, it is a good story–and, a great city.
The size and scale are nearly beyond belief. So are the lines to get in.
Sunlight casts shadows through the massive pillars near the entrance to St. Peter’s Square.
Heart of Rome and Capital of the ancient World, the Roman Forum represents the glory of a once great empire fallen to ruin.
Emperor Septimus Severus wanted the glory of his victories in battle over the Parthians in AD 203 to be remembered for all time.
In the shadows of a very old Catholic Cathedral, the ghosts of Christians past linger amidst the ruins of an ancient Roman prison.
The Piazza della Rotanda gets its name from the informal title of the Pantheon which is the church of Santa Maria Rotonda.
Nearly two-thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.
One of the greatest achievements of Roman Engineering and Architecture, the Roman Colosseum is still the largest amphitheater in the world.
Completed in 1925, the National Monument to Victor Emmanuele pays tribute to the first king of a unified Italy.
Legend suggests that the chains housed in the central nave of Saint Peter in Chains church were actually used to bind the Apostle Peter when he was imprisoned in Jerusalem.
Designed by Bernini and created in 1692, the statue of Philip IV of Spain welcomes visitors to the Santa Maria Maggiore church.
Also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian, the Castel Sant’Angelo was commissioned by the Emporeror Hadrian and was later used by the Popes as a fortress.
Statues on the bridge, Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II, look over the Tiber River as pedestrians, vehicles and boats pass by.
A restoration project underway, Trajan’s Forum reveals ancient secrets in the midst of a crowded contemporary neighborhood.
Late afternoon sun shines Heaven’s light throughout a Cathedral nave.
An Angel holds the golden crown of celestial glory above the Cathedral alter.
Residing in the Church of St. Peter in Chains, the Grim Reaper eventually visits us all.
It was my birthday. Anne surprised me by coming to Rome. We threw coins over our shoulders and kissed. We will return.
I think you could spend days inside. We rented an audio device with a recorded digital audio tour. Each room had a number. The number corresponded to the program on the audio device. It was interesting and fascinating. I felt compelled to move on after the short room history ended. I finished my tour of the Palace in an hour. I could have, and should have taken longer.
Arguably the most iconic symbol of Versailles, the Hall of Mirrors is dazzling.
Statuesque candelabra reflect and refract light throughout the Hall of Mirrors.
Stone busts witness the passage of time across the marble floors of Versailles.
Stone leaders reflect in the mirrors and pillars of former French greatness.
Natural light from French doors illuminates the stone guardians standing sentinel.
In the Hall of Battles, the busts of great French military leaders still stand at attention.
Elaborate ceiling design is part of every room in the Palace, none arguably more interesting than in the Hall of Battles.
In the Hall of Battles, paintings depict past great French battles.
From the Battle of Tolbiac in 496 to the Battle of Wagram in 1809, the main battles France has fought as well as the dynasties that ruled her are represented in the Hall of Battles.
Frozen in time, great French Generals fight on in the Hall of Battles.
A museum curator looks out a window across the palace courtyard.
Versailles palace is known for elaborate and striking design, the marble floors included.
Just inside the courtyard balcony, a bronze and crystal candelabra provides illumination.
French Kings gazed out this window.
Only time will tell when looking in a mirror.
Intricate gold leaf and ghostly faces watch you watch them.
Apocalyptic scenes playout on the ceiling of the Palace Chapel.
Whether or not Marie Antoinette actually said, “Let them eat cake,” is up for debate. What isn’t up for debate is the fact that the French Aristocracy of the 17th century had lost touch with the plight of the common folk. In 1682 King Louis XIV moved the center of political power in France from Paris to Versailles. His heir, Louis the XV and his heir, Louis the XVI, expanded the elaborate and exquisite palace in a decadent game of one-upmanship, each seeking to outdo the extravagance of the last. The Château, or Castle, or Palace of Versailles represented the system of absolute monarchy in the divine right of kingship.
The people had no bread. Yet the Kings inlaid gold throughout their palace and threw elaborately expensive balls. For this very reason, it may be possible to understand why, on October 6, 1789 the Royal Family was forced to leave Versailles for the Tuileries Palace in Paris as a result of the Women’s March on Versailles and the erupting revolution. Not long after, in spite of lofty ideals, the people’s French Revolution removed the heads of those who ignored the basic humanity of their subjects instead choosing art and architecture over liberty and life.
As I visited the marvelously decadent and brilliantly ostentatious palace, now a historical museum, I felt that traditional photographic images did not rise to the same level of ornate excess demanded by the creators of Versailles or by the palace itself. So, I look through the lens wishing it were canvas and brush, hoping that the images could transcend the common and rise, with the ghosts of Versailles, to the courts of Art.
The Palace of French Kings
Near the entrance to the Palace Grounds, a quaint provincial cottage guards the iron gates.
Used as a military hospital in World War I, this luxury hotel was my home for the short time I spent in Versailles.
Iron gates prevent unwary tourists from entering the garden maze and getting lost forever.
Symmetrically groomed lanes on the Palace grounds provide ample opportunity for gentle country strolls.
A gentle stroll for quiet contemplation or a challenging jog for peak conditioning, the Palace lanes of Versailles offer the perfect environment for physical or mental conditioning.
Fountains and gardens adorn the Palace grounds at Versailles.
Surrounded by dolphins and cupids, young Apollo slays the dragon.
From the dreams of Greek philosophers, statues and trees lead to the heart of French Culture, symbolic tree of life, the Château de Versailles.
Precisely pruned pillars point to heaven while standing guard on approach to Versailles.
An evergreen sentinel points toward heaven outside the Palace of Versailles.
Evergreen soldiers await the command to march on the Palace.
A Grecian Goddess of Versailles ironically holds the flame of freedom in her hand.
In the Palace Garden, the four seasons (three visible) are represented by Grecian like statues.
KIngs and Courtiers still bask in the lavish extravagance of the Château de Versailles.
Statue symbolizing one of the four rivers of France, the pool reflects sunlight up to the hall of mirrors.
Legends of the Greeks express the dreams of French Kings.
The Palace of Versailles from the rear.
Louis IV transformed his father’s hunting lodge into the seat of French government in 1682.
Begun as a hunting lodge by Louis XIII, the Central Courtyard grants entrance to one of the most lavish palaces in history.
Marble courtyard at the heart of the Palace of Versailles, grants entrance to the King’s private chambers.
Inlaid gold embroiders the exterior of the King’s bedroom on the Palace of Versailles.
It took three years to build the Pyramid Fountain near the Grand Palace of Versailles.
On the Palace grounds, the Grand Canal is 1,670 meters long and took eleven years to build, from 1668 to 1679.
So much to see, so little time. With so many sites, the challenge was to really see, to look for the commonplace and see the unique vibrance hidden beneath the rush. Judge for yourself. I was inadequate, overwhelmed, rushed. A feast before me, I had little time to decide of what to partake. Yet, I came away filled.
The Metro was our friend and we walked, and walked, and walked…and the sun went down.
A vintage rainy day in Paris.
Perhaps one of the most famous and most expensive streets in France.
Two boats pass at dusk, on the Seine River.
Stone steps make for good reading.
A woman strolls past the symbols of Parisian ethnic diversity.
On the way to Paris.
At last, we found it.
A rainy day outside the Château du Louvre
A window flower box fades in early fall weather.
A street performer serenades Parisian lovers with the accordion, long a symbol of Parisian music.
The Paris subway is convenient and economical.
A cool way to exit the Metro
The Paris Metro provides a convenient and economical way to see the sites.
Tourists mass outside the Cathedral of Notre Dame.
Inside the gothic Cathedral de Notre Dame.
Just in case you forget, Parisian clocks remind of lunch time.
One of the more populous citizens of Paris sits at court.
Paris has many sites to see and many benches upon which to see them.
Industrial greenhouse gases contribute to the odeur of Paris
The Eiffel Tower beams a welcome, across the bridge.
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
The City of Light, and liberty.
The Eiffel Tower beams a welcome, across the bridge.
View across the tarmak from terminal 2F-Charles de Gaulle is a beautiful airport.
Paris is a vibrant city,rich in tradition, culture and history. As I spent time, not nearly enough, in the city, I felt the stories, written in the walls, stones and walkways. I couldn’t help looking through my lens to capture, not what I saw, but what I felt. High dynamic range photography seemed to be the only way I could bridge the gap between my dreams and my abilities. HDR images provided some relief from the need to capture the singular light of this marvelous city on canvas. I have no skill with the brush. I must rely on pixels to form the images I can only imagine amidst the landmarks which call to me in my sleep.
At the tip of the Chanps-Élysées, Napoléon’s arch is still the center of any Parisian parade.
One of the islands on the Seine, near the birthplace of Paris.
This castle served as one of the earliest homes for French royalty.
With the bridge across the Seine visible in the distance, this castle served as one of the earliest homes for French royalty.
Quasimodo may still live in these imposing towers.
View of Notre Dame from the Seine River.
A view of the Cathedral of Notre Dame form the rear.
View from the River Seine.
Scenic apartments contribute to the Paris sensibility.
Not far from Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle was built by order of King Saint-Louis.
On a documentary film shoot in Rome, we only had six hours to film B-Roll footage. Definitely not enough time. Weeks would not cover the amazing sites of Rome.
Ancient Roman Fortress on the banks of the Tiber River.
They're Calling To Me 