The small things in Europe

Something that still does and I hope always will captivate me about Europe is clothes drying on a line. I love that there everyone is open enough to air their laundry in the streets. At least that the feeling I get from it but when I think about it, it probably has nothing to do with a communal mindset and probably more of a conservative one. I don't know about the rest of Europe but in Italy the main reason for everyone, and I mean everyone line drying their clothes, is the the mysterious absence of dryers. Something that we in America think of as a necessity just doesn't exist over there. I've seen dryers in laundromats but never in people's homes. Even when I gave in-home English lessons in the wealthiest neighborhoods of Rome the nannies or maids would still line dry all the clothes. I've asked Italians about it and from what I understand the dryer is simply an unnecessary machine to them (like the microwave.) Even if I sometimes missed clothes fresh from a dryer, I love the visual aesthetic of walking in streets full of colorful laundry hung out everywhere, so I hope Italy never actually switches over.

OMG, Sicilian Cheese!

Over the years I've found Italy to be an absolutely insane country full of disorganization and rudeness but the food, especially the cheese went a long way to make up for it. Every time I go back to live there I quickly start to get bored of an only pasta and pizza diet but I certainly can't complain about the cheese and wine. Italy really taught me how to appreciate and understand those fine things in life and for that I'll always be grateful.

My return to Sicily

Going through photos from my last trip to Sicily the creamy taste of rich Sicilian cheese and the bright whiteness of the Mediterranean sun run flash in my mind. The captivating scenery and amazing food from this island are enough to make me at least temporarily forget the 3 hour stalled trains and chaotic/non-existent bus schedules.

Showing Love

I was trying a few different ideas for an image to be the header on a friend's blog. This image didn't work stretched out or severally cropped the way it needed to be but I still enjoy it. I like the simplicity if it and Antonella has that perfect young innocence to her.

Farfallina

I have so much respect for Nastassia doing this in her tiny, conservative hometown of Caltanissetta, Sicily. As we were shooting people were shouting to her, calling her their little butterfly and catcalling. At one point an old classmate even went by. For Caltanissetta this photoshoot was the talk of the town.

Poker Face

This whole idea came from the cup and my love of playing cards in general. I would like to try a shoot sometime with the Sicilian playing cards. They have symbols similar to tarot cards and still have some fantasy left in them.

Romping in the Fields

A fellow photographer and I decided to take advantage of a beautiful wheat field in our neighborhood. The models Nastassia, Charles, and Garrison did a wonderful job rolling around in the field despite all the bugs and wheat stocks poking them everywhere.

May Day 2010

Every year in Rome there is a giant May Day (Labour Day) concert at Piazza San Giovanni. There were 700,000 or more people in attendance this year. I don't always enjoy the music but the people watching is worth it. This is my forth time attending the free concert, it was a stimulating and lively experience (minus all the broken beer bottles and porta potty lines.) My photos from the event were published in a Sicilian newspaper called Demetra Info.

Circling the Colosseo

On the official birthday of Rome youth gathered around the Colosseo (Colosseum) to act out a childhood game most similar to "Ring around the Rosie". In Italian its "Gira Gira Tondo" and these are the lyrics.

"Giro giro tondo,

casca il mondo,

casca la terra,

tutti giù per terra."

Roma

This is my first entry and I'm moving back to Rome tomorrow! I'm excited to be going back to this beautiful country and I'm looking forward to catching up with old friends. Also the ability to hop around Europe and surrounding continents will be nice.