Montecitorio Sq. - Rome (Italian Chamber of Deputies)

Thank you for your comments, critiques and suggestions, G.

First the eye is attracted by the bright background and the window in the centre of the photo. Then come the four "carabinieri".

Overall the concept is very interesting and I like the four dark figures against the background.The only thing I would say is that they are a bit small and it would be interesting if they were emphasised. But it is hard to do, even at the very moment of the take. A closer crop would make no sense, because you would either loose the horizontal proportions or crop the central window.

Shooting in portrait form would probably also cut the window in the centre and maybe leave too much ground in front of the carabiniere in the foreground.

Conclusion: good as it is!

Nice. Looks like you've arranged the carabinieri.

!!!!

Very interesting silhouettes!

of course,excellent idea and bw.shot...congrats

Reminds me of old Italian movies which I adore! And also of the sample pictures in the books of photography I learned from when I was a child!

 

PDWE

Excellent capture and conversion. The exact shadow/ light area really makes the image - silhouettes of the carabinieri add drama to the scene. You caught the moment. Compliments!

it looks like such authentic and common Roma light and shadow to me, Giuseppe; this is what i luv about this picture. dp

Svetlana, Drew, Mehmet, thanks for your appreciation. this comes from photographers I value so much!. Luca, your analysis is very interesting. I produced two versions of this shot, and in the 2nd version the lower part is a bit lighter - see attached file). I can add some words about the shooting "moment": I shot this one just moments after I had seen the "Carabinieri" walking up and down (they were watching people who had assembled there to visit the Chamber of deputies. They stopped for some moments and there I raised the camera and quickly shot twice (see George's comment) using two different apertures and same time. Light in Rome - as Donna pointed out - is beautiful and quite a nightmare when it comes to shot very contrasted scenes like this one. in a more general way we could say that Rome is a city of contrasts (but this is quite true about all the big cities, isn't it?). Pierre, I thank you for pointing out the strong classical atmosphere of this photo, I agree with you (I love Italian movies of the 50's and this is sometimes reflected by my works). Elle your words made me happy. this photo is not only about light but also about geometry (rhythm of light and lines).

Thanks again my friend, ciao,

Giuseppe

of the same shot, with lighter lower part, ciao, Giuseppe

A bit surreal :)

Very attractive and good work, Giuseppe! I like the contrast and play with light and shadows, also the reflection of window. Seems like they are waiting for a very important person who is coming soon to the meeting in the building.

BIG thumbs up on this picture Giuseppe...

a classy comp all the way, framed as if a yin-yang fantasy, but with an atmosphere that both in content and style instantly teleports me to the Portuguese fascism of my youth.

This street could legitimately be from the Lisbon of my past, and the four cops, which I’m sure you deliberately placed where we see them, it's too beautifully choreographed to be accidental, are exactly as I remember not only with their stylistically identical uniforms but also the familiarity with the body language that is so close to the bone: I see them walking about here, exactly as I remember them walking about then, imbued with a dumb and nasty sense of self importance, slow pacing their way across the street, hands clasped behind their backs… I remember how much people feared them... ;-)

thank you for the memories signor Pasquali… ;-)

btw... I think your second upload may render a better print. The rich texture shows better in the cobblestones, the walls, and so on.

for your comments.

Mishu, since a young boy I read André Breton and was attracted by his ideas, your words made me happy!;

Gunnar, they arranged themselves in front of my eyes like pieces on a strange chessboard made of stone and light.

Carlos, life is an intricate, beautiful labyrinth of interwoven references. I will reply to your comment quoting José Saramago that once wrote: "Some people spend their entire lives reading but never get beyond reading the words on the page, they don't understand that the words are merely stepping stones placed across a fast-flowing river, and the reason they're there is so that we can reach the farther shore, it's the other side that matters.” . Yes, it's the other side that matters, and you went beyond (like you always do with your camera); your words have caught the soul of this work of mines.

 

My dear friends thank you for the time spent commenting my works, ciao,

Giuseppe.

Hard to find my words on that. "de Chirico" came into my mind directly.

Absolute great image! Tons of words are to be said, but for now I just can loooook.

 

I will come back on that later - for now I only can congratulate!

 

Ciao Axel

 

 

 

Composizione interessante: il contrasto tra i Carabinieri ed il background illuminato mi ricorda le scene del neorealismo: ottimo lavoro! Complimenti e saluti.

I am happy you found echoes of neorealism and metaphysical art in this shot. I appreciate very much your works and words, ciao, Giuseppe

Ciao Giuseppe, apprezzo molto questo scatto.

A presto, Antonio

They look like pieces on a gameboard. Perhaps a giant hand will pick one up and move it over a square or two.

I like what Jack said, since I too saw this as a gameboard, a surreal one in fact. The play of shadows and higlights only help to accentuate that feeling....two players, one white, one black, one looses one wins.

 

Congratulazioni per una grande immagine!

Very nice indeed.

--Lannie