Last week’s Friday Mystery Place was identified with unerring accuracy by judithreid (go check out her blog!), who recognized the edifice in the image as the Victor Emmanuel II monument in Rome.
The official name of the monument is the Altare del Patria, Altar of the Fatherland. It houses the Museum of Italian Unification and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It’s construction was rather controversial, as it put a huge white edifice in the middle of a medieval area of Rome. Additionally, its size and overly ostentatious architecture make it a bit of an anachronism in the Eternal City.
How about another slide from 1960…
A Lovely Arch
Clearly, this is not the Arc de Triomphe; which arch do you think this might be?
Technical Details
The slide, from which this scan came, was processed in August of 1960; it was shot on Kodak Ektachrome slide file. Despite its age, the typical Ektachrome pinkish cast (due to cyan dye fading over time) is rather minimal
A Fresh Perspective
Photography is more than just a vehicle for capturing the world around me; it provides me with a palette and a set of brushes, with which I paint not only what I see, but also look to express the emotions that are evoked by the scene in front of me in that moment.
Growing up in the Netherlands exposed me to a wide cross-section of visual arts that laid the foundation of my photographic view of all that surrounds me. Early influences were the Dutch Masters of the 17th century, to whom I was introduced by my grandfather during museum explorations; favorites among them are the scenes of quotidian life depicted by Jan Steen and Frans Hals and the vivid landscapes of Jacob van Ruisdael.
My classical high school education was supplemented by the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, where I spent many a lunch hour exploring its great collection. Here I was introduced to surrealism with a particular love for the approach taken by Salvador Dali; Dali also rekindled my appreciation for the work of Hieronymus Bosch, who often showed the folly of us mortals.
Universal Connections
My approach to any photographic subject is to look for understanding first; in this I look to establish either a connection between the viewer and the subject or capture the connection of the subject with its surroundings. The captured image then aims to portray this connection from a perspective that is part of my personal interpretation.
This interpretation is often a form of externalized introspection, which may alternately display the connection of isolated beings and items with their environment or highlight the whimsy of the profound world, in which we find ourselves. The universe is full of connections, many of which are waiting to be discovered; part of my journey as a photographer is to document these connections.
Any assignment, be it an event, a product shoot or a portrait session is always approached through communication with the client; this is where the first connection is established. Ideas are exchanged and a collaborative plan of action forms, ultimately resulting in a set of images that aim to exceed the expectations of each client.
And, lest we forget, it is important to have fun while practicing the serious business of photography!
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I thought not with the hill but I thought it was worth a guess!
The hill is an important clue…
The Arch of Constantine, Rome?
You’ve got the right arch this time!! Well done!!
Brilliant. Thank you.
Looks like Rome again but cannot imagine you would have another from there – so pass. Love the old photo. Nice to see the old cars including an old “Herbie” (VW) (I learnt in one so have fond memories of them!!)
Then again… it could just be Rome again! Yes, the old cars really made this slide very interesting to me, as well as seeing what people wore back then.
Ha ha!!! Sneaky !!!! I love looking at old snaps ….. everything seems so much more serene too …. less traffic etc !!! 🙂
My father-in-law was going to throw these slides away (the plastic bags were marked trash 🙂 ). When he offered me the great metal storage cases that they came in, I asked him for the slides, which has allowed me to explore the past.
Is it Marble Arch in London?
Good guess, but I don’t think it is.
I thought not with the hill but I thought it was worth a guess!
The hill is an important clue…
The Arch of Constantine, Rome?
You’ve got the right arch this time!! Well done!!
Brilliant. Thank you.
Looks like Rome again but cannot imagine you would have another from there – so pass. Love the old photo. Nice to see the old cars including an old “Herbie” (VW) (I learnt in one so have fond memories of them!!)
Then again… it could just be Rome again! Yes, the old cars really made this slide very interesting to me, as well as seeing what people wore back then.
Ha ha!!! Sneaky !!!! I love looking at old snaps ….. everything seems so much more serene too …. less traffic etc !!! 🙂
My father-in-law was going to throw these slides away (the plastic bags were marked trash 🙂 ). When he offered me the great metal storage cases that they came in, I asked him for the slides, which has allowed me to explore the past.
It’s wonderful!
Italy?
Indeed…
How wonderful having such an archive from your F-I-L. I guess we will be seeing a few more oldies in the future …………. 🙂
That’s possible 🙂
🙂