We’re off on a vacation to Egypt, which will be amazing. So we take a look back at Montepulciano in Tuscany, a stunning hill town!
Yes, today my wife and I take off on another vacation trip! It’ll be our most epic one yet, as we’re off to Egypt! You can be sure that I have packed my camera gear for this trip and will take a decent photo or two. As we’re traveling today and tomorrow, it’s time for a look back at one of our other trips.
Here we go back to 2017…
Montepulciano street
The town of Montepulciano in Tuscany is a lovely hill town in the province of Siena. As a hill town it sits upon a 605 meter limestone ridge and has an amazing wine producing reputation. The wines are delectable!
It’s a historic town that can trace its existence back to Etruscan times, as findings date the original settlement to 400-300 BCE.
The streets and alley-ways make this a great town to explore on foot, so that you walk up an appetite and find yourself a restaurant. I recommend checking out the various alleys for great hospitality and amazing food!
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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