Final 10 Architecture AN ITALIAN ADVENTURE

These are my final images in the Architecture theme, again all the material was collected on my trip to Italy and I have tried to illustrate the different styles to be found in the Campania region going back to the time when  Pompei was a thriving city.

Plebiscito Pillars

This is my favourite shot of the trip, it was midday with very strong sunlight streaming into the Piazza del Plebiscito, the pillars cast very dramatic shadows which I wanted to capture as well as the curving nature of the building, it was more interesting to get the portico in shot with its echoing pillars than the building on the right.

Amalfi Duomo

Despite windows at ceiling level and near the alter, the baroque interior of Amalfi Cathedral was quite dark, I had to use a high iso to get a fast shutter speed, since I was unable to use a tripod to steady the camera.

The ceiling was highly decorated in green and gold mouldings, with a central painted panel, it was very beautiful and the local population must have been stunned by its majesty.

Duomo Arches

This is a detail of the entrance loggia to the Duomo, parts of which date back to the 11th Century.  The stone-work was cross banded with darker colours which reminded me of moorish buildings, with stone pillars receeding.  The arches starting in the bottom right and growing in size make for a dynamic shot.

Monastery Windows

 

Part of Amalfi Duomo again, these were the whitewashes cloisters of the original building, looking up towards the roof.  The centre of the picture forms a corner of the cloister, with a window on either side, I liked the symmetry and simplicity of this shot, almost an abstract.

Monte San Angelo

 

This was an ancient monastery parts of which dated back to Roman times, again beautiful arches with a bell tower above, crumbling and covered in vines.  The arches lead you in to the tower above.

Duomo Bell Tower

The top of the bell tower is decorated with green tiles and built with yellow stone, I wanted to contrast this with the entrance loggia to the Duomo, to illustrate how the building was added too over the centuries.  I think the vertical and diagonal lines make an intersting and dynamic shot.

 Compass Hall

This room was in Naples Archeological Museum, a former palace.  I wanted to capture the vastness of the space and have left the group of people to add scale.

Gallery Umberto

Built in the late 1800's and named after King Umberto 1st as a public space, holding shops and offices as well as private apartments.  The vertical lines with arches and dome on top make another interesting and dynamic shot.

Loggia San Franchesco Di Paolo

 

The entrance of another church, I wanted to emphasise perspective so took this shot quite close the the base of the collumn, with lines of the roof echoing steps at the base.

Pompei Bathing

This detail of a marble basin decorating the public bath house in Pompei, was beautiful because of the tones and  textures of  the rough stone alcove, against the smooth marble of the basin.