Blog Archives
the dancer (in repose)
This is Frederica; she’s a dancer and we met her in Palermo.
Part of our photography adventure in Sicily was photographing a trio of folk musicians and a dancer along the harbor. It was a photo assignment I’d never encountered before and my results were…mixed. At best. Until all of us took a break from the heat and the unrelenting sun. That’s when I saw Frederica in an entirely different pose. And that’s when I got this photo of her.
Palermo, Sicily
photographed 9.3.2022
the cartmaker’s apprentice
I used to say I would “never” take pictures of people. I said that a lot. I believed it, too. In fact, I would actively avoid shooting scenes with people in them. There were a lot of reasons, but mostly (probably) I was just too nervous to try.
And then…well, then I met up with Don Toothaker and he spent a good bit of time over the past couple of years telling me that I needed to get over my damn self and take pictures of people already. (That’s paraphrasing. Possible.) Anyway, then he led a photography tour of Sicily and I started photographing people. You’ve seen some of those images here, maybe. I was pretty happy with myself for overcoming a barrier that I’d set for myself (which, honestly, is the way most of my barriers are: set by me, without any real reason for their establishment).
But then, pressing the point, Don pretty much told me to make a portrait of this man. Don had already made his photos, and all I had to do was stand where he did and press the shutter release.
And here we are. Sometimes, I barely recognize the photographer that I am becoming.
Ragusa Ibla, Sicily
photographed 9.7.2022
duomo
Here’s the back of the Duomo di San Giorgio; the building was completed in 1775 after a 37-year construction period.
If you’re a fan of Italian television*, you may recognize it from the opening credits of the series Inspector Maltalbano. Although you can’t tell by looking at this photo, the building is also featured in a recent image that I’ve posted.
Ragusa Ibla, Sicily
photographed 9.7.2022
*Or have Amazon Prime video.
behold: the goat
In late August of 2021, I was in Boston and had lunch with my friend Don Toothaker; he was very excited to tell me about a photo adventure to Sicily that he was planning. The thing that stuck with me (other than his unbridled enthusiasm) was when he said, “We’ll see goat cheese in the markets AND then GO SEE THE GOATS.” I was intrigued, even though it took me nearly a half a year to talk myself into taking the trip.
Don’s enthusiasm for the trip was not misplaced or exaggerated. Going on the trip was definitely one of the smarter decisions I’ve ever made.*
And look! Here’s the goat I’d been promised. The breed is Girgenti; they are indigenous to the Sicilian province of Agrigento. And they will be your best friend if you scratch their heads just behind their horns.
near San Biagio Platini, Sicily
photographed 6.6.2022
*Not that there is necessarily a lot of competition.
net repairs
In addition to selling fish from their boats, the fishermen use their afternoon at the docks to repair their nets. They’ll be heading out again in a few hours, and make good use of every minute.
I can get a giant tangle in thread just attempting to sew on a button. Watching these two doing something more complicated and much more fiscally important than fixing a button made me feel really quite inadequate in sweing-needle-based activities.
Sciacca, Sicily
photographed 9.5.2022
One Day | One Image 