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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.
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
this felt like a secret
This looks like a scene from a World War II movie, with the rubble, the courtyard, the motorcycle hiding in the shadows. And while there was significant and pivotal action on the island during the way, I am pretty sure this scene wasn’t a relic.
So, how pivotal was the action in Sicily? Here’s what History.com has to say:
The invasion of Sicily, code-named Operation Husky, began before dawn on July 10, 1943, with combined air and sea landings involving 150,000 troops, 3,000 ships and 4,000 aircraft, all directed at the southern shores of the island. This massive assault was nearly cancelled the previous day when a summer storm arose and caused serious difficulties for paratroopers dropping behind enemy lines that night. However, the storm also worked to the Allies’ advantage when Axis defenders along the Sicilian coast judged that no commander would attempt amphibious landings in such wind and rain. By the afternoon of July 10, supported by shattering naval and aerial bombardments of enemy positions, 150,000 Allied troops reached the Sicilian shores, bringing along 600 tanks.
Sciacca, Sicily
photographed 9.2.2022
fisherman, with shrimp and a cigarette
In the afternoon, when the fishermen return with the day’s catch, the port is very busy. There are commercial buyers who come to get fish for tomorrow’s markets. There are local residents who want some fresh shrimp for dinner. And, on this particular day, there were photographers who were probably in the way of people who had actual reasons to be there. (Not that photography is not an actual reason, but you get the point.)
Also, this guy? Do you like his cigarette hovering over that tray of shrimp?
Sciacca, Sicily
photographed 9.5.2022
One Day | One Image 