David L Baker Photography

Photography with an occasional poem

Tag: Photography

  • Standards

    The site of the old city of Pompeii is huge, and the amount that has survived is really impressive. Along the streets there are these stepping stones, presumably allowing people to cross without treading in the garbage of the street itself. These streets were also used by chariots, and if you look carefully you will see there are ruts between the stones. This is where the standards come in. The guides will twell you that each chariot was built with a standard distance between the wheels, corresponding to the standard gaps between the stones. Of course we all believed him, but it is in fact a myth, and measurements within Pompeii itself reveal several different distances between the ruts. Unfortunately I did not look this up until I was writing the blog post, which was a bit silly. So, to make up for it here is some of the wall decoration that was still intact on the site.

  • Pompuvio

    The Bay of Naples is dominated by Vesuvius, which also looms over the town of Pompeii as a reminder of what can happen if the gods get annoyed. Luckily the gods have been busy making sure the right athletes get gold, and the right actors get awards, to be worried about silly things like an eruption. Thank Zeus for that, eh?

  • Relaxation

    When we were in Sorrento, the hotel was up a steep hill and out of the town. But at least the view was nice. There is a word I am trying to recall (alzheimers?) that describes the mood of this sort of image, but it has totally gone from my shrinking brain.

  • VC

    When we booked to go to the Vatican, we just wanted to see the Sistine Chapel. The only ticket we could get included the Vatican museum, for reasons that became obvious. So we thought we would just walk quickly through the museum, see the Sistine Chapel and then do something else. WRONG.
    The museum is amazing, and big, with one route along all the corridors until you reach the Sistine Chapel at the end.
    Now I know the British Museum gets a lot of negative press for owning many of its artifacts from other counties and cultures, but I think the Vatican can give it a good go – half of Egypt seemed to be in the first few rooms.
    Don’t forget to click on each image in the gallery to see it full sized – though I will understand if you don’t do it for the mummy…
    Oh, and there is no photography allowed in the Sistine Chapel.

  • Peter

    One benefit of a hotel with a rooftop bar is the view. And when that view includes the Vatican City and basilica of St Peter, it is worth waiting until sunset to hide all the distractions. One more part of Rome to go, and that is the Vatican itself. Has to be worth a visit, doesn’t it?

  • Pantheon

    Well, for 1900 years old the Pantheon is in pretty good shape. It started off as a pagan temple, and was converted to a Christian church in 609 AD, to save it from being destroyed. It is also the tomb of a few people such as the painter Raphael (not the turtle), a few kings of Italy and the violinist Corelli.
    As in the rest of Rome the crowds were a pain, though I recognise I was part of that crowd and probably a pain to someone else. Luckily I was able to get a 2 second exposure, which blurred a few people into insignificant wisps or blurs, so I was a little happier.

  • Balcony Dining

    Warm sun, and a table for two on the balcony, for an intimate meal in Rome.
    So far I have managed to avoid the images of Rome in ruins, but I think I will have to succumb soon.

  • Three

    I admit it. I did not go wandering the streets at midnight. But I did see these three street lights and think they looked good together. The image, as taken, looked a bit meh in colour and in daylight so I had a play. Some will not like it, and I am okay with that, but at least it stops the flow of being a travel blog for a day or so. Enjoy your day.

  • Rome

    Surprised? Expecting to see the Colosseum, or the Trevi Fountain? When in Rome, find a monk – or a priest, or a nun.
    As for the Trevi fountain.. the crowds were claustrophobic, and they have the gall to charge 2 euro for the ‘pleasure’ of joining a long queue to throw even more money away. I came away with mixed feelings about the city itself, but the Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel were amazing. Even if we did get accosted by three guys dressed as centurians insisting on photos with us for financial reward, on the way to Vatican City.

  • Leaning

    A trip out to Pisa. You could be forgiven for thinking there is nothing in Pisa but a rather awkward tower. Almost correct. There is nothing to see but a walled off square that contains a baptistry, a church, and a tower.
    As a show of wealth, the Baptistry leads straight into the church, and at the rear is the impressive tower. Unfortunately it seems the Pisans were not too bright. To demonstrate their wealth the tower is made of solid marble, weighing 14,500 tonnes. It is also built on soft clay and sand, which was never going to support it.
    After several attempts, it has now been stabilised.

    In this image you have the Baptistry and the city walls of Pisa.