Old Friends, a photo from Perugia, Umbria

Photographer's Note

One thing I really liked about Italy was the piazza’s, especially those in small towns and villages. They are an extension of the home and a place where community life takes place. We saw a public meeting in a piazza in San Quirico d’Orcia, I think the local politicos were putting forth their views regarding the E.U. Elections. We saw the elderly taking late afternoon walk s; catching up with friends and sharing news. We saw young couples sitting outside while their children rode bikes or kicked balls. We saw people enjoying a coffee or glass of wine. This to me was something so precious, young and old spending time in each other’s company rather than being shut away behind doors. A time shared.

Whether large (piazzone) or small (piazzetta), a piazza welcomes everyone, regardless of gender, age, economics or social class —including tourists. If you want a deeper sense of how Italians live, find a comfortable spot on a pretty piazza and just wait.

Here is a larger version

This photograph is copyright of Rosemary Walden - © Rosemary Walden 2014. All rights reserved. Any redistribution or reproduction of the image in any form is prohibited. You may not, except with my express written permission, copy, reproduce, download, distribute or exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system

snunney, daddo, tyro, photoray, ricardomattos, ourania, delpeoples, macjake, trevormoffiet, timecapturer, Glint, jcpix, Cricri, ikeharel, Hansaphotos, adores ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

dkmurphys (77952) 2014-06-24 2:01

Hi Rosemary,
Lovely scene! Just like in the Italian movies (wich I love) :D. The lack of colors makes the scene even more enjoyable.
Have a great day.

Daniel

snunney (130967) 2014-06-24 3:49

Hello Rosemary,
A lovely atmosphere to this beautifully captured scene. Full of charm and timeless; black and white was certainly the right choice here. Thanks for sharing.

CLODO (45094) 2014-06-24 4:16

Hi Rosemary

your shot comprises the church and the place in front of it where the old people walk quietly with thier stick to meet maybe friends on the other side.
Best regards
CLODO

Sergiom (117241) 2014-06-24 5:09

Bonjour Rosemary,

J'aime beaucoup l'utilisation du noir et blanc qui donne un petit côté documentaire à la composition. Le cadrage suit bien le couple de personnes âgées dans leur marche vers l'église.

Amicalement

Serge

williewhistler (16606) 2014-06-24 5:52

Hello Rosemary,
BW with just a hint of toning works very well for this charming shot,there is certainly a wide range of ages portrayed with the older contingent appearing to be well rugged up for May!
What an interesting Church in the BG.
Best wishes Les.

Fis2 (155425) 2014-06-24 6:16

Witaj Rosemary!
A very curious scene from daily life.
Good frame and composition.
The black and white increase this emotions.
I like church.
Best regards
Krzysztof

daddo (28728) 2014-06-24 6:36

Hi Rosemary. Yes, there is nothing like a piazza. Here in Australia there is a paucity of public places where people can sit away from traffic and enjoy some quality time with friends. Parks are the closest things we have or cafes along the main streets that crisscross a town and in most such scenarios the old are left out.That is why I love the Mediterranean ethos. Great shot of this old couple in front of the church where they were probably baptized, married and will be eulogized when dead. A life in a close community- something precious in this world where many live dislocated and lonely lives.Best wishes. Klaudio.

tyro (30513) 2014-06-24 9:21

Hello Rosemary,

An interesting note - and how true! Piazzas are wonderfully social spaces and, just like street cafés in France and many other continental countries, wonderful places just to sit with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, relax, watch the world go by and even do a little "people watching" as you have done here.

A fine candid photograph whose conversion to black and white gives it a lovely ageless quality. And the subject makes me curious too - is this elderly couple husband and wife? Or are they two widowed people just meeting for companionship? And is the other man simply a passer-by or are they about to meet and talk to him?

A lovely setting too with the lovely west facade of the church in the background and with other little groups in conversation or meeting on their bicycles.

Excellent composition and technical quality, as always.

Excellent!

Kind Regards,

John.

mjw364 (1466) 2014-06-24 10:58

Hello Rosemary

Nice monotone. Well composed and so evocative of the daily life as people move through the public social space of a piazza - it's strange how these open spaces can despite their size be places of community and relaxation. So unlike the attempts to replicate them in this country!

I can imagine the conversation they are having...

"Bloody tourists they get everywhere. don't turn around there's one pointing a camera at you right now!"

Ha ha!

Thanks

Mike

mesutilgim (0) 2014-06-24 13:04

Hello dear Rosemary,
Very nice b&w capture of this piazza with those two seniors on their way.
Perfect pov and layout. Interesting notes.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

carlo62 (81265) 2014-06-24 14:51

Ciao Rosemary
è bello quello che hai scritto, una riflessione molto semplice ed efficace, quello che realmente succede nelle nostre piazze, anche se noi non ce ne accorgiamo perché siamo abituati. Più il villaggio è piccolo e più è vero ciò che dici. (ricordo la domanda su Z e ZZ)
Bella anche la foto, un b&w che si unisce perfettamente alla tua nota.
Stavo osservando la croce celtica, credi sia la prima volta che mi accorgo di questa croce su una chiesa italiana.
Saluti
Carlo

dekanski (7643) 2014-06-24 15:19

Rosemary,

beautiful, warm photos, and exactly the same little story!
Thank you

Saša

PiotrF (52330) 2014-06-24 15:22

Hello Rosemary,
Amazing scene
Very well captured and nicely composed shot of a pleasant atmosphere. The light is perfectly managed and b&w are excellent.
Regards
Piotr

lousat (129831) 2014-06-24 15:37

Hi Rosemary,a beautiful idea this capture from the heart of Umbria,old friends and a typical church in background in a magnificent black and white,i like it! Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

photoray (13981) 2014-06-24 15:52

Howdy Rosemary,

Attractive monochrome of San Quirico d'Orcia's piazza, with the seniors strolling in front of the classical neo gothic church with a very impressive rose window.

I would enjoy strolling here also.

Thanks for sharing,
Cheers,
Ray

ricardomattos (15014) 2014-06-24 16:58

Hi Rose,

Excellent composition with this couple. Good choice for the B&W to highlight these old friends. Well done. I like a lot.

Ricardo

fabbs99 (17179) 2014-06-24 22:06

Hello Rosemary

Fantastic shot of the elderly couple in monochrome.I love to see the strong contrast.Very well done.Keep sharing.

Regards,
Farhat

jjcordier (79299) 2014-06-24 23:54

Rosemary
Le noir et blanc s'imposait ici. Une bonne composition mettant bien en scène ces vieux amis (dommage que l'un d'eux soit caché par la dame).
Amicalement
JJ

ourania (51103) 2014-06-25 2:01

Hello Rosemary,
I like very much this composition, so interesting and vivid in monochrome. You combined a wonderful description of the church façade and of the spacious piazza with a fine street scene in the foreground. The elderly couple is slow but they look elegant and have a nice rhythm. I also like the inclusion of people of different ages in the distance, the peacefulness and naturalness of the scene. Congratulations and thank you! We enjoy the same sense of community on the island, apart from piazzas we also have promenades and quays.
All the best, have a great day,
Ourania

delpeoples (60326) 2014-06-25 2:28

Dear Rosemary

I just love the synchronised walking sticks. This dear old couple (anziani/ancients) enjoying their piazza and church represent everything that I love about Italy. It's almost like an historical document, this photo, because with the old traditions, these dear anziani are a dying breed. So thank you for capturing that Italy that is almost passed, and for capturing it so emotionally and with such love.

Cari saluti
Lisa

macjake (96151) 2014-06-25 4:34

Hi Rosemary
perhaps this is a small window into my future :)
walking with canes, meeting up with fellow people walking with canes :)

the sense of community, family and friendship you pointed to in your note comes through well in this photo.

and of course the bg church sets the stage strongly, yet not in a powerful or overly dominating way.
sweet post
cheers
craig

trevormoffiet (3112) 2014-06-25 4:50

Hello Rosemary,
A thoughtfully composed image full of atmosphere to accompany your descriptive note of the Italian way of life.
Warm regards,
Trevor

timecapturer (49288) 2014-06-25 5:08

Hi Rosemary
a shot full of charm and real character that comes right at you when in processed into monochrome. The setting is historic and the ambience one of grace and subtle renewal. Like this a lot, it is a thinking man/woman's image.

Brian.

emka (152060) 2014-06-25 8:45

Hi again, This shot of elederly people in black and white reminds me the photos of Giorgio Giacosa, ciakgiak. beautiful composition. And Norcia, there is a famous oak there, known from Silvio\s pjhotos.

WArm regrads M|algo

holmertz (92724) 2014-06-25 14:01

Hello Rosemary,
I almost missed this fine photo. It looks timeless, and I guess the conversion to B&W was intended to underscore this. Whatever the reason it works very well. It reminds me of photos Klaudio (daddo) has shown from Italy and Croatia from the 70's. Even in this limited area we can indeed see people of at least three generations I saw the same kind of life going on in the piazzas or certain streets in Albania, which is a rather Italianized country, partly modern, partly stuck in the 1950's.
Kind regards,
Gert

Glint (6171) 2014-06-25 16:09

Hello Rosemary,
this is a pleasant scene. You are right, Piazzas have an important social role to play. People of all ages can stroll, play and meet. It is especially good that the elderly have a place to socialize. Here in northern Europe the elderly are often lonely. Nicely composed and with plenty to peruse. As someone has already said, b & w gives this a timeless quality.
Bev

Mics (1020) 2014-06-26 2:32

Ho Rosemary,

Looking at this photo made me wonder if it still possible to hold hands with a lover or a partner rather than a cane, if ever I reach this age. Will I trade balance with a warm loving hands?

Very keenly observed shot :-)

Have a nice day :-)
Mics

Silvio1953 (205491) 2014-06-26 11:28

Ciao Rosemary, bella coppia di giovincelli, splendido bianco e nero con ottima nitidezza che valorizza la bella architettura romanica, deliziosa Norcia, brava, ciao Silvio

jcpix (14030) 2014-06-26 17:02

Hi Rosemary,

It's so common throughout Europe, the public squares...I sure wish we had some around here that held the same type of appeal and atmosphere. This is a brilliant shot, one which conveys that open space, and yet, is very quaint and cozy. The elderly couple is what makes this even more interesting, and I can only imagine how many times they may have walked through this piazza. Love the black & white treatment too, giving it a nostalgic and "artsy" type of result. Time to take a walk myself. :) Have a great day. All the best.

Friendly wishes,

Jason

abmdsudi (88423) 2014-06-26 19:43

Hi Rosemary
A daily life shot about people in the street with the imposing bg church and great that you have captured the real moment without them even knowing you are there. it's the one that I believe best tells the story of the day with bags of atmosphere. Intriguing to see their behaviour and body language in their natural manner as the elderly couple makes a superb composition I just hope their walking frame won't fail them too. You have definitely captured an interesting moment, the essence in the photograph while the choice in mono gives a cleaner and more simplified image without colors to confuse the viewers. More importantly this picture has a certain charm to it that emphasises a situation, an emotive study of human condition with proper treatment has the feeling of retro world back in time atmosphere that excels the eyes. Well done, TFS.
P/S: Your last critiques much appreciated and points noted with thanks.
Kind regards

Cricri (176) 2014-06-27 8:42

Hi Rosemary
Belle version en N/B un peu comme une ancienne image, les personnes âgées avec leurs cannes partageant un moment d'amitiés......l'église a une architecture intéressante, je l'avais vue en couleurs par Silvio, deux versions qui ce complète très bien
Belle soirée
cricri

ikeharel (105793) 2014-06-28 0:54

Good morning Rosemary,
This is a common sight through Italia, aging population in rural villages and towns. As you had written, a get together place for the old chaps.
The B&W format serves well the ambiance conveyed by this. Poepl placed well on pic. space with the inclussion of a full view of the church facade and campanile.
Cheers, nice weekend,
Ike

elenimavrandoni (0) 2014-06-28 18:03

Rosemary, I simply love your picture!! after all this is what life is all about..being friends and staying friends after all these years!! the monochrome is a great choice, and the composition speaks a whole lot for itself!! nicely done!!
Eleni

Hansaphotos (11379) 2014-07-05 2:51

Hello Rosemary

Almost a poetic expression in this shot. Together with your excellent description it conveys so well an Italian piazza seen with the curious eyes of a tourist. The choice of b&w give the picture a timeless feeling. What a great shot:) Thanks.

Enjoy your WE.

Greetings, Erling

adores (46979) 2014-07-15 18:03

Hi Rosemary!
What a beautiful scene, the old couple walking and the church in background. It's great in b&w, looks like an old photo!