Italy

Photographer's Note

The young woman is watching the remains of the Temple of Vesta in the Forum Romanum. It was originally built around 700 B.C, making it one of the earliest structures in the Forum, but it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The final demolition took place in 1549, when the marble was used for new churches. I have no idea why they bothered to leave a small part intact. Maybe someone thought it would be nice to keep a small part of the uniquely round temple.

In 1969 I had spent one year studying art history at university, so I knew exactly what this was. I think the young woman watching it with such keen interest also knew what she was looking at. But preparing this note I had to make some research to brush up my memory. Isn't it funny how you can forget things in just 52 years?

This is a scan of an Agfacolor CT 18 slide. I was rather pleased to notice that already in 1969 my instincts told me that a photo of art or architecture would be better with a person watching it.

In the WS is another photo from the Forum Romanum.

ikeharel, Fis2, alvaraalto, jhm, pierrefonds, mcmtanyel, COSTANTINO, ChrisJ, PaulVDV, adramad, jean113, worldcitizen, macjake, aliabazari has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ikeharel (114629) 2021-12-25 0:36

Hello Gert,
The famous standing pillars on the Roman forum ground's, picture from long ago that is superbly processed.
Wish you a nice holidays weekend,
Ike

Silvio1953 (222959) 2021-12-25 0:59

Ciao Gert, great view of fascinating ruines, nice insertion of person that add proportions, excellent clarity, splendid light, wonderful colors and fine details, very well done, my friend, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, ciao Silvio

emka (158860) 2021-12-25 1:17

Hi Gert,
I didn't study art history but I knew what it was when I was admiring this temple when I was as young as this woman here.
My first thought when you asked me was just Vesta Temple but I had to check it. The similar round Vesta Temple is also in Tivoli, and it was kind of copied in Warsaw Saski Park (serving as a water tower).
Merry Christmas

MAlgo

Fis2 (171961) 2021-12-25 1:26

Witaj Gert!
A very nice picture from Your archive.
Interesting place, view makes impression.
Beautiful ruins.
Good framing and colors (retro)
Warm regards.
Krzysztof

alvaraalto (42804) 2021-12-25 1:58

Hello Gert,
I can still remember how years ago I walked around here with a class of architecture students. All those dilapidated buildings made less of an impression on me than I had expected. It reminded me too much of the decline of the Roman Empire, more than its heyday. The photos I have somewhere from this visit are also from the analog era.
Scanning these photos as well as digitizing my LPs are on my schedule, but instead of diving into the past I always choose the present.
Merry Christmas, groet Rob

lousat (139992) 2021-12-25 2:44

Hi Gert,two beautiful memories from the Roman Forum that Pierrefonds showed us in all sorts of ways. Surely not much has changed, the quality of the photos is still good, and it's nice to take a step back in time .. hoping to leave again as soon as possible. Merry Christmas and thanks! Luciano

jhm (211738) 2021-12-25 5:13

Hello Gert,

I've stopt with slides preparation to digital picture
Sometimes I look with my dia projector, but every month less to less
You've an artist in digitalization fot to get this result, fantastic.
You saw formerly already the fine places to make a picture
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

pierrefonds (115572) 2021-12-25 5:27

Hi Gert,

You have captured well the concentration of the woman. The poit of view is showing the details of the ruins of the Temple. The light is giving good colors output. Have a nice day.

Pierre

GyurMaster (25033) 2021-12-25 11:21

Dear Gert,

It always makes me sad, when I read that ancient ruins were used to build new things from them. I know it was mostly necessity back then, but anyhow. To say something about the photo it is well-composed with the human presence.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

jmdias (116511) 2021-12-25 14:21

gert

the girl looked nice, I am not sure if she was an ugly woman you would take the same image. haha.
I am curious about the WS, I don't remember that street surrounded by ruins. nice images with good quality.

take care

jorge

mcmtanyel (69255) 2021-12-25 20:20

Hello Gert,
Lovely shot of what remains of the Temple of Vesta, surrounded by lovely greens.
Merry Christmas,
MT
PS. If you had a cat, you would feel the supply chain shortage. Apparently, soft cat food is hard to come by these days.

COSTANTINO (117814) 2021-12-25 22:03

Hello dear Gert
have a nice day for today
the day is almost perfect
with good temperature and
a sun shining into the blue
sky in my city....
but your photo has great
lightness presenting the
monument of Rome...I like
the woman looking at the remains
of Temple of Vesta in the Forum..
...unique silhouette drawing our attention
regards
Costantino

mehrdad-t (4812) 2021-12-25 23:00

Hello,
Very beautiful and I like the view of history, colors, light.
Thanks

jemaflor (148260) 2021-12-25 23:51

Hi Gert,
Interesting Roman ruins, nice light for contrast and very photogenic detail with the attitude of the visitor, taken at a perfect moment, tfs.

pajaran (117077) 2021-12-26 4:49

Pozdrav.

lep pogled , dobar tekst ...
Lepo mesto i stara arhitektura, dobro pokazano sa lepim boama, kontrastom i uhvacenim trenmutkom sa posetiocem.
Dobar rad sa lepom fotografijom u radionici.
Lepa rusevina.

Zelim vam lepo popodne za odmor, sve najbolje.
Paja

ChrisJ (172436) 2021-12-26 7:02

Hej Gert

Good inclusion of the woman looking up and also indicating the strong backlight by shielding her face. Excellent sharpness and impressive Forum ruins which I saw in 2013. Tfs!

ifege (49465) 2021-12-26 22:25

Hi Gert
Some people go out of their way to take photos of structures like this without a soul in sight. The inclusion of some one can often help with scale, as in this photo. Another couple of good oldies.
cheers
Ian

Tue (93458) 2021-12-27 7:25

Hej Gert,
De store, smukke og sirlige tempelruiner er meget smukke og de stеr meget godt frem fra baggrunden med deres hvide toner. Sollyset var ogsе fint og den ene kvinde der stеr og beundrer det hele er godt kommet med. Det er nu om dagen vist helt umuligt at der stеr kun en person i vejen.
Lars

PaulVDV (63478) 2021-12-27 8:58

Hello Gert,
I know you are very happy with the lady in the photo who admires the remains of the ancient temple. You would probably have liked to include more people in the picture. For others, it would be a great experience if they could visit the Forum Romanum with only one other person in sight.
You are amazed that you forgot things in half a century. I'm currently in a series of photos I took in 2018. I can't believe how much I've already forgotten about a trip of three years ago. I now realize the benefit of a travel diary.
Another superb shot in the WS!
Best regards, Paul

adramad (73452) 2021-12-27 10:22

Hi Gert.
Wonderful composition that perfectly shows us that with only three preserved columns, this temple would have a very special beauty and elegance, it magnifies the inclusion of the amazed girl looking at this jewel, it gives us the proportion of the monument very well. Very nice the photo of the WS that gives us an angle not very seen in this part of the forum.
Both the color and the brightness of the photo are magnificent, highlighting the beauty and sharpness of the composition.
Very well done. I am amazed at the quality of a photo with more than 50 years.
Have a good day.
Very best regards.
Luis.

jean113 (28285) 2021-12-28 8:29

Hello Gert, I seem to have got a little behind in commenting on your shots, Christmas activities got in the way.
Your ability at composing interesting shots is very apparent from the two shots that you give us here.
The woman is perfectly placed in a good pose and providing scale too.
I like the w/s shot too with the grass growing through the paving.
Excellent work.
Kind regards, Jean.

worldcitizen (16226) 2022-01-03 12:39

Hello Gert,
You're right, the woman studying the ruins adds a lot to the scene. I guess having a small piece of this temple is better than having no pieces of it at all. The woman looks small in front of the elevated, tall columns. Wishing you a happy new year!

macjake (98544) 2022-01-06 22:18

Hi Gert
I gotta say, I prefer the WS - not that I don't like the main post, I'm just saying I wish you had kept that WS for its own, it deserves it. I always say it, but...when I see these ruins its fun to try and imagine how it looked in its prime. Could you imagine what a spectacle Rome would have been...wow. and yes, you're correct, it is a good idea to have a person in these shots - unless you're specifically going for a minimalist type of look, or a specific cropping of details. good one. cheers
Craig

kasianowak (17676) 2022-01-16 5:43

Certainly, I can confirm you forget things after 52 years! ;-)
It's interesting that already in the 16th century, whoever planned the demolition, knew parts of this temple were worth leaving intact.
The lady looking up makes the image unique and also gives the viewer an idea of how tall those columns are.
Have a nice afternoon.
Kasia

aliabazari (23283) 2022-02-02 22:51

Hello Gert
Beautiful view of this monument. The presence of a woman is a good measure for us. Thanks for sharing