An Italian Winter

December 31, 2011

Ok – so a new venture… A post not about Llanwern! I thought on this New Year’s Eve I might share what I have been up to with the Wista whilst on holiday in Lazio… When I told Clive and Ken that the Housebound project was NOT GOING WELL (I think only having 2 images qualifies as a bit of a disaster) they both challenged me to make some work over Christmas. So, I have been making a few pictures that are to do with the Italian economy, the dependence on tourism along the lake shores and the Winter shut-down.

Predominantly featuring reflections, the images are meant to both show the present state of the property/business, but also to hint at their past – what they were involved with only a few months ago. The reflections of lake/hills that appear somewhere in the shot also talk about the future – about how just as the water and rock are permanent features, so the tourists will return to enjoy them.

Possibly all a bit hackneyed… Nothing particularly original going on – but then, all art is theft. Isn’t it?

I’m really getting into the idea of being a landscape photographer – reading for my essay has affirmed what I know already – there are not enough women out there getting their landscape pictures into the public domain. Who knows if this is a phase or a fad, but I am enjoying it!

Here are a few pics taken in the places I am making the 5 x 4 images: just to give a sense of the area… They form part of my ‘research’ (that bit of the project where you wander around looking.) I have no idea if they will work, if I will have enough or even if they will be used, but it has been good to spend a little time with my baby, concentrating on being all metaphorical.

Happy new year!