September 2023 marked a long-awaited journey—my first trip to Rome with my wife, a delayed but cherished honeymoon that had eluded us since our pandemic-marred wedding in 2020. Amidst the upheavals of those years—layoffs, remote work, and a move to Denmark in 2021—travel seemed a distant dream. But 2023 brought a twist of fate: our third anniversary fell on a Saturday, an opportunity that led to an impromptu vow renewal and an immediate escape to Rome. While not initially a photo-focused trip, the streets of Rome gifted me unexpected moments worth capturing.
Rome had forever beckoned from atop my travel list. Its historical treasures, architectural marvels, and culinary delights made it an obvious choice. My wife, content to explore Europe with me at the helm of planning, found herself equally enchanted by the city’s allure. Together, we marveled at the Colosseo, wandered through The Vatican City, and immersed ourselves in the stories of Palatine Hill, Castillo Sct. Angelo, and the Pantheon. Among the myriad treasures Rome offered, two iconic sites beckoned me as a photographer: the Colosseo and the Vatican City. While every corner of Rome held its allure, these landmarks posed a unique challenge. How does one capture the grandeur of these architectural marvels? How does one navigate through bustling crowds to create unique, personal photographs that resonate?
The Colosseo stood within reach throughout our stay, a tangible goal that teased my photographer’s eye. My wife, understanding my quest for these shots, graciously allowed for the time I needed. Amidst capturing candid moments and obligatory selfies, we weaved our way toward the Colosseo, my personal Everest in Rome. Its significance wasn’t just about a photograph; it was about rising to the challenge, knowing that failing to immortalize this grand structure would leave me feeling incomplete. The Vatican City remained a treasure waiting to be unveiled until our final day. With each step, the anticipation built, knowing that capturing its essence through my lens would be the culmination of this visual journey.
In the end, I ended up with three photos of the Colosseo that I like well enough to want to share with others. However, I still feel like I am missing a wide-shot that includes more of the whole building, but I would have had to meticulously remove all the tourists in the frame, and this was not a dedicated photography trip, so I decided that it will have to be something that I come back and do one day. And hopefully I will, sometime soon.
With the Colosseo covered, my last sort of really important location was the Vacitan City, or Sct. Peters Cathedral to be exact. This time I did try to get up very early in the morning, take the early subway train and try to catch the building as the sun was rising. And somehow, I am not really in love with what I captured from this early morning trip. I think I should have, instead, come back in the evening and photographed with the sun behind the Cathedral, perhaps when the street lights come on. But in any case, I was able to go and enjoy a calm, and sere morning in the presence of one of the most majestic buildings I have ever seen.
I must have looked like a right tourist walking around with my camera bag, scouting locations, taking tens, if not hundreds of photos from every conceivable angle and yet, no matter what I did, I was never really happy with the results. Sometimes you have an idea so ingrained in your mind, that you’re never really able to fulfill your own promise, and that is definitely something I struggle with in my photography. I very quickly get disappointed in myself, and then I completely stop trying.
I remember one of the things that really bugged me, and continues to annoy me in places with great historical significance, is barricades, cars, large screens, and other stuff that sort of gets in the way. I understand that Sct. Peters Cathedral is still in use to this day, that thousands of people come here to hear and see the pope, but WOW would this building look even more beautiful if all these extra precautionary measures were not needed. Of course they are necessary, but I find large LCD displays hard to edit out. And it really, really makes me appreciate the lengths the kind of photographers who get features in magazines go through, to get the photos that we see and love.