The Rooftops of Florence Photo

Photographer’s Note

Well, I'm back from my 1-month stay in Italy (and about a 3-month absence from Trek Earth), and I decided to start things off with one of my favorite photos from my recent trip. The breathtaking views of Florence from the richly-detailed bell tower of the famous Duomo cathedral will make any photographer drool. Make sure you lug your best camera and lenses up the 470 steps to the top. Unfortunately, no tripods are allowed.

Giotto began construction on the bell tower in 1334, and it was finished after his death by Andrea Pisano in 1359. It is covered with pink, green, and white Tuscan marble. Although it is one of the tallest objects in Florence at 276ft (85m), it is still 20ft (6m) shorter than Brunelleschi's massive dome.

The views of Florence are worth the stair-climbing effort to get to the top. The chaotic, seemingly random construction of the city and uneveness of the rooftops create wonderful compositions everywhere you look.

cmarino, pamastro, quantabeh has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

cmarino (2368) 2005-06-02 12:56

Interesting view of the roofs. It looks beautiful even being a disordered urbanism.
Good note too.
Rgds,

Celso

Geo (1239) 2005-06-02 13:00

I love rooftop shots. Such a great way to see a city with the personal touches from house to house. Nice timing with the deep shadows.

davido (1982) 2005-06-02 14:41

Very nice shot it is like a sea of roofs in this lovely town of Firenze ;) I like the colours like other Italian towns. It is so vocating ...
David

Coyotyto (1299) 2005-06-02 15:58

Welcome back Geoffrey !

I'm just discovering this picture, and all your work. You hame really nice pictures there, well done !

In this one I like the repetitive pattern of the roofs and all those different dark red tones. Toguether with the yellow walls, it's really soft and smooth. But the cropping on the top bothers me a bit. Either a bit too much (because of the dark black background on the upper right), or not enough (for details missing in the upper left).

But I guess it's quite difficult, because you have to stop the picture somewhere !!

Cheers,
Youssef.

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pamastro (7213) 2005-06-02 22:36

Beautifully detailed shot, Geoff. The weather looks like it was beautiful. The light is bringing out every tile on all the roofs. The mass of buildings is so organic and so interconnected yet each individual stands out very well. The contrast and sharpness are really perfect in capturing all the textures and the topography here. I also am looking at the top and where it is cropped. Maybe a little lower would have made a difference. But then I like how the church is cut off on the left, giving a feel of continuing beyond this view in this organic mass. And on the left you get a nice sort of natural frame to keep order around the edges that works with the brick wall on the center left. Very nicely done, Geoff.

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quantabeh (5203) 2005-06-03 0:45

Hi Geoff, welcome back. i was wondering just recently why you had stopped posting. well, now I know. This is a really cool picture, very original I must say, as I don't recall seeing this aspect of a city before.
well, hope to see more of your Italy shots.
regards,
Behrang