Vatican City

Photographer's Note

Obviously this is not from Södermalm island or anywhere else in Stockholm.

I still have a number of recent photos from my home town but they don't make me particularly enthusiastic, and the bad light and usually dull weather makes this a bad time of the year for new photo walks in Stockholm.

So I decided to enter my time machine once again. I steered it all the way back to the summer of 1969, when I visited Italy for the first time. The photos are all of a very low quality, being taken with a primitive camera years before I discovered the Kodachrome films. I probably used Agfacolor CT18.

This is from the roof of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, built between 1506 and 1626. It was designed by the leading architects and artists of the time and is regarded as the greatest work of Renaissance architecture.

On the roof, overlooking St. Peter's Square, are large sculptures of Christ the Redeemer (note the cross) surrounded by twelve saints. A number of sculptors, most of them relatively unknow today, were hired to make them.

I will show a fairly common view from the dome of the basilica in the WS. The closer look at the statues, and especially the photographer (I love his style), made this my obvious choice of main upload. There are surprisingly few photos from here on TE.

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

Critiques | Translate

Fis2 (169731) 2021-12-16 0:45

Witaj Gert my neighbour today :)!
Interesting photo from your archive.
The sculptures are impressive and the competitor adds flavor to this photograph.
I like framing, perspective and colors.(Agfacolor CT18)
Good work.
Warm regards.
Krzysztof

PaulVDV (62802) 2021-12-16 1:23

Hello Gert,
Your photo in the WS reminds me of the view I saw a very long time ago.
But your main photo (without reading your title) didn't immediately bring me a memory.
It is also remarkable how few people can be seen near those statues. Nor in your second photo. It seems as if that part of St. Peter's was reserved for the VIPs.
Or were there only so few people going to Rome in 1969?
The man in the front of your main photo looks like a dwarf.
Best regards, Paul

pajaran (114915) 2021-12-16 2:51

Pozdrav.

Interesantan i lep pogled, dobar tekst ...
Lepi kipovi na ogradi, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom, perspektivom i uhvacenim trenutkom.
Dobar rad sa lepom fotografijom u radionici.
Lepe fotografije i secanje.

Zelim vam lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje.
Paja

foxy (3447) 2021-12-16 3:37

Hello Gert,
Rome is considered one of my favourite city ... given it's very touristic.
Looking at this picture ... it was fairly quiet and pleasant. I just love those sculptures standing in 'Grandeur and Power' overlooking St. Peter's Square to the fellow pilgrims and spectators below.
I wonder ... did you squat to take this picture like the man? Thank God ! we don't have this kind of camera anymore :-)
One more thing that I'll always glue to the Vatican ... is the election of a New Pope. Waiting anxiously ... to see any smoke emerging from the chimney.
I do like the old vintage coaches and cars , seen in the WS.
Thanks for bringing back your time machine ... must be 'dustfree' now :-)
Loong
p/s: Thanks for adding 2 points to my 'ginger monkey'.
After sulking for 12.5 years with no points ... now he is starting to jump 'Up and Down' again :-)

ChrisJ (171222) 2021-12-16 4:09

Hello Gert,

The 40c heat of July 2013 and the 2 hour wait in a very long queue were a strong disincentive for me not to spend any further time standing in the hot sun, so I took a couple of photos of St Peter's from ground level and left for the Spanish Steps and Trevi fountain instead. An unusual rooftop view of the statues. Tfs!

Silvio1953 (220605) 2021-12-16 4:20

Ciao Gert, great parade of fantastic statues, lovely composition with photographer in action, wonderful colors, fine details, splendid light and excellent clarity , very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

pierrefonds (113590) 2021-12-16 4:47

Hi Gert,

You have captured well the action of the photographer. The point of view is showing the details of the statues on the roof the the St.Peter's basilica. The light is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (211734) 2021-12-16 8:54

Hello Gert,

***First my friend, I can certainly take a joke, I was once responsible for more than 300 men, so I can certainly take a joke.***

Your additional picture are lovely as panorama.
On this picture we can the statues perfect place.
The little man in are position gives a nice position against the statues
Nice picture, good composition.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

jean113 (27637) 2021-12-16 9:20

Hello Gert, you were fortunate to be able to go up onto the roof. When we visited we were quite short of time, so were never given the opportunity, more's the pity.
So I find your two shots very interesting.
I would love to know what this photographer was taking a picture of.
He certainly provides us with scale as we compare him with the sculptures looking down on the square.
Excellent point of view using the diagonal of the kerb.
Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards, Jean.

jmdias (114278) 2021-12-16 11:10

gert

the photographer could be a japanese in the 1980's or a chinese today, but probably was an american in 1969.
I never saw an image of these famous statues from behind and closer. nice the WS too. I never climb famous towers and domes while travelling because the long lines. my last trip I lost a good amount of time in a line to see a lighthouse from the top with tourists occupying the whole space around to take selfies and sailors screaming the time of visit was finishing..

take care

jorge

lousat (138609) 2021-12-16 11:53

Hi Gert,in fact the quality is not the best, but from 1969 I only have a few family photos in black and white, also because I was only 5 years old ... ehehe ... as you know I've never been to Rome, so these alternative perspectives are of great help, not much should have changed and the absence of so many tourists in your photos brings us back to the present days due to the pandemic. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Tue (91574) 2021-12-16 13:58

Hej Gert,
Et godt billede med de rigtig store skulpturer, menneskerne i forgrunden giver en god ide om hvor store de er. Jeg er sikker på jeg har set dem herfra også, men dengang havde jeg ikke nogen digitalt kamera med mig.
Lars

mcmtanyel (67657) 2021-12-16 20:01

Hello Gert,
I guess you had a choice between including the edge of the sidewalk and the head of the rightmost statue. I would have chosen the head. It's a nice memento from 52 years ago.
Regards,
MT

ifege (46951) 2021-12-16 22:00

Hi Gert
You beat me to Rome for your first visit by a year or so and I didn't get a photo from the roof!
Ann interesting one taken from behind the statues. And a good WS as well.
cheers
Ian

jemaflor (146280) 2021-12-16 23:32

Hi Gert,
Intersting effect with this man to give a scale at your view, interesting statues, good perspective, nice weather with blue sky and sunlight, tfs.

COSTANTINO (115539) 2021-12-16 23:33

Hello my dearest Gert
fantastic view of these
big statues
difficult work to be done...
but the artists created
the greatest work of Renaissance
architecture...
greetings...
regards
Costantino

ikeharel (112439) 2021-12-17 0:31

Saw this place only from distance, Gert, did not know on my 05/1980 visit that it was possible to walk on its roof...
A scanned superb photo from long ago, cheers.
Have a nice friday,
Ike

Gerrit (62042) 2021-12-17 7:49

Hello Gert,
These statues were obviously made to be admired from the other side. Makes a fine composition like this with the people providing scale.
Thanks and regards,
Gerrit

worldcitizen (15956) 2021-12-17 8:32

Hello Gert,
This is an interesting view. If you didn't mention this was the roof, I would have thought these people were walking on some sort of bridge. The statues are very large, and the man taking his own photo adds a nice, extra detail to the scene. To my eyes, I see a tilt towards the right, and the partially headless statue on the far right was distracting me a bit, so I made a WS just for fun. :-)

[workshop] [compare] +

Royaldevon (85606) 2021-12-17 9:16

Hello Gert,

I studied your photographs and read your notes with great interest.
Because of our time exploring the Vatican, we seemed to have little time to do anything other than take very conventional views of St. Peter’s. In fact, I was unaware that visiting the roof was an option. How good that you were able to get such amazing close-ups of the sculptures, very well composed, and confirm their scale!
The photographer is a really interesting capture, too!

Love the aerial view of the square!
The buses and parked cars outnumber the number of people visiting!
It definitely wasn’t like that when I was there in 2018!

My warm regards,
Bev 😊

adramad (72562) 2021-12-17 10:31

Hi Gert.
This image of the roof of San Pedro is astonishing, with the magnificent perspective of the series of statues, the two or three people who walk there give us the scale of its large size.
It is the first time that I see this perspective, I do not think that it is allowed to go up here for many years with the increase in tourism, at the time you visited it, tourists were not so crowded in Rome.
Also magnificent are the WS.
Very effective coloring, which highlights the details of the image.
Well done. I like it.
Enjoy this weekend, before Christmas.
My best wishes for you.
Luis

emka (157280) 2021-12-19 22:40

Hello Gert,
What a surprise with this old photo from Rome. Interesting close view of the big statues and classical view of the square in WS.
I posted three photos that are slightly younger - from 1977. Two of them I posted before we "knew" each other.
I was in Rome later and took a lot of pictures, also many photos from this roof, see https://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Vatican_City//photo1407810.htm
When I was there, the square was full of chairs for the last mass by pope Benedict.
The guy has a strange pose.

Best regrads MAlgo

alvaraalto (42804) 2021-12-24 7:24

Hello Gert,
I must also have old analogue photos of these apostles looking out over St Peter Square.
They are well on time to listen to the Urbi et Orbi tomorrow for a probably almost empty square.
Merry Christmas, groet Rob

BennyV (34742) 2021-12-31 5:13

Another great one from the Holmertz vaults! Lovely shot, Gert! The well dressed photographed looks miniature vs the giant statues. The kind of shot that only gets better in time, this one! Cheers & my best wishes for 2022.

Benny

macjake (98262) 2021-12-31 15:35

Hi Gert
well...we made it through 2021! 2022 HAS to be better right?
it can't get much worse. I think Covid is something we will just have to learn to live with, and I wish the media would stop sensationalizing it. For example, here in BC they say there are 4500 new cases, in big bold headlines...but in reality how many are severe? maybe 20? this new varient is easily transmitted, but its basically just like getting a normal head cold or a little bit worse - IF you are fully vaccinated. anyways...I hope you're safe and being responsible out there. I do like the edited version, cutting off the far right statue. and it really does show the scale too, they're quite large. interesting take. Happy New Year! any travel plans? None for me sadly, but we'll see how it goes. I may go to Newfoundland in eastern canada in the summer, to visit my family. and I really want to go to Egypt but is going to Egypt with a 2 year old a smart idea???? stay safe
cheers
Craig

kasianowak (17672) 2022-01-07 12:59

Hi Gert
I do agree with your choice of the main image because of the photographer. He's trying really hard but, above all, he nearly made me exclaim: "how huge are these statues!". But the photo in the WS is also great and gives us an idea of what we can see in the main upload. The view is breathtaking.
Best wishes
Kasia