NIGEL'S RAMBLES: December 2014

I usually keep a battered Lumix GX1 in my briefcase with a 14 to 140 superzoom to take record shots on site. It is not the best or most up to date camera in the world, but it does its job perfectly.

I had just visited my “commercialista” to pay some end of year taxes to those thieving bastards down in Rome when I decided to return home by the scenic route along the Apennine foothills to cheer myself up.

Down on the plain there was a thick fog but as I climbed up the winding road towards Rossena I left the fog below me as I expected.

Bianello, Quattro Castella, RE

Bianello, Quattro Castella, REn

Quattro Castella, RE

When I got to the hills above Bianello the scene was spectacular with a sea of cloud below filling the vast Pianura Padana ( Po valley) and a brilliant sunset. The castle of Bianello appeared out of the mist allowing me to get some surreal images. My briefcase camera acquitted itself quite well in recording the scene but having a slow lens meant I had to bump the ISO up a bit.

Bergonzano, Quattro Castela, RE

I returned the next afternoon to get some more photographs of this strange landscape

Bergonzano, Quattro Castela, RE

Rossena, RE

Bergonzano, Quattro Castela, RE

Bianello, Quattro Castela, RE

Bergonzano, Quattro Castela, RE

Bianello, Quattro Castela, RE

Bergonzano, Quattro Castela, RE

In all the years that I have lived in Italy, this is the most spectacular manifestation of this phenomenon that I have seen.

My photographic year started with a spectacular Architectural Mapping light show held in an old abbey in Reggio Emila.

The stabilization in my Olympus EM5 made these hand held shots possible as I could not use a tripod. This camera system continues to delight me in what it can do in impossible situations

Architectural mapping, Chiostro San Pietro, Reggio Emilia.

Then in the same mood some abstracts in the centre of Reggio.

Reggio Emilia

Grazia and I had a very interesting visit to Sabbioneta near Mantua, a Renaissance Milton Keynes where we marvelled at this architectural masterpiece.

Sabbioneta,MN

January is when the birth of the Italian flag in Reggio Emilia is celebrated.

Reggio Emilia

We did not have much snow this year.

From Ginepreto, RE

Did some nice winter walks in the mid Apennines near Brismantova.

Last light on the River Secchia.

February and the Carnival season . Lots of bright colour to brighten up a grey winter day.

Carnival Caslelnovo Sotto, RE

The luminous fresh green grass, one of the first signs that winter was coming to an end accompanied me on a splendid walk near Beleo near Casina.

Beleo, RE

Monument to the Alpini,Beleo, RE

A visit to the Fontanili di Corte Valle Re in mid March, and I knew without doubt that spring was here.

Corte Valle Re, Reggio Emilia

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A long pleasant walk near Carpineti immersed in history and the wonderful landscape of this area.

Onfiano,RE

I discovered the photographic possibilities of Calatrava's station in Reggio Emilia. Having a hand holdable 600mm equivalent lens enabled me to get some out of the ordinary almost abstract shots.

Media Padana Railway Station by Calatrava, Reggio Emilia

I discovered this year two architectural jewels in the rather ugly ceramics industry district near Modena. The Duke of Modena's summer palace near Sassuolo and the castle of Vignola were two little suprises.

Palazzo Ducale Sassuolo,MO

Rocca di Vignola,MO

I decided this year to rediscover the magical river Po, I was rewarded with some atmospheric pictures especially on the two days when I caught the river in full flood.

Guastalla,RE

At the river Museum in Boretto I was transported back to a musty past in the old workshops.

Boretto,RE

I visited a nice mini museum at the site of the old boat bridge crossing.

Boretto,RE

The banks of the Po are famous for spawning some often very original characters such as the ”King of the Po” whose palace I visited, and the Naif painters who have left an outdoor work of art at Guastalla

Palace of "the King of the Po"Boretto,RE

Guastalla,RE

The Po in full flood, worrying for those that live there, but giving a great opportunity for some unusual atmospheric photographs.

Dosolo,MN

Guastalla,RE

The Apennine mountains where I love to walk conspired against me this year. I can’t think of a day that remained nice, and I often finished up walking in the rain.

Parco Orecchiella, MS

Passo Praderena, RE

Parco Orecchiella, MS

Monte Penna, RE

From Monte Acuto,RE

An afternoon spent on Monte Cavalbianco was probably the best day I had this year in the Apeninnes.

Monte Cavalbianco, RE

Monte Cusna,RE

I went to the rather “Psueds corner” Fotografia Europea festival in Reggio Emilia but I got some interesting shots of the installations.

Fotografia Europea, Reggio Emilia

The most interesting long walks I did this year were not in the mountains but at quite low level.

The first one was a long hike below the Apennines as they plunge almost vertically down between Sassalbo via Camporaghena to Torsana just across the border into Tuscany. A long torturous mule track takes you through almost deserted villages famous for their carved masonry. A wonderful walk.

Camporaghena, MS

The second walk was a rather hair raising in places walk along the coast in the “Parco di Portofino” park.

Here in some places one edges along a narrow ledge with the sea a 100 meter shear drop below. This footpath was one of the most frightening that I have ever done.

German Bunker, Parco di Portofino, GE

The worrst bit of the footpath, Parco di Portofino, GE

San Fruttuoso, GE

San Fruttuoso,GE

Returning after this hard slog to the opulence of Portofino is quite a shock.

Portofino, GE

Seeing that the Apeninnes this year were a waste of time, I decided one day to explore the area around Monte Baldo in Veneto.

I had a great day in this area . So next year I think I will return to do some walking here.

Monte Baldo TN

Madonna della Corona, Ferrara di Monte Baldo, VR

Castel Beseno, Beseno, TN

One of the strangest places I visited was the “Salti del Diavolo” in the Baganza valley near Parma with its strange geological formations.

Salti del Diavolo, Chiastre,PR

This summer we returned to Aosta for our holidays and discovered some more of this beautiful region.

Monte Bianco, AO

Ice fall, Brenva Glacier, Monte Bianco, Aosta

Lac Du Place Moulin, Aosta

Lake Miage, Val Veny, Aosta

Monte Cervino, Aosta

Fenis Castle, Aosta

Issogne Castle, Aosta

Sarre Castle, Aosta

Finally I got around to visiting Rossena castle.

Castello di Rossena, RE

I spent a great morning exploring Bologna before a work appointment. It was great how I could my M43 camera and a couple of lenses in my briefcase without the camera gear becoming a nuisance.

Bologna

An Autumn climb up Monte Prampa above a sea of mist closed the mountain season this year.

Monte Prampa, RE

A strange tree was all I saw to photograph on a long exhausting walk near Casina.

An interesting and difficult photographic project was to photograph the road bridges designed by Calatrava here in Reggio Emilia. I rediscovered the use of the tripod after being spoiled by the camera stabilization in my Olympus EM5’s

Bridge by Calatrava Reggio Emilia

NIGEL'S RAMBLES

Monday, December 22, 2014

Fog in Val Padana

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Another year is almost finished

Copyright 2023Nigel Voak