Taking Spectacular Photos While in Italy
By Garrison Bennet
Walking through the streets of Rome is a captivating experience rich in history – and the fashions of the people who walk in it. Every turn comes with an opportunity to capture the essence of the old with the new. This cannot be done with a single photo alone, yet one ought to not experience life through a pixelated screen. Finding this balance for myself came with lessons that I’d like to pass on in hopes that others can be inspired to capture the best moments from their travels.
Thankfully, it can be very easy to capture great photos in Rome. I found it is best to toss the idea of “taking too many photos” to the side. Although, there is an Italian way to go about this. There aren’t cultural rules for photographers like there is with coffee. Yet the culture taught me what to do to create a magical photo. Being a photographer is not merely about the quality of the photo, it is also about the personality.
Lessons from the Paparazzi
With the beauty of Rome, comes an abundance of stars from all over the world. It is no wonder that the term Paparazzi started here. The origins of which comes from the name of a character in the 1961 film La Dolce Vita, who is relentless at trying to capture the perfect shot of the rich and famous. Willing to bypass everyone and even jump onto a car to get the best shot. Such an over-the-top performance resulted in the cultural archetype for chasing celebrities.
Paparazzo, willing to break all social boundaries to capture the best image (La Dolce Vita, 1961)
Paparazzo’s character offers a caricature of a greater value that I have learned to appreciate from Italian culture and helped me take better photos. There is a direct way to go about things that is sometimes abrasive, but sometimes necessary. Want to get the best photo in the Trevi Fountain? You better be ready to scoot your way through the masses! If you don’t someone else will butt in and take away your precious time.
There is a hidden gem in the work of the paparazzi (or paparazzo/a as a singular noun). Their work compels them to keep the best and trash the rest. It is best to live most of the trip in the present moment instead of behind the lends. However, if one wants to capture some great candid photos of the people, it is important to be poised to take a photo at any given moment.
I found the best way to do this is to pick a place where there is a steady flow of people and a visually pleasing background. Then, remain still in that area for a few minutes, or however long you desire. Then just wait for the people to complete your work of art as they walk by. This style of taking photos has been my favorite way of capturing the streets of Rome. Adding the emotion of what it is like to be there. The people of Rome are among the most picturesque in the world. Believing that life is a show, and so it is important to act and dress the part.
Picking a place with good lighting is half the battle, having the patience and luck to have the right people walk by will make for a spectacular photo.
There are other times where you may want to be the person captured under a backdrop. This is where it is ideal to use the buddy system and have someone take a photo of you. While selfies are convenient, they often produce inferior results. Get someone to take your photo. Be both patient and persistent, checking the results of the photos and doing a reshoot if necessary. Taking on the direct honesty of the Italian is a great way to embrace the culture and get a photo that you can be proud of.
It is important to be careful and aware of your surroundings when taking photos. Not only are selfies lower in potential quality, and they can also be dangerous. Thieves are poised and ready to snatch phones and cameras out of unsuspecting hands. Those too focused on themselves have quickly become shocked victims as they lose their valuable possessions.
Taking communal photos and photos of others is another way of honoring Italian culture. Just like how it is proper to pour water for others, it is a best practice to offer taking a photo of a friend. Then they can return the favor, and the respectful action will result in higher quality pictures almost every time. By doing this practice with multiple people, you can figure out who is the best at getting your good side!
Historical landmarks, structures, and visual history
Within the city center, the Forum highlights the many layers of the past. Filled with complete works of buildings and arches alongside destroyed remains of a ruling order of another era. Stacked on top of an additional layer of antiquity. For those like me who are not familiar with the timeline of the eternal city, it can be hard to know how to take in all this information.
My intention when I got here was to take a photo of each of the captivating pieces of Rome. Yet, upon entering immaculate churches like the Trinta dei Monti, I found myself taking a photo nearly every other step. Not to mention the dozens of photos taken as I went up the Spanish Steps to get there. The result? I would have hundreds of photos of where I went, but often nothing to say for it. While a photograph is worth a thousand words, it seems a thousand photos leads one to become dumbfounded.
*While one cannot take too many photos, it is important to review what it being taken, and be mindful. Just because you have the storage capacity to take thousands of photos, doesn’t mean you should. This is where capturing landmarks and people differ. Capturing pedestrians requires the right time and place, while there is no need to rush capturing a landmark. Please, do yourself a favor and put your phone or camera down and immerse yourself in the experience. Then take a picture only when something speaks to you.
The refrain reduced the overwhelming photos to go through. Still not knowing what to capture, such anxieties then transferred into the present moment. Leaving me waking away from iconic structures, without an intelligent word to say about it.
Thankfully, I found a solution that saved my photos from becoming digital clutter. It was a slow transformation from a little tidbit of information I picked up on a walking tour. Before the advent of the printing press and access to public education, literacy rates were low. The Catholic Church and Roman Empire was aware of the illiterate masses, so most of the public learned through spoken stories and iconography. AHA!
Arch of Titus, remaining fully intact amidst the destroyed remains around The Forum. Commemorating Titus, who helped secure Jerusalem for the Roman Empire. Further highlighting a tone of dominance amidst destruction.
The secret key to making a picture meaningful, is to be able to tell the story behind it. This sounds obvious, but it’s easy to overlook this fact while amidst a captivating atmosphere. Taking pictures of structures just because they are aesthetically pleasing is not the best practice. Doing this only left me scrolling through my pictures as if it was an Instagram feed.
Often looking at a structure is not enough to understand it. Here are a few tips on how I was able to strengthen the stories of the photos I captured:
Make the most out of your tour guide: You will notice most people in your tour will take photos first, listen later. Don’t do this! These works of art have been here for centuries, sometimes over a millennium. They aren’t going away, and there’s no prize in being the first in the tour to take a photo. It is better to listen first, capture after. Otherwise, your monkey mind will think “I got it! What’s next?” and forego the listening part.
Keep a €2 coin handy, and a pair of headphones: The most popular structures often come with an audio tour kiosk [pictured below]. These are my favorite way of learning, as you get to choose what pieces of information you want to learn about. Then, it becomes a seek-and-find Where’s Waldo style adventure of trying to find what was shown on the screen.
Creative search engines: Of course, when in doubt – Google it. Searching for the Wikipedia page has often been a friend of mine on this trip. To find stories of sites with more character and inspiration however, I recommend Quora and Medium. Quora is a site where people ask questions and answer. This is great to explore deeper into famous legends. Perhaps you want to explore “why do people toss coins into the Trevi Fountain?” Meanwhile, Quora is a great way to find blog posts that carry along unique reflections and poetic takes on a structure that can enhance your perspective.
Looking Through the Photo Reel
As my traveling adventure ends, I find myself thankful for the photos I took. If I could do it over again, I would do so with the following advice:
Review photos constantly! Going through hundreds of photos at a time becomes a daunting experience whereas a few dozen brought euphoric feelings of instant nostalgia.
Going to locations before sunrise is the best time to take top quality photos. I got my fair share of sleeping in, but photos at the crack of dawn are the best for two reasons: 1. You beat the hoards of people that will ruin the quality of your picture 2. The sunrise is the perfect backdrop to complete the mise en scene
Reflect on why something is being taken. Remembering the moment, or an interesting fact makes a photo come to life.
Don’t listen to ideas that prevent capturing the moment. “I just want to live in the moment” is a farce. Recognizing photo opportunities have enhanced the awareness of beauty around me. “I don’t want to inconvenience others” is also ridiculous. Any minor inconvenience will be forgotten whereas a good photo will be appreciated and remembered.
About the Author
Garrison Bennet is a Communications undergraduate with a concentration in Political Communications. Garrison walked May 2021, with the condition of finishing six credits the following Summer. The requirement was delayed with the hopes of completing his undergraduate degree abroad. A wait that proved to be worthwhile with his final undergraduate courses being experienced in Rome. He now hopes to enter the non-profit field with the vision of being an agent of change as a communication director.
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