Sunday, November 27, 2011

frustrating photography

This beautiful violet glass garden ornament is hanging in the sculpture garden of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice.  Unfortunately I did not note the artist, but it was glowing with the morning sun, and I couldn't resist attempting to photograph it.  Glass is extremely difficult to photograph, and is one of the things that is frustrating in my own work.  I have hired professionals on specific occasions, but that is usually a costly experience.  I have considered learning more about photography myself, but there are so many hours in a day...  Usually I take multiple photos and cross my fingers.  Sometimes I'm lucky, but often not.
   Most of the mosaic photos from Ravenna and Venice are blurry and dark, so hard to capture their splendor and delicate detail without special lighting, tripod, and super telephoto lens, and years of photographic expertise (none of which I have).   This photo is from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (5th century).  She was daughter of Theodosio the Great, captured by an enemy and married, then later given back to her brother and married off again to a General.  When he died, she became protector of her son, Valentinian the 3rd, Western Emperor, and was responsible for the next 25 years of peace in the empire.  The intricate and highly skilled mosaic work in her tomb is breathtaking.  There are pictorial mosaics with Christian iconography, as well as geometric patterning, and floral festoons, all created with glass and marble tesserae (pieces) the size of your pinky fingernail or smaller.  Amazing.  Photographs just can't do it justice.

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