🧳 2019: Curon Venosta, Campanile lago di Resia, Bolzano

Curon Venosta & Abandoned Italy: Echoes of My 2019 Journeys

The year 2019 was a journey into contrasts for me, a photographic exploration across Italy that blended breathtaking natural beauty with the poignant silence of forgotten places. From the serene, reflective waters of the Alps to the dusty, decaying interiors of abandoned structures, each location whispered its own story, inviting me to listen and capture its essence. My lens sought out both the grandeur of the Italian landscapes and the intimate details of human traces left behind. This collection represents a deep dive into those moments, a personal narrative woven through light and shadow. It's about finding beauty in the overlooked, the dramatic, and the melancholic. Whether it was the majestic mountains or the ghostly remains of past lives in Voghera and Pavia, my camera was a companion, eager to document the raw, unfiltered truth of these unique spaces.

Exploring My 2019 Italian Photo Albums

• My pursuit of sweeping vistas often led me to the tranquil lakes and towering peaks around Curon Venosta and Bolzano. Capturing the iconic Campanile nel Lago di Resia, Alto Adige, submerged yet defiant, was a highlight. For these expansive shots, I frequently relied on my NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D800 paired with the TAMRON SP AF 10-24mm F3.5-4.5 Di II LD Aspherical IF B001N to really open up the scene, or my Canon EOS 700D with the EF-S10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM to achieve those wide, dramatic perspectives of "Riflessi di nuvole e alberi nel lago alpino" and "Vette dolomitiche innevate illuminate dal sole." The challenge was often in managing the bright alpine sun and deep shadows, requiring careful exposure balancing and sometimes pushing the ISO to capture details in the darker areas without losing highlight information, often staying within the 32-6400 range.
• The "Scuola Abbandonata" album delves into the profound quietness of deserted classrooms and corridors. Walking through these spaces, like the one that inspired "Aula abbandonata: una sedia sola davanti alla lavagna," felt like stepping back in time. The soft, diffused light filtering through broken windows created a melancholic atmosphere. I often used my Sony Alpha 6300 with the versatile E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens to adapt quickly to varying light conditions indoors, allowing me to capture the intimate details and textures of decay, or my Canon EOS 550D with the EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II for its reliability in these often dimly lit environments. The goal was to convey the sense of forgotten memories and the passage of time.
• The "Fabbrica e Industria Abbandonata" series took me into the heart of industrial decay in places near Voghera and Pavia, where the raw beauty of rust and ruin prevailed. From a "Vecchia auto d'epoca abbandonata in una fabbrica in rovina, illuminata dal sole" to "Graffiti su porta arrugginita in bunker abbandonato," these locations were rich with visual stories. The dynamic range here was often extreme, with harsh light entering through gaps in the roof or walls, contrasting with very dark interiors. My NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3400 with its 18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens proved excellent for navigating these complex scenes, allowing me to capture textures and details even in challenging light. Sometimes, I even relied on my OPPO Find X5 or samsung SM-N950F for quick, candid shots when the mood struck, proving that even a smartphone can capture the soul of a place.
• Beyond the grand themes, I was always drawn to unique perspectives and intricate details. The "Riflesso simmetrico di un ponte ad arco al tramonto" and "Riflessi montani sul lago di Dobbiaco" showcase my fascination with reflections, transforming ordinary scenes into abstract compositions. For capturing these precise moments and sometimes the more distant details, my Canon EOS 550D combined with the EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens was invaluable, allowing me to isolate elements and play with compression. The abandoned vehicles, like the "Ambulanza abbandonata nella natura selvaggia" or the "Ricordi sbiaditi: ciclomotore e carretto abbandonati in un interno decadente," were powerful symbols of lives interrupted, and I aimed to photograph them with a sense of respectful observation.

Each photograph from 2019 holds a piece of my journey, a moment of connection with both the enduring grandeur of nature and the silent, evocative beauty of things left behind. These are the stories I found, framed through my lens.