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Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari Popular belief or the folklore of faith is, in general, what religion means to the common man. It is its most widespread manifestation, not only in Catholicism, but in other religions as well. There’s a lot of suffering in the world and people are often subjected to great stress, either…
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Treasure trove Venice
Treasure trove Venice One of the delightful aspects of the Italian pavilion at the 2011 Venice Biennale was the sense of continuity you experienced when you left the exhibition space and stepped into the various nooks and crannies of this ever-enchanting city. Both inside and out, you felt surrounded by the same blend of folkloric…
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The art is not our thing
The art is not our thing Art critic and politician Vittorio Sgarbi was appointed curator of the Italian pavilion at the 54th Venice Biennale (2011). Given that he is known for his opposition to modern art – and certainly to the ‘mafia’ that organises the art world – his appointment was rather controversial. He decided…
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Art is my thing
Art is my thing The experience of art in all its manifestations (literature, music, visual arts) is occupying a privileged place in my mental and intellectual life. I could say: in my spiritual life, but I always hesitate using that word since it has these strong religious connotations I’d like to avoid. With acknowledgement and…
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Taking a break
Taking a break We are here in the Swiss Alps at an altitude of 2000 meters on a trek around the Muverans and I am standing at the exact spot from where I took last week’s picture of landscape with horseman. While that photo clearly was a landscape, I wouldn’t call this one a landscape…
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Landscape with horseman
Landscape with horseman What makes a landscape photograph potentially interesting? I’m not sure if we can speak of a general rule, but by paying extra attention, when composing the photograph, to objects that are not directly related to the landscape itself but are nonetheless part of it, the image can take on additional meaning and…
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Pure landscapes
Pure landscapes Standing in the middle of a beautiful landscape can be a profound experience. The wide vistas allow us to feel the immensity of space, and the sense of the earth upon which we live. This sensation is intensified also by the quality of the sounds we hear; sounds of animals or human beings…
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The hotel room
The hotel room I’d arrived at Haldwani station in the middle of the night and saw that the town was shrouded in complete darkness due to a power cut. With some difficulty, I found someone who could guide me through the darkness to a nearby guesthouse, where I was offered this room. I still remember…
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The waiting room
The waiting room Despite the iron barred doors standing wide open, the ‘Welcome’ sign on the wall doesn’t exactly seem like an unnecessary gesture of encouragement for potential visitors crossing the threshold of this waiting room. The contrast between the space and the sign must have struck me as strangely amusing as I walked past…
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Where I stand
Where I stand After my comments in the previous posts on the Fall of man and Redemption of man, you may like to know where I stand. Well, I’m standing here under this tree and look up and think it’s beautiful. Through our observations of nature, and our thoughts and studies, we have come to…
καιρός remembered
… the right moment, position chosen, shoot …
καιρός remembered 