Autumn Light in Tuscany · Oct 3, 03:26 AM by James Martin
Yesterday, I braved the threat of rain to visit Pistoia. Pistoia is one of a string of Tuscan powerhouses that extends from Lucca to Florence. It has a wonderful Piazza with lots to photograph. Over there on the left is the side entrance to the Duomo, a town’s main cathedral.
The light that enters is from above, filtered through clouds and bounced along the irregular walls (is that the apse of a church sticking out of the left one?). It’s a light well effect, soft and yielding.
It wasn’t until I took the train home that I realized how much light, an etherial, free thing, becomes a commodity to photographers. The sun had started to peek out from the heavy clouds, to selectively light objects in its path. I was practically clawing at the train windows, “There’s a photo our there! And I want to take it!”
Then, pulling into Viareggio, the light decided it had tortured me enough. There it was, the autumn light, playing tricks with the eye, tricks that make you love being alive in Italy.
Autumn light comes to play again in the glow of a window in Pistoia. It’s that time, dusk, that strikes fear in the tourist who doesn’t have a hotel reserved, but strikes a rather more positive cord with photographers. The air was damp and still. It was just after three in the afternoon, as you can see by the clock. Magic happened; light glowed warmly.
Taking a fall vacation isn’t just about saving money.
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