Quintessential Italy

Quintessential Italy by Paul Vanzella

Quintessential Italy

To me, this is quintessentially Italy – rolling hills, unified trees, brilliant light and hard edge graphic signs. If it wasn’t for this bold little blue sign, I’d be driving off onto the wrong side of the road everytime.

This image sums up Italy for me and whilst staying in a small country village I spyed this wonderful image with dark looming sky in the background, sun drenched light in the foreground, and a distant abode living quite contently in the rustle of its surrounding trees.

I was riding my auntie’s old school push-bike, with daughter in rear and cameras in a very girly basket in the front – who cares what I looked like, I got the shot!

(may even post the bike with me on it – not flattering)

  • kookylane

    kookylane, about 1 year ago

    BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Love the small glowing flower there, the trees are so neatly placed in a row, the sign post is funny, what could possibly be down there…hmm..

  • Deborah Hally

    Deborah Hally, about 1 year ago

    Fantastic shot. The colours and light are beautiful but somehow that sign just ‘makes it’.

  • Joe   Mortelliti

    Joe Mortelliti, about 1 year ago

    What a great shot and that lighting is superb

  • Craig Shillington

    Craig Shillington, about 1 year ago

    Awwww It’s gorgeous and wow, you better post those bike shots mate .. .you opened up a can o’ worms there now ;)

  • bobdollar

    bobdollar, about 1 year ago

    ohh beautiful beautiful. i love the tones…. and the fact of bright green against such a grey sky!

  • FireRabbit

    FireRabbit, about 1 year ago

    Wow, this is reminds me of an image from a story book, almost fairy tale like …then you see the blue sign pointing down and it’s back to reality, almost. What on earth is it pointing too? Great image.

  • Karen Cougan

    Karen Cougan, about 1 year ago

    great find, makes me want to go there too. Love it

  • Steven Pike

    Steven Pike, about 1 year ago

    Lovely shot. The blue sign against all the green….very nice.

  • Lindsay Blamey

    Lindsay Blamey, about 1 year ago

    This is a beautiful shot…. so rich and the blue sign is to die for. Would love to see the shot of you and Siena on the bike!... Please keep traveling and keep making these images I never want them to stop!!

  • Loredana Crupi

    Loredana Crupi, about 1 year ago

    Ooohh. Memories !! You are making me homesick!! Beautifully captured.

  • Jordan Clarke

    Jordan Clarke, about 1 year ago

    Perfect. Absolutely perfect. If I could live under a sky like that for the rest of my life I would be happy – it feels like you’re caught between two worlds…

  • fourtonshadow .

    fourtonshadow ., about 1 year ago

    Quintessential Vanzella morelike. Fabulous, brooding menacing sky and light playful field. It’s an opposite of Magritte’s painting with the daylight sky and lit streetlamp and night scene at street level. Forgotten it’s name, betraying my poor memory and shoddy knowledge of art.
    Legendary work sir.

  • Grant Bissett

    Grant Bissett - Minister of Kerosene, about 1 year ago

  • InfinityRain

    InfinityRain, about 1 year ago

    I get quite the ominous feeling from this with the sky and the way the house sits back a bit…..Makes me want to explore the house…but not alone!!! LOL Fantastic scene and yeah I would have to agree, we need to see the bike shot :)

  • meanderthal

    meanderthal, about 1 year ago

    brilliant…just brillliant…..!!!

  • Sandra Chung

    Sandra Chung, about 1 year ago

    Makes me want to hop onto a plane and visit. Lovely.

  • sjem

    sjem, about 1 year ago

    this type of light condition produces my favourite grey/blue colours in the sky.

  • Ben Thomas

    Ben Thomas, about 1 year ago

    i really love this paul. fantastic work.

  • Sacha Fernandez

    Sacha Fernandez, about 1 year ago

    Contrasts are superb, and that blue sign is just adds another dimension to the shot!

  • dopey

    dopey, about 1 year ago

    i’m on the tail end of the admirers!!! great shot!!!

  • Adrian Rachele

    Adrian Rachele, about 1 year ago

    Very cool.

  • Naomi Mawson

    Naomi Mawson, about 1 year ago

    Oh! How I’d love to be in Italy right now. Bravo Paul

  • Mark Bortolotto

    Mark Bortolotto, about 1 year ago

    Such a beautiful piece. I picked it was italy before i saw the title….PERFECT TITLE!

  • Jessica King

    Jessica King, about 1 year ago

    Oh WoW!!! Paul, you have such an eye for the light. Just wonderful :)

  • Paul Vanzella

    Paul Vanzellaworks here, about 1 year ago

    WOW – thanks so much for the great comments… yes, this sums it up for me…. Keeping me inspired.

  • Flamejob

    Flamejob, about 1 year ago

    Beautiful – so smooth.

  • Michelle Wrighton

    Michelle Wrighton, about 1 year ago

    Absolutely beautiful, the contrast and the light is suburb, great shot!

  • rock

    rock, about 1 year ago

    Wonderful image Paul I just love it.

  • Peter Hammer

    Peter Hammer, about 1 year ago

    Fantastic light Paul and a great shot.

  • ShaneBooth

    ShaneBooth, about 1 year ago

    All your images are wonderful, but this pulls everything together for me, great light and composition and that little bit of quirk.

  • frank

    frank, about 1 year ago

    fantastic! gorgeous dramatic lighting

  • narrowpathphoto

    narrowpathphoto, about 1 year ago

    beautiful, there’s a mood to this I can’t quite put my finger on

  • Lost Lost

    Lost Lost, about 1 year ago

    The colours and comp are really great, top shot.

  • lucymay

    lucymay, about 1 year ago

    great lighting and frame

  • EOS20

    EOS20Greeter, about 1 year ago

    I like the lighting and the colours in this photo!

  • Michael Alesich

    Michael Alesich, about 1 year ago

    THis is a favourite of mine, perfect tone and the layout with the sign says it all.

  • Benedicte Longechal

    Benedicte Long..., about 1 year ago

    I love it.. simply love it.. thank you

  • SylviaHardy

    SylviaHardy, about 1 year ago

    Even the dandilion is glowing… Beautiful colours.!

  • Mel Brackstone

    Mel Brackstone, about 1 year ago

    scena bella!

  • Shaun McDougle

    Shaun McDougle, about 1 year ago

    This is an excellent composition. colour, brightness, placement, everything is just right. Thank you for sharing.

  • karen milder

    karen milder, about 1 year ago

    thank you for your feedback, beauitful photograph, it’s a postcard, the light is magic

  • richiedean

    richiedean, about 1 year ago

    Drama and atmosphere are what I like. This qualifies, excellent

  • jumpy

    jumpy, about 1 year ago

    your images blow my small mind!!!!! Fantastic!

  • Paul Vanzella

    Paul Vanzellaworks here, about 1 year ago

    WOW – someone just bought this as a framed print… thank you so much whomever you are – love to thank you personally!!!!

  • Gustav Nordlund

    Gustav Nordlund, about 1 year ago

    Saw this a long time ago, but forgot to comment… This really is a fantastic shot and composition. As always the processing is perfect as well. Wonderful work. :)

  • jerry  alcantara

    jerry alcantara, about 1 year ago

    SUPER!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CANT SAY ANOTHER WORDS

  • Rob Corbett

    Rob Corbett, about 1 year ago

    awesome, great job.

  • TonyLegg

    TonyLegg, about 1 year ago

    Lovely work !!! wondeful !!!

  • Halima Mitchell

    Halima Mitchell, about 1 year ago

    This is just fabulous! Wow. Great job!

  • Charlene Aycock

    Charlene Aycock, about 1 year ago

    beautiful shot

  • Patricia L. Ballard

    Patricia L. Ba..., about 1 year ago

    This is one of the best landscapes that I’ve seen on RB, and I’ve seen some good ones!

  • justjulie

    justjulie, about 1 year ago

    great atmospheric shot

  • Erin Fay

    Erin Fay, 12 months ago

    peacefull

  • Erin Fay

    Erin Fay, 12 months ago

    peacefull

  • Steven  Sandner

    Steven Sandner, 12 months ago

    Lovely work!

  • greenfrog153

    greenfrog153, 11 months ago

    Lovely shot Paul.

  • Leena  Hedman

    Leena Hedman, 11 months ago

    Wonderful capture!

  • elizabethcencini

    elizabethcencini, 11 months ago

    Bello!

  • Tanya B. Schroeder

    Tanya B. Schro..., 11 months ago

    On the road to nowhere…interesting image – I love the golden green wheat field.

  • Mel Brackstone

    Mel Brackstone, 10 months ago

    As always, I get to your portfolio and I just get lost. I know I’ve commented already, but you’ve moved this to the front page, so had to take another long look. It is so beautiful, the light on the crops and trees just awesome!

  • Jeremy Harrington

    Jeremy Harrington, 10 months ago

    great colour

  • kirrily

    kirrily, 10 months ago

    Brilliant colours! Great composition!

  • Yago Veith

    Yago Veith, 10 months ago

    love it

  • Biswajit Pandey

    Biswajit Pandey, 10 months ago

    Simply love the mood here.

  • studiofascino

    studiofascino, 10 months ago

    fantastic image! love the contrast!

  • Birgitta

    Birgitta, 10 months ago

    My daughter is half italian. :)
    Beautiful editing here Paul.

    Post that shot of you with the girlie basket!
    I wanna see it! heheh..

  • Rhys Jones

    Rhys Jones, 10 months ago

    This is such a cool shot

  • Rod  Adams

    Rod Adams, 10 months ago

    Absolutely Beautiful!!

  • Christina Martin

    Christina Martin, 10 months ago

    Fabulous shot Paul

  • joolz

    joolz, 10 months ago

    The light in this is just gorgeous Paul.
    The softness of the green against the foreboding sky is beautiful.

  • cathy savels

    cathy savels, 10 months ago

    Great shot!

  • Heather  Rivet  IPA

    Heather Rivet..., 10 months ago

    well done Paul..gorgeous

  • Carmen  Cilliers

    Carmen Cilliers, 10 months ago

    Quintessentially a place I would love to be rugged up in and just paint, eat and drink wine! You make it look wonderfully enticing! Love this piece of work – well done : )

  • Silvia Ganora

    Silvia Ganora, 10 months ago

    I like these Italian findings of yours. Stunning clashing colors! Ciao!

  • Mohsen Bayramnejad

    Mohsen Bayramn..., 10 months ago

    Amazing contrast…. very creative view point and like all your other works, very beautiful.

  • sunchaser

    sunchaser, 10 months ago

    Beautiful, Paul!

  • ltruskett

    ltruskett, 10 months ago

    God, magic image. I WANT TO BE THERE. You did it for me – thanks.

  • Valeriu Buev

    Valeriu Buev, 10 months ago

    Very creative, expressive art work. Real success.

  • Nick Johnson

    Nick Johnson, 10 months ago

    Great image with a very potent feel to it. Love the dulaism of light and dark in this. I am a big fan of art that expresses polarity in any way and this one does it for me. Nice work Paul!!

  • Lucindawind

    Lucindawind, 10 months ago

    oh this is just beautiful Paul !

  • Suzanne German

    Suzanne German, 10 months ago

    that little white glow in the front of the grass… what is it – a dandelion, a (daytime) glow worm?
    A truly a magical picture Paul – gorgeous!

  • Annette Blattman

    Annette Blattman, 9 months ago

    fantastic work

  • budrfli

    budrfli, 9 months ago

    awesome capture! wonderful lighting and great story!

  • Jellie

    Jellie, 9 months ago

    Inspiring picture. It almost looks like a painting, the colours are so brilliant.

  • Vasile Stan

    Vasile Stan, 9 months ago

    Very beautiful bucolic picture, with heavy skies, a hint of hills or mountains and the plesant green of the ancestral granaries: la dolce vita di un paese italiano. The sign brings reality to an otherwise dreamy picture.

  • Craig Hender

    Craig Hender, 9 months ago

    Fantastic composition.

  • Walter Strength

    Walter Strength, 9 months ago

    Great shot depth of field is superb. Love the saturation in colors.

  • Marnie Kirkness

    Marnie Kirkness, 9 months ago

    Just striking. I would be proud of riding a girly bike basket to get a shot like this..all memories and what we do for a great shot!

  • coffeebean

    coffeebean, 9 months ago

    I’m gob smacked…this is so so ITALY it’s fantastic and I love that there is so much to study in this marvelous shot

  • Doug Hindson

    Doug Hindson, 9 months ago

    one of my favourite photos…

  • bigrock88

    bigrock88, 7 months ago

    Love this image !!!!

  • Kristal

    Kristal, 7 months ago

    love it! the blue sign finishes it! well done :)

  • Chris Putnam

    Chris Putnam, 6 months ago

    Wonderful and moody

  • PixelProtest

    PixelProtest, 5 months ago

    beautiful colours. good shot

  • LoveMy7Cs

    LoveMy7Cs, 5 months ago

    One of your best in my humble opinion.

  • Vytas Gaizutis

    Vytas Gaizutis, 5 months ago

    Truly splendid. Love the intesity.

  • Vytas Gaizutis

    Vytas Gaizutis, 5 months ago

    I meant “intensity”

  • Mark Ross

    Mark Ross, 4 months ago

    Lovely image Paul. One of those special events that’re gone in nothing flat. Success has been defined as recognizing an opportunity when it’s presented and being prepared to act upon it at that very moment. Being prepared. No doubt, that’s how you work. Great shot!

  • Paul Vanzella

    Paul Vanzellaworks here in reply to Mark Ross’s comment, 4 months ago

    LOL again Mark, yes i always have camera, whether it’s my Nikon, or my point and shoot Canon… gotta be prepared.. it was a cool moment, especially having my daughter with me as well on that bike ride…

  • JimFilmer

    JimFilmer, 3 months ago

    beautiful lighting Paul… love those hills fading into the skyline

  • Paul Vanzella

    Paul Vanzellaworks here in reply to JimFilmer’s comment, 3 months ago

    thanks Jim – this is a personal favourite of mine too…. cheers

  • Nuh Sarche

    Nuh Sarche, about 1 month ago

    Wonderful picture!!!

    We would like to see it in our European Everyday Life GROUP

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Tags:

sky, green, grass, house, italy and signs