[My Portrait of Imaging in Italy’s Tony Boccaccio at the Vatican – Rome, Italy – July 2010]
“At National Geographic, simply taking a picture of a person, place or thing is not enough. Each image must be created with the intention of telling a story, a human story, one that will inform, captivate, and be instantly understandable to the reader. In a word, we give a human face to the world.”
– Tony Boccaccio
[Tony’s Portrait of Me in Front of the Colosseum – Rome, Italy – July 2010 – © Tony Boccaccio]
Expect the unexpected: Former National Geographic photographer Antonio “Tony” Boccaccio’s tours are about more than just photography. Rome is Tony’s adopted home and he naturally weaves Italian history and cultural lessons into his tours. This is what makes the experience so memorable! I spent my last full day in Italy touring Rome with Tony. As he shared the city he loved and his techniques for seeing the world and creating images, he also shared amazing stories from his spectacular life. Here’s an example of the kind of unexpected cultural fun you can expect…
Late in the afternoon we stood high upon the Cordonata steps near Michelangelo’s Piazza Campidoglio looking out onto Rome – modern, ancient, and everything in between. He pointed in the direction of our next stop as we climbed down the steps. “But Tony, how will we cross the traffic?” I asked.
He smiled shrewdly.
“No, seriously, Tony,” I said getting fired up. “I’m no chicken but that would be suicide.”
“Watch,” he said simply – and then he stepped off the curb.
He was moving quickly enough that there wasn’t time for me to grab him and pull him back to safety. My memory of the moment plays in slow motion. Tony as a suicidal modern day Moses parting a sea of red tail lights – his camera and bag swaying with his fast pace, his hands thrown into the air in a playful this-is-how-we-do-it-in-Rome gesture. No horns. No squealing tires. No screaming. Five lanes of traffic stopped on a dime. I closed my eyes for a split second and then jumped off the curb. My last thought was that if I were struck dead, at least it would be at the base of Michelangelo’s steps with the statues of Castor and Pollux to mourn me.
Safely on the other side of the street I found I couldn’t stop laughing. We were all laughing. Tony explained that in Rome the pedestrian always has the right of way. Always. No exceptions.
“How wonderfully Roman,” I thought. What a tribute to the importance of individuality in the midst of a huge, ancient metropolis. Rome promises to forgive nearly any blunder if done with pizzazz. I adapted quickly to the Roman way of doing things once I discovered that the keys were confidence and flair. Flirt with the waiter? Ask for directions? Cross the street? Stoop down on the cobblestones and shoot candids of strangers? All you need is confidence and flair. With my head held high, I learned to see the world in new ways that day.
Are you interested in learning how to adventure with your camera? Does swaying your way past the stopped-just-for-you Roman traffic sound like fun? Headed to Capri or the Almalfi coast? Booking a trip to Florence? Interested in a day touring a family-owned vineyard? Be sure to book a tour with Imaging in Italy!
- Review: Imaging in Italy offers full and half-day walking tours of Rome, Florence, the Almalfi coast, and other Italian locales. The company was founded by Antonio Boccaccio, a gifted photographer and artist with a zest for life. I highly recommend Imaging in Italy as the tours are great for all photography skill levels and are certain to spice up your trip. Tony’s firm-but-fun coaching style is meant to push you to see the world in a new way and challenge you to take your photography to the next level; he does not blow sunshine at you, but he is not a harsh judge either. My day with Tony rekindled my curiosity and passion for photography. I now shoot everyday and I take time to meditate on what I’m seeing. I consider the photo I’m creating and I steer clear of mindlessly snap-snap-snapping images.
- Cost: Varies depending on locale, group size, and the options you choose – both half day and full day packages are available. Top shelf, but worth every Euro. You’ll never forget the amazing, intensely personal tour and tutelage. In fact, you may never see the world the same again. I recommend the “Twilight Tour” option as it’s a great opportunity to learn the technical subtleties of shooting in the magical light of the early evening hours.
- Rating: 4.75/5
- Imaging in Italy Website: (tours are lead by Tony or one of his colleagues) http://www.imaging-in-italy.com/
- Photo Adventurer Website (tours outside of Italy – all photographer guides are handpicked by Tony): http://www.photo-adventurer.com/
In joy,
Melinda