Rodney Campbell's Blog

Just down the street we were staying on (Via delle Carrozze) was this 17th-century house of workshop including a dome, apse & rich interiors by Pietro da Cortona.

Basilica dei Santi Ambrogio e Carlo al Corso

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/30 sec at f/3.5, ISO 100

Soooo many incredibly ornate churches everywhere.

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Pietro da Cortona

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/80 sec at f/4, ISO 100

Just a short walk to the north of our apartment in Rome was Piazza del Popolo, a grand, landmark square centred by Rome’s oldest obelisk & the site of the city’s northern gate.

Piazza del Popolo

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 62 mm, 1/80 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Above the piazza on the hill is Terrazza del Pincio with magnificent views over this city.

View to St Peter’s

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, 1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 320

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 78 mm, 1/100 sec at f/5, ISO 100

Down in the square there was a man doing large scale bubble making which was delighting the small kids (mine included :)). Plus it was great for some family portraits.

Bubbles

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 116 mm, 1/125 sec at f/5.6, ISO 140

Endless Circles

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 82 mm, 1/100 sec at f/5, ISO 100

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 190 mm, 1/200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 280

Rainbow Bubbles

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 180 mm, 1/200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 250

We had fully intended on visiting the Borghese Gallery whilst in Rome. It’s apparently this amazing villa housing 15th- to 18th-century artworks with pieces by Bernini & Caravaggio. Unfortunately we’d (I’d) left booking an entry till too late (the next available day was the day we were leaving Rome :(). I knew we’d have to book a timeslot in advance but the villa and gardens was just a few minutes walk from where we were staying and I hadn’t realised just how far in advance it was booked out (even here in winter).

Borghese

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 135 mm, 1/160 sec at f/5.6, ISO 2000

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Domes

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 170 mm, 1/200 sec at f/8, ISO 400

So we were disappointed and left with doing the next best thing – visiting the gardens which surround the buildings up on the hill. We hired one of these pedal cars for an hour and rode around the whole area.

Borghese Gardens

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 145 mm, 1/160 sec at f/7.1, ISO 1250

It was winter here in Rome but you wouldn’t necessarily think it here.

Autumn Avenue

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 170 mm, 1/200 sec at f/8, ISO 1000

Terrazza del Pincio

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 150 mm, 1/160 sec at f/6.3, ISO 3200

It was time for us to be leaving Ostia Antica, time for just a few more photos before we left.

Ostia Theatre

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/640 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

I returned back to the main theatre (which is quite close to the entrance) for a few more images – this time with the extremely wide Laowa 12mm lens I’d brought.

The Top Row

NIKON D750 + 13.0 mm f/2.8 @ 13 mm, 1/500 sec at f/8, ISO 100

This image looks like it was taken as a long exposure – it just has that look and feel to it. The sky and clouds were aligned perfectly for this shot making it look like the clouds were streaking towards us overhead during the long exposure. In reality it’s a handheld multi-exposure (5) HDR image :).

Ancient Theatre

NIKON D750 + 13.0 mm f/2.8 @ 13 mm, 1/640 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Pixels

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 105 mm, 1/125 sec at f/8, ISO 1100

On the short 5 minute walk back to Ostia Antica and the return back to Rome. Even better the journey each way is covered by the B.I.T. standard ticket, which is valid for one Metro ride or 100 minutes and costs just €1.50 per person.

Ostia Antica Station

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 78 mm, 1/80 sec at f/9, ISO 360

Surviving frescos in Ostia Antica, while scant and humble, give a feeling for how living quarters may have been decorated.

Ostia Frescos

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/30 sec at f/8, ISO 4000

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

The mosaics are more plentiful and advertise the services offered by the various shops as well as decorating the floors of a number of places.

Mosaics

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/80 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Cracks

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/50 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Drainage

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 35 mm, 1/100 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Roman Living

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/50 sec at f/9, ISO 100