Walking the streets of Herculaneum, a photo from Naples, Campania

Photographer's Note

Good Morning Everyone,

My last upload showed the excavated city of Herculaneum from above. This is a much more intimate shot of one of the streets.

I took a deep intake of breath as I walked this street, thinking how old it was at over 2,000 years, how complete it was and that the last time it had been inhabited, the townspeople would have been running down this street in panic, as Vesuvius spewed debris above!

You will see how few visitors were present, compared with Pompeii which is far more commercialised and well advertised.

I will add a few images from Herculaneum as workshops, which I'm sure you will find interesting.

ikeharel, snunney, ChrisJ, holmertz, Fis2, papagolf21, tyro, macjake, Cricri, PaulVDV, adramad, cornejo, COSTANTINO trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

ikeharel (112395) 2018-11-24 3:15

Hi Beverley,
Sight of the ancient ruins, as always intriguing to review.
depth and clarity all the way of the paved road.
Difficult strong light, but fairly well managed, with distinct contrast in the right amount.
Wish you a nice weekend,
Ike

*** See my E-mail to you.

snunney (130967) 2018-11-24 3:27

Hello Bev,
Splendid long perspective down this paved street that must have been bustling in its heyday. Good light management with well rendered colours and very good sharpness. Have a good weekend, hope the weather is better than here, cold and damp.

ChrisJ (171146) 2018-11-24 4:24

Hi Beverley

The lack of tourist crowds was the first thing I noticed. Gert would love this place. The old cobbled Roman street provides superb lead in lines. The stone pines rising above the ancient city in the bg add a touch of life. Good sharpness and framing. I also enjoyed visiting Herculaneum as well. Tfs!

Porteplume (4036) 2018-11-24 5:05

Bonjour Beverley,

It must not be easy to take photos without as least people as possible. on such interesting (and of course touristic) location. But you are right, it must be even more crowded in Pompeii, and your point of view is just perfect, giving us room to appreciate the hugeness of this "dead city" and I imagine, just like you probably did, how it was for te inhabitants, first as lucky people in a lovely city and then, one day, having to run to save their lives... Impressive!

Amicalement,
Viviane

Nicou (193806) 2018-11-24 7:03

Hello

quelle ancienne voie sueprbe et quel pavage et renu sur la pierre au sol sueprbe iamge et cpatage qelle perspective et profondeur fantastique ancienne voie.
bravo et bellle journe
Nicou

Tue (91488) 2018-11-24 7:28

Hello Beverley,
It does remind me of Pompeii, but it's a great thing that the ancient street is almost empty, although it wasn't very busy in Pompeii either when I was there. But this was sixteen years ago, I guess it has become much more crowded now. I love the perspective down the street with the excavations on both sides. It was a beautifully sunny day.
Lars

mesutilgim (0) 2018-11-24 7:58

Hello Beverley,
Nice capture from Herculaneum in Naples. Very good pov and layout. Perfect sharpness and good ligth management. Nice framing and usefull notes.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

holmertz (101930) 2018-11-24 8:51

Hello Bev,
I was probably so fascinated by your TE neighbour Malgo's lions that I almost forgot this photo. ;-)But i find this just as fascinating, and I am seriously considering combining a visit to Naples with an excursion to just Herculaneum, skipping Pompeii. Crowds of tourists and heavy commercialism always worry me. Regarding the WS, how far ahead of the time the Romans were, I think I can safely say that it took European artists much more than 1000 years to reach the standard of the Roman masters.
And I must tell you about my journey across the Sahara. Hanging on the side of the truck was the hide of a calf filled with water (and with a small tap attached to it). They used the technique you describe of the water very slowly evaporating through the skin, keeping it nicely cool through the entire journey. Perfectly drinkable with a chlorine pill added to it.
Kind regards,
Gert

Fis2 (169635) 2018-11-24 9:59

Witaj Bev!
Wonderful street and ruins.
I love pavement!
Good framing and perspective.
Excellent colors and light.
Well done.
Nice weekend.
Krzysztof
P.S.
I will show beautiful porcelain from Meissen.

lousat (138551) 2018-11-24 15:29

Hi Bev,another interesting post from Ercolano,the best for me is the WS showing the old paintings still well preserved with bright colors too,but obviously the others are interesting too,perfect quality of sharpness as usual. Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

ifege (46851) 2018-11-24 16:21

Hi Bev
I've only been to Pompeii. Herculaneum reaims on my wish list. A good photo of the street and as you say not too many visitors.
cheers
Ian

papagolf21 (152605) 2018-11-24 23:13

Bonjour, chère Bev,
Un grand merci pour ces prises de vue qui nous plongent dans le passé. Ce partage est très apprécié, j'aime l'architecture et son histoire.
L'on remarque à quel point les habitants étaient en avance.
Tout est merveilleux, y compris la fresque splendide.
Mille mercis.
Amitiés.
Philippe

Silvio1953 (220495) 2018-11-25 4:59

Ciao cara Bev, great perspective on fascinating ruines, excellent clarity, fine details, splendid light and wonderful colors very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

tyro (30513) 2018-11-25 5:12

Hello Bev,

What a fascinating set of notes and three gorgeous photographs too!

Your images and notes also make it clear that Herculaneum was a much wealthier city than Pompeii and you have shown us details of some fabulous and colourful murals as well as what must have been a very up-market shop. Interestingly, I well remember when I was a kid and we didn't have a refrigerator, we kept our milk bottles under terracotta jars which had been soaked in water - simple physics using the principle of latent heat of evaporation.

Even the roadway and the remains of the houses in your main image speak of opulence: the straight level road, the dressed kerb stones and the pavements on either side are smart and could grace any much more modern city.

A wonderful, interesting and comprehensive upload for TE!

Fabulous!

Kind Regards,

John.

macjake (98260) 2018-11-26 1:59

Hi Bev
incredible WS photo. hard to imagine them being so ahead of their time, their home looks beautiful and well cared for. Powerful imagery when reading your note about the locals having to run for their lives, most likely along this same road so many years ago. I've been to Pompeii but not here (a huge regret now), but it looks EXACTLY like Pompeii streets. I'm so glad you're posting these, i learn more and more each day when i read them. another great post. cheers
Craig

Cricri (176) 2018-11-26 8:48

Hi Beverley
Bonne profondeur, détails bien rendu des ruines, j'aime beaucoup celle en WS 1 , mais les trois sont intéressantes a voir, bonne présentation
Bonne soirée
cricri

PaulVDV (62770) 2018-11-26 12:01

Hello Beverley,
The street of your main picture reminds me rather to Pompeii than to Herculaneum. Maybe because I have a similar photo of Pompeii.
In the distance we see a number of visitors. No matter how much people can revive a picture, for me it's always very special to be able to wander in an abandoned city.
What I find particularly attractive about the murals on the photo in the WS, are their vivid warm colours. Fantastic!
Best regards, Paul

emka (157280) 2018-11-26 23:43

Hello Bev, Have you visited also Pompeii or only Herculaneum? This street looks just like in Pompeii. What an experience to walk there and to think about the people strolling on these streets more than 2000 years ago. Fantastic composition.Excellent depth. At the end of the street, we see some visitors. Well, for me the works by Mitoraj in Pompeii was an additional great attraction.
Nice also WS pictures.

have a nice day

MAlgo

adramad (72532) 2018-11-27 8:58

Hello, Bev.
Splendid composition with the perspective of this street, which easily makes us dream of the kind of life in ancient Rome, fantastic conservation of the pavement and sidewalks, the remains of the houses, give us a very clear vision of this ancient population.
Point of view, sharpness, luminosity, color and the composition chosen are excellent.
A very beautiful photo. I like it.
You have a good day.
Best regards.
Luis.

cornejo (61504) 2018-11-30 11:48

Hello Bev, very good view of this interesting street of the old Herculaneum, very well composed and captured in this good and beautiful picture. An interesting image, with good sharpness, depth, light, color and quality. Very good and beautiful work perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this interesting work.

Good night and happy weekend.
All the best from the south of Spain.
Angel.

COSTANTINO (115451) 2018-11-30 13:29

Hello dear Beverley and have a nice time
and a happy weekend
excelent sight of the ancient ruins
I am very interested about the
excavated city of Herculaneum
original version
regards
Costantino

jmdias (114196) 2021-04-11 10:35

bev

I walked in these streets of ancient rome in some places yet, it is ever a special moment to put our feet where other people walked so many centuries before. nice perspective of the street with the walls around.

take care

jorge