Pe' Zi' Cicc', a photo from Naples, Campania

Photographer's Note

It's not often I voluntarily go into a church. I'm usually dragged inside kicking and screaming, the holy water starts boiling and the Italian mammas start keening. But a church - which ever the denomination - gives solace during difficult times.

The day before I took this photo, my darling Uncle Francesco (in the Neapolitan dialect, "Zi' Ciccio") had passed away.

Zi' Cicc' was one of the kindest people I knew. He was a quiet, very humble man who loved to paint. He loved Nature and animals. We would sit quietly for hours together in the Terme Stabiane (botanical gardens and mineral spring). My uncle would tell me about my father when he was little, about his own life, those of my grandparents and of Naples after the Second World War. He taught me so much of the Neapolitan dialect, which if you hear it, will recognise it from the poetry, songs and films you think of as Italian. He also gave me the best advice possible: always try to be kind. Nothing else matters.

As I sat in the Cathedral of his hometown, thinking about Zio Cicc, all of a sudden, these beautiful rays of light shone through the dome. They only lasted for a short while and then faded out. In my Workshop are two photos of my beautiful uncle.

This is the dome of Santa Maria Assunta, built in 1643, and is located on what was the ancient road between the Roman towns of Nocera and Stabia. This town is about 15 minutes from the famous ruined city of Pompeii. A church has stood on this site since Roman times, but was destroyed by an earthquake in 1456. Our town's patron saint is Catellus (Italian: Catello, Neapolitan: Catiello). As a result nearly every second male in my family is called Catello. It gets very confusing at family gatherings, let me tell you.

Here is a song which will always remind me of my Zio Ciccio: 'Na Sera E Maggio

holmertz, daddo, tyro, pajaran, PaulVDV, abmdsudi, Cricri, Royaldevon, ChrisJ, alvaraalto, ourania, Fis2, danos, adores trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

GyurMaster (24830) 2016-06-26 4:34

Excellent!

holmertz (102700) 2016-06-26 4:36

Hello Lisa,
Wonderful rays like these could probably make some persons religious. They wouldn't succeed with me, but I enjoy watching them nevertheless, just like a enjoy the paintings and vaults and other details in this fine church. This time your warm and touching note is almost more important than the photo. I wanted to see the WS pictures but it took you some time to include them ;-)
Kind regards,
Gert

daddo (28748) 2016-06-26 5:06

ciao cara Lisa. So one book comes to its last page end and the cover is closed. So much inside that will only be accessible to those who knew your uncle and only love and memories can open it.My dad has in his very late eighties and early nineties written his autobiography in Italian and thank God for that as now he remembers very little at 94. Lovely photo and maybe a smile to you from Zi Ciccio. Chi sa? Ciao. Klaudio.

lousat (139266) 2016-06-26 5:43

Ciao Lisa,forse ti ho ispirato con la mia foto del duomo di Napoli,sta di fatto che è stata una bella idea dedicare a tuo zio questa immagine,sei entrata in chiesa per lui,ed è giusto dargli un riconoscimento,qualita' eccellente e luce davvero speciale.Buona settimana,Luciano

No_One (4) 2016-06-26 6:06

Hey Lisa
I am sorry for your loss, but your note is beautiful and adds such soul and meaning to your picture. I, like you have found solace and space in churches, an also have meaningful photos that being me back to a particular moment. This ready of light is divine and to be in such a stunning cathedral... I love the strong pop off blue right below the rays. Beautiful photo and note
Slainte
Noel

Sergiom (117241) 2016-06-26 6:21

Bonjour Lisa,

Tu ne pouvais pas rêver d'une plus belle lumière pour la réalisation de ta photo.Celle-ci semble venir directement du ciel avec ce très beau rayon qui fait bien ressortir tous les détails.

Bon dimanche

Serge

tyro (30513) 2016-06-26 9:29

Ciao carissima Lisa,

What a lovely and thought provoking note and what a fine tribute to your uncle who was certainly a good looking fella in his youth.

Your photograph is divine in all senses of the word and you have taken it just as the sunbeams stream through the lantern at the top of this richly decorated dome.

A glorious image, well composed with lovely light, rich warm colours, perfect exposure and exquisite details and sharpness.

Beautiful!

Kindest Regards,

John.

PaulVDV (62892) 2016-06-26 11:17

Hello Lisa,
What a wonderful decorated and painted ceiling of this church!
Excellent capture of the sunbeams that fall in in a beautiful diagonal line.
Even when people don't go often to church, it can be an excellent location to quietly think things through.
Best regards, Paul

abmdsudi (95869) 2016-06-26 14:37

Hi Lisa
Interesting title !
Difficult conditions but you have managed to get those natural colours, beautifully detailed and illuminated in their proper context. Direction of the diagonal light makes this image really work adding a lot to the compo....like a spotlight from the angel! Rather better than a pure record, gives a more pictorial appeal as if a piece of history has suddenly appeared....

Remarkable capture and tfs, enjoyed reading your in-depth narratives.
Best wishes

carlo62 (81265) 2016-06-26 15:51

Ciao Lisuccia
non credo ci si bisogno di essere grandi frequentatori di chiese per rimanere colpiti e meravigliati da un'immagine come questa, dove l'architettura, le sue pitture e il raggio di luce si uniscono ai tuoi pensieri in onore dell'amato zio.
Ho due sensazioni, anzi, due cose in cui credo:
innanzi tutto hai dato retta allo zio e la gentilezza ti è stata trasmessa in modo diretto.
In secondo luogo penso che l'amore che hai verso i più deboli, verso la libertà degli uomini, verso l'uguaglianza dei popoli, possono essere assimilate a quella stessa religione che viene promossa nelle chiese, anche se troppo spesso non viene mantenuta.
Un abbraccio a te e un saluto a Zi'Cicc'
Carlo

fabianoleite (13575) 2016-06-26 16:04

Wow, what a view of this inside, the sun ray piercing through the window is fantastic, and all the details and pices of art are very well shown. The ceilings of Italian churches grabbed my attention, it is always amazing when you look up inside them. Very good work, representative of this interesting feature. Regards! Have a nice week!

emka (158156) 2016-06-26 21:25

Ciao cara Lisa, Your first words made me laugh, but then it was such a beautiful dedication to your uncle. You wrote that he told you about your father when he was little, so I suppose he had a long life. and how fantastic that you had someone who told you about your family roots and language. And what a fine handsome man in WS pictures.
I go to every church I can, and also to mosque, vat, gopura, synagogue and so on, but only for photos. Marvelous dome and such sun rays always make impression.
"always try to be kind. Nothing else matters". what a pity that it becomes rare nowadays.

WArm regrads Malgo

pajaran (115891) 2016-06-26 22:12

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan i dobar tekst, lepo secanje ...
Dobar rad sa lepim fotografijam u radionici, dobar kontrast i ostrina, lepe boje, lepo pokazano.
Lepe crno bele fotografije.
Lep enterijer i detalji.
Imajte lep dan, sve najbolje u novoj nedelji koja je pocela, srecno.
Paja.

Good day.
Beautiful view and the moment, interesting and good text, a beautiful memory ...
Good work with beautiful photos in a workshop, a good contrast and sharpness, beautiful colors, nice shown.
Beautiful black and white photography.
Nice interior and details.
Have a nice day, all the best for the new week, which began, good luck.
Paja.

Cricri (176) 2016-06-26 23:16

Hi dear Lisa
Un bel hommage a cet homme aimable et plein de gentillesse dont tu t'écrit avec amour dans ta note et présenter en photo en WS,
Beau moment capturer du rayon de lumière comme un signe de lui a toi, belle réalisation
belle journée
bisous
cricri

Royaldevon (85932) 2016-06-27 1:25

Ciao cara Lisa,

This is a heart touching note, a perfect accompaniment to your beautiful photograph.
Sometimes, the work of nature addresses one's emotions in such a way, that it seems greater than co-incidence.

The golden decorations around the dome are symbolically pierced by this amazing sunbeam.
It's a special moment, recorded with meaning and clarity.

Thank you for sharing this,
Bev :-)
Thank you for your warm critique on my photograph. We may not have had a chance to meet when you came to Scotland but I feel we have nearly met, because of all the lovely anecdotes that I have been told by John. Have a good day. x x x

ChrisJ (171822) 2016-06-27 4:54

Ciao Lisa

The yellow circular shape on the ceiling resmbles the disc of the sun and the rays below it compliment it perfectly. Good sharpness and a fine upward pov. Tfs!

gervaso (28177) 2016-06-27 4:56

Hello, Lisa!

Wonderful view of the interior of this church, with great architectural details and beautiful golden tones! But the highlight of the photo is that sun ray coming from the window, it was perfectly captured! Excellent job!

alvaraalto (42804) 2016-06-27 7:12

Hello Lisa,
A wider view of this well decorated ceiling of the dome. Beside the painting the beam of light strikes.
There are people who think the it must be a sign of the god(s). But I believe it is just the sun.
But it gives the picture something special.
Groet Rob

Tue (92360) 2016-06-27 8:09

Hello Lisa,
I am sorry to hear about your loss. It's a beautiful photo of the interior of the church. The golden tones of the paintings on the ceiling and in the dome, and the details of the arches are beautiful. You captured the rays of the sun piercing through the windows magnificently.
Lars

Silvio1953 (221593) 2016-06-27 8:16

Ciao cara Lisa, bela commemorazione di Zi'Ciccio, favoloso il raggio dfi luce, magnifica foto, ma ormai ci hai abituato bene, bravissima, un abbraccio Silvio

ourania (51103) 2016-06-27 13:03

Ciao cara Lisa,
I'm very sorry for your loss, it seems that you will keep him, his stories and his advice in your heart though and you were lucky to be related. Your note gives great impact to your picture, it reminds me of how I search the ceilings and dome of the church for some consolation in similar cases. A wonderful depiction with a fine warm palette and the rays through the window making the scene more touching. Thank you for this lovely picture and note.
All the best, have a great day,
Ourania

Fis2 (170747) 2016-06-28 1:17

Witaj Lisa!
Beautiful interior, wonderful dome.
I like light effect.
Good POV and colors.
Well done.
Greetings from Poland.
Krzysztof

dkmurphys (79209) 2016-06-29 0:08

HI Lisa,
Spectacular upper detail. Beside the rich decorations, the sunlight is quite amazing. Well seen.

Daniel

mkamionka (74407) 2016-07-02 9:30

Ciao Lisa,
wow this is quite a spectacular interior. I like its rich Golden decoration.
You have composed it very originally with an asymmetrically placed dome.
Very attractive, eye catching effect.
I really have to visit Italy again. I haven't been there for over 10 years.
I have never been to the south of Italy.

The beam of light passing in diagonally is of course a highlight of the scene.
Excellent work,
M

danos (110407) 2016-07-06 1:31

Ciao Lisa,
splendid the interior of the Cathedral with the paintings to are the eye catching of the image.Excellent the light and the colour management of the scene.

Regards.Danos

adores (46979) 2017-01-03 14:37

Hi Lisa!
This is just magnificent! What a great shot you got, with the light coming from the window and so many beautiful details on the dome and vaults. Light is just perfect!