mellino1974@sbcglobal.net

www.mellinophotography.com

This month Photoblog was "born" out of a Willie Nelson's famous song: he talked about finally going "on the road again...", so, I thought of looking "Down the road" to see what's out there of visual interest! Actually, there is a LOT out there, of visual interest: it all depends on WHAT we are looking for and on HOW we look!

The point is that while "looking" is relatively simple, the actual "seeing" can be difficult at times; seeing is a lot more subjective that looking, and it could really be difficult at times, yet so enjoyable and rewarding once we manage to forget all the rest and everyone, and just allow ourselves to be drawn into that different reality, for a moment in front of our eyes...

I will share with you places and stories captured sometime ago, somewhere: the place doesn't matter, however, as it is the meaning, the intrinsic little message that I perceived at that very moment which has remained deep in my mind, only to re-emerge for some reason now...

A series of images with no obvious connections among themselves: it sounds rather crazy, but actually it made sense to me, as I reviewed my choices and recollected those moments as they happened somewhere...a closed kiddy Park on the outskirts of Rome really seemed very "Fellinian" and may be a little scary for some young visitors! The old bike leaning on the entrance hallway of a home in a Tuscan village: its contrast with the faded pink walls and the small votive altar upstairs was immediately eye catching. Friends on a joy ride on an old convertible in Put-in- Bay, totally screaming "Summer"...and a couple of CLE downtown spots, remnants of past businesses and of perennial hopes, if you've lived long enough around here!

An outdoor cafe' in NYC, with very modern, interesting background graffiti work, then a very quiet Calcata square with local artisans shops making their products available to the rare visitor. Next, some unique Italian Santas "hanging out" with the Christmas Season approaching in Trastevere, while the local horse buggies diligently await for the next tourist!

The naked mannequin in the store window was a sad reminder of a failed business, often the problem, even before COVID, for many small, remote Italian villages, where tourism remains scarce. A busy street scene near the NYC fish market District, with, below, some musical entertainment in Central Park. The very modernistic architecture of one of the more recent additions within the CLE. U.H. Campus on the East Side, whereas the idyllic garden was seen in Southern Ohio.

A view of the Umbrian country side, as I was driving into Tuscany a few years ago; next, street vendors in D.C. with plenty of grab food and drinks available. A Sunday open market with plenty of art and crafts, and, below, a couple of my favorite Southern Florida moments!

The bottom image is of Civita di Bagnoregio, north of Rome: one of several "ghost towns" found throughout the Italian countryside, as the local population slowly migrates away for multiple reasons.