Michael Wilkins
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A series · 11 photographs

Rome

Two visits, in December 2019 and September 2021. Rome gives you about twenty minutes a day when the Via dei Fori Imperiali has nothing on it, and never when you plan for it; the rest of the time the work is finding the frame the crowds leave alone — a puddle, an arch, the underside of the Colosseum. After dark the floodlights take over, and at a narrow aperture they turn into small stars, which I like more than I should.

Photograph looking down the Via dei Fori Imperiali at dusk toward the floodlit Colosseum, umbrella pines silhouetted on both sides beneath a burning orange sky.

The Empty Road

Rome, Italy · December 2019 · 1 of 11

Photograph of the upper tiers of the Colosseum shot from below against a pale sky, rows of arches curving across the frame with the low sun bursting as a star through one of the openings.

Arcade

Rome, Italy · December 2019 · 2 of 11

Photograph looking up at the Pantheon's portico, its massive granite columns rising steeply into the frame beneath the inscribed pediment reading M AGRIPPA L F COS TERTIVM FECIT, against a clear blue sky.

Portico

Rome, Italy · December 2019 · 3 of 11

Photograph of the Arch of Constantine in Rome reflected in a large rain puddle, the arch upright in the top half of the frame and mirrored below, a single figure walking past in silhouette.

Constantine, Twice

Rome, Italy · December 2019 · 4 of 11

The Colosseum's curved arcades and the edge of the Arch of Constantine seen in soft light across wet cobbles, two umbrella pines and an ornate lamp post standing over an empty street, the whole scene doubled in a broad rain puddle in the foreground.

The Colosseum, in a Puddle

Rome, Italy · December 2019 · 5 of 11

The white marble Vittoriano monument in Rome with the sun bursting in a star directly behind the bronze chariot on its roof, umbrella pines and the broken columns of an ancient forum in the foreground, the sky washed pale by the glare.

The Sun Behind the Chariot

Rome, Italy · December 2019 · 6 of 11

Blue-hour photograph of Trajan's Column standing lit between umbrella pines, the domed church of Santa Maria di Loreto glowing pink beside it, wet road reflecting the street lights in the foreground.

Trajan's Column, Blue Hour

Rome, Italy · December 2019 · 7 of 11

Night photograph of the Fountain of the Naiads in Piazza della Repubblica, its jets lit and frozen mid-spray, flanked by the curved floodlit colonnades of the piazza against a black sky.

Naiadi

Rome, Italy · December 2019 · 8 of 11

Trajan's Column lit at night among the standing columns of Trajan's Forum, two domed baroque churches behind it, umbrella pines at left, floodlights throwing small stars across the ruins and a couple of tiny figures on the walkway at the back.

Trajan's Column, After Dark

Rome, Italy · September 2021 · 9 of 11

Night photograph of the Colosseum floodlit from within, warm light glowing through two tiers of arches while the surrounding sky and ground fall away into near-black.

The Colosseum, Lit

Rome, Italy · September 2021 · 10 of 11

Night photograph of the floodlit Vittoriano monument in Rome, its colonnade and bronze statues bright against a black sky, with long white and red car light trails streaking across the road in front.

Traffic at the Altar

Rome, Italy · September 2021 · 11 of 11

Night photograph of the Albert Bridge in London outlined in thousands of small bulbs, its ornate towers and cables glowing gold, with blue and white vehicle light trails crossing beneath.

The next room

Night Cities