Pisa, Italy, Way Back When

Looking through those old photos at the United States Library of Congress, I came across this one from Pisa, Italy. At first, I thought it was of a scale model. On closer inspection, I realized it was the real thing. Look closely at the buildings and people in the frame.

This is one of those large format, panoramic photos that are a joy to look at. It would most likely be impossible to make this image today. The crowds and the new buildings would all be in the way.

I haven’t been to Italy in many years, and the last time I was there, did not get south of Bologna. I’d like to see Pisa as well as the rest of the country. Of course, Italy is one of those places like Spain; you could spend a lifetime and still not absorb it all. Fortunately we have archives like the Library of Congress where you can see such sights without even leaving your desk. This is not a substitute for the real thing. However, it does satisfy a certain need to see what’s there.

I have a bad habit of writing two or three stories at one time. I bounce between them when the mood strikes. After looking at photos like this, I’m inspired to write episodes for my historical novels (such as MacMillan Judge, Privateer). It’s fun to play in the past where you know how things turned out. The future is a bit more difficult. It leaves you worried that when the future becomes the present, your interpretations will be judged. Maybe that’s the fun of it: putting yourself out there, asking other people to give their opinion on your work. You can’t please all of the people all of the time. I’d venture to say you can only please a few people once in a while. So long as you’re happy with what you’ve done, well, you’re on the right track.

Published in: on September 3, 2008 at 2:32 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Ruins, Part 2

I’m working on a scene for my next novel, Under A Blue Flag, that takes place in this ruined house.

Ruins are great places for dramatic scenes. They’re abandoned, forgotten places where a character can meet his destiny or decide what it will be. If you remember some of those other posts I put up about atmosphere, you’ll know that ruins are also great for that purpose. They’re moody, full of history, reminiscent of the past, and sometimes pessimistic about the future.

The abandoned cunucu house shown in the photo above is actually in an area on the island of Aruba known as Paradera. My characters end up here after a series of wrong turns. I don’t want to say too much more out of fear of revealing too much. Under A Blue Flag ties in directly to its predecessor, An Island Away. Nonetheless, I’m writing the sequel to be a stand alone volume so that it is not necessary (but it would be a good idea) to read the first book.

Published in: on September 3, 2008 at 6:58 am  Comments (1)  
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Refinery At Dawn

This is a photo of the refinery located in San Nicolaas, Aruba. Back in the day when I used film in my photographic efforts, I always wanted to take a great night shot of the place. I never got around to it, and now my film cameras rest in my museum of things I used to love. I took a chance using my little consumer digital camera and this is what I got:

It’s not the greatest picture. However, it does give the impression of the photo I always wanted to take. Among the cameras that I used to use regularly was a Horseman 4X5 field camera. If you’re not familiar with photography, just think of those old cameras with the bellows and the guy sticking his head under a cloth. The film was 4 inches by 5 inches in size. When you have an original that large, you can make enlargements that are crystal clear up to about 3 feet by 4 feet. I have a few of those around the house. The problem was that getting the film developed became more and more expensive as well as more difficult to find a lab to do it. Thus, into the museum went the camera, lenses, and film holders.

I regularly consult photographs of locations that appear in my stories. These pictures help keep my writing organized. With digital cameras and small printers it is easier than ever to build a story board that chronicles the narrative from beginning to end. This becomes more important as the amount of pages increases. You would be surprised how easy it is to get lost in the middle of writing a novel. A quick look at the story boards and you’re back on track. Not only that, it’s fun to look at your original ideas after the book is completed. It’s amazing what you thought you were going to do as compared to how things turned out. That’s the beauty of fiction, you can rearrange it when you have to.

Published in: on September 2, 2008 at 12:24 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Cape May, New Jersey, USA

This is only the second time that I’ve seen the Cape May Lighthouse from shore. Of course, I saw it numerous times from the water.

The lighthouse is actually located in Cape May Point, NJ. This is a great place if you’re into bird watching, quiet living, and enjoy the salt air. The lighthouse itself is open for tours. You can climb to the top of it as well as walk around the balcony just below the light. The view is fantastic. You can see into the Delaware Bay, out into the Atlantic Ocean, and over the beaches that fringe the end of New Jersey’s coastline.

It’s always a good idea to come here early as the crowds build throughout the day, especially when the weather is as nice as it was when I took this photo. Here’s a look at the beach at Cape May Point.

You can see it wasn’t crowded. People had just started to stake out their patch of sand. The airplanes were towing banners, advertising everything from restaurant specials to Atlantic City casinos. Cape May itself is filled with Victorian-style homes. I took this photo of two modest places, but there are many more that are as big as these two put together and more brightly painted than a carnival ride.

Still, I think these represent a pleasant scale that is both practical and inviting. Readers of this blog know that I’m partial to Spanish Colonial Architecture. However, I enjoyed a morning stroll through Cape May, taking in the variety of Victorian homes. The residents here take good care of their property. The sidewalks and streets are immaculate. If you want to do some shopping or antique hunting, there’s a pedestrian mall in the center of town that looks like this:

We found a place for lunch here that was quite good. Of course, an ice-cold Coca-Cola was had for dessert before more walking around town. Cape May deserves its reputation as a low-key, friendly destination. The beach can get crowded but all good beaches do. There are plenty of good restaurants, quaint bed and breakfast establishments if you want to stay a few days, and lots of quite streets to welcome you. (I’d like to work Cape May into a story some day, just haven’t figured out exactly how.)

Published in: on September 1, 2008 at 11:56 am  Leave a Comment  
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