Italy Images - This is Why I am Blissful

A ray of light on the wall of the Pantheon. In this greatest functioning example of ancient architecture I am always amazed that the renaissance genius Raphael is entombed here.

An afternoon storm brews over the mysterious Matera in the Italian state of Basilicata. If you think you know Italy yet have never been south of Rome, it is time you live up to your high praise of yourself.

The stunning Castel del Monte is one of the most unusual monuments in that it appears from nowhere along a gorgeous plateau in the highly underrated region of Puglia, Italy. This is very likely the cover to my first book

Sunset over Naples on the only day I ever spent there. It was the most fascinating and living city I have been in Europe. I will return to Napoli again soon.

Morning fog over Canale in Piedmont, Italy. The fog Nebbia lends its name to the signature grapes grown in this king of Italian wine country Nebbiolo. This is also a region visited by few yet so far beyond the quality scope in food and wine it is hard to fathom.

So, here is my shot of Tuscany :-) The genius gregarious winemaker Mario Bollag pouring a tank sample of his 2006 Brunello di Montalcino. 

I adore my adopted 2nd home country as much as I love waking up each day. There are many who write about Italy. I live it as the great poets did. There is a spirit in this land that belongs to the auspices of the cosmos and no single people can possibly offer more than careful stewardship of where life simply is.

Sorry there are no links here to my subjects. Feel free to ask me any questions. I am drunk with memory and must rest.

Ci vediamo tutti

M

Photographer, Chef, Winemaker, and Friend

No, I am not talking about myself (this time). I am referring to a renaissance man and one of my very best friends Loren J Root. I met Loren on my first day of a new job in San Francisco in 2004. I noticed Loren immediately as he was in strikingly good shape, seemed confident and calm (traits I did not possess at all at the time), and his shoes were much cooler than  anything I would have seen in Austin only a week earlier. What I did not know about Loren at the time and have come to learn over the years is that the man is incredibly talented and one of the fastest learners I have ever met.

In our 7 years of friendship we have counted (and tasted) some of the finest bottles of wine on earth, traveled all over the USA in search of great food and great company, and even both sat in a Fiat 500 just outside of Panzano in Chianti laughing at the lack of space while still enjoying the great fortune of hanging out in Italia; even if Katy Perry never stopped playing on the radio.

Loren and I have worked together on numerous projects and at times he was cussed out by his boss and at times I cussed out mine. In 2005 Loren hosted Thanksgiving dinner at his home in SF and it was simply one of the most fun holidays I have ever had. Never will there be another rendition of Country boy can Survive quite like that one and I look forward to our meals and time in the kitchen as much as any social gatherings in my life.

Why is this a blog post today? Because Loren is now doing some incredible work behind the camera and I want the world to hire him. Loren is the only person in my life that I can be certain without a doubt, that if he agrees to take on a project it will always, and I mean always, exceed my expectations.

I want to share a couple of links with you to Loren's work and if you have the need for a photographer for any occasion and want world-class work with a very particular artistic vision of your goals, then Loren J Root is your man. Of course if you need your wine cellar organized and your collection managed or you would like to prepare a fresh seafood dinner in your home for 8 discerning friends Loren can manage all of these as well. This guy has talent and he will share it with you because bringing joy to people's lives is what keeps him learning.

Cheers to creativity and following the path my friends!

Loren's Company Page - Glass Roots Concepts  Loren's Flickr Page  Follow Loren on Twitter @theleftoverchef

Ghosts of Matera

In 2010 after years of traveling to Puglia I finally went to Matera in Basilicata. I had my opinions of what to expect but nothing prepared me for the haunted presences I felt in this surreal city carved into the hills.

I captured some of my favorite photos from the trip in an antique shop under an arcade as we walked into town to meet our friends who had stayed the night before. In fact, Juliet bought the most lovely amber glasses that became our main candle-holders in our home in Houston.

I only spent 1 full day in Matera, and I will certainly be back as it deserves much more time and attention. In the meantime, I will look at my photos and wonder whose ghosts haunt each image. Please check out my FLICKR stream for more Matera

The final few images I will leave without caption as the memories in these photos I have no way of deciphering and I feel privileged to have only experienced and photographed.