Lens: Voigtlander nokton 50mm f1.1
Camera: NEX-7, ISO100, f11, 1/125, raw
Family Sundays are too much of a rare thing in my life. We’re always too busy, Claudia and myself, usually with work, sometimes with friends, and we tend to miss the opportunities to spend some quality time all together, as a proper family. This weekend was an exception, luckily, even if it was because a major shooting and an important meeting got both postponed, even if we’ve been kind of obliged to stay with Agata and find something to do. No matter what, it has been totally great.
This morning we went for a long walk along the stalls of the market of Porta Portese, the air extremely chilly and winter-ish, looking for some Christmas decorations. Since we didn’t find much, we took the tram and moved to the best place in Rome where to look for Christmas related amenities: Piazza Navona.
It’s a tradition that goes back well before the second world war to have tons of stalls selling sweets and decorations, originally dedicated to the feast of the Epiphany, cause Christmas in Italy wasn’t the big thing it’s today, but more of a festivity where families would gather around a rich dinner, no gifts involved. Since we got aligned with the rest of the western world, the stalls at Piazza Navona started selling Santa Claus decorations along with the ones dedicated to the witch of Epiphany, the Befana.
Agata loved the atmosphere, the toys everywhere, the kids playing on the carousel, and to be around with us. When we returned home we met with Claudia’s sister Francesca and her daughter Lia. Francesca is close to delivering her second daughter (and our second niece), so we took the evening to shoot a few portraits in the studio. I chose this one for the project because it doesn’t feel like the usual pregnancy portrait, mostly because Francesca isn’t the usual pregnant girl, and not only because she looks a bit like May-Louise Parker, the Nany Botwin of the majestic tv-series Weeds.
After her portraits we dressed Lia and Agata like two little Santas and took some excellent grandparent material. You’ll eventually see it when Christmas comes. Right now, the shots are all top secret!