Napoli & Pompeii / Italy
Following on from our time in Sicily, the next stop was Naples. Flying in from Palermo we had one night to eat all the pizza before heading down the coast to Sorrento, via Pompeii of course.
The historic centre of Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban areas in the world. Our AirBnb was right in the thick of it. It was so different. A lot of people say Naples is a dangerous place and based on what the internet says they wouldn’t go there. There is a massive tourist presence so is a lot of the negativity hearsay? It’s hard to say but if you keep your wits about you, use common sense then its safe enough to visit. We only spent a couple of hours walking the narrow streets, having a pizza from both L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele (opened in 1870!) and Pizzeria Sorbillo, two of the most famous and best pizzerias in Naples.
The following morning we walked to the train station while the city seemed to still be asleep. With eyes on our luggage, we boarded the train. Next stop - Pompeii.
With the next couple of nights we thought it’d be rude not to stop by Pompeii. We had a booked a guide through Airbnb experiences as we didn’t have a more than a couple of hours and wanted to at least learn something memorable. Hearing the stories is unbelievable, but then you look up and you’re right there. Standing in the city, incredibly preserved. The frescos that are preserved with original paint is mind blowing to me, seeing and hearing how the wealthy lived 2000 years ago.
And then theres the plaster casts of the unfortunate victims. When Mt. Vesuvius literally blew its lid back in 79 AD it covered the city in almost 10 feet of ash and pumice. Animals and people were covered, and after they decayed they left a void. Upon realising this, archaeologists filled the void with plaster, making these plaster casts in the ash. Crazy to see the position people where in before they were covered..
I love creating images that speak to me.
I grew up in a small town that nobody really knows about, Levin. Spent a good ten years in Hamilton making some of the best friends anyone could have. And now I’m living, working and playing in the city of Auckland, New Zealand. Also a small country that people have trouble locating – I’m looking at you America!
Life is about stories, and that’s what I love to capture and document. My shooting style is unobtrusive. You may be a natural in front of the camera, or have no idea what to do but before we even start I’ll make sure you’re comfortable and relaxed.
Things I love: Travelling to wherever I can, my partner Monita, homemade burgers, wood fired pizzas, the smell of rain on a hot summers day, mountains, the snow, sunsets and sunrises, star gazing, natural light, the aesthetic of wood, crashing waves and day dreaming.