I must say that I've never personally been one for gazing out to sea (or at white speedos for that matter) and, being in the only landlocked region of the Italian peninsular, I'm well placed to appreciate the inside, rather than the outside edge of the country.
Early evening view from the house
The midsummer colours here are so bright and full of glare that it is hard to photograph the countryside except when it's a little cooler, either early in the morning or late in the afternoon, but when the light is just right you can sometimes hit upon a rich seam of shapes, lines and colours which define this landscape and these freshly cut fields below were, for me, just such a seam.
Freshly cut fields of grain
They remind me of chestnut woodgrain or warm travertine and they mark a brief respite for the hardworking farmers of this area - who I imagine have also gone off for a few days by the sea, firmly clutching their white speedos.
White Speedos.
When I saw the title, I was afraid... I half expected photos of Julian in a speedo. Thank God.
I so appreciate your entries and photos. Makes me what to retire, move to Umbria and paint, too. As always, brilliant.
Posted by: David Jones | September 27, 2009 at 12:36 AM
belle foto.
Regarding white speedos if Idris Elba or Gennaro Gattuso are wearing them, then that is okay with me. ha
Posted by: nyc/caribbean ragazza | August 29, 2009 at 04:41 PM
There certainly is art even in the freshly cut fields of grain. Since getting my digital camera a few years ago, I'm seeing things from a different perspective. Love your photos, especially the one of the evening view from the house.
Posted by: Leslie | August 28, 2009 at 01:38 AM
I was in Sarasota, Florida in June and saw men in Speedo thong briefs. I made a remark to a friend in Italy, telling him I was a little shocked and asked "You don't wear these do you?". His reply - a short, brief "Yes" and no word from him the rest of the day. Oh dear.
Posted by: Anne | August 27, 2009 at 04:09 PM
Speedos have never done much for me - so few have the kind of body that they look really good on. Your photos of the fields are exquisite, like wood grain indeed.
Posted by: Fern Driscoll | August 27, 2009 at 08:24 AM
I often thought how do those Italian men have that amount of self confidence to squeeze them selves into those speedo's. Sadly my 79 year old uncle Pino chose to reveal how and his splendorous physic when I last visited Sicily two years ago.We have photo's as well.
Moving on ,Julian your first photo reminds of a description I read somewhere about Avalon.Mysterious and floating in a mist beyond the horizon.
Maybe its the cook in me ,but I see a tabletop of golden toasted bread crumbs and parsley awaiting some cheese to made into croquet s!
Posted by: Antonina | August 26, 2009 at 01:47 PM
Sono squisite,le foto.
Posted by: Judith in Umbria | August 26, 2009 at 10:23 AM
I am relieved ( for Amanda's sake) that white Speedo's don't do it for you. I actually thought that that top photo was travertine at first. It is the same here, a brief respite, and then back to planting.
I am also a country girl, preferring mountains and fresh water to sand, salt and sea. Piu suggestivo, seconda me.
Greetings from the north.
Posted by: [email protected] | August 25, 2009 at 10:54 PM
ti ricordi di dire ad Amanda dei calzini di Martina?! eh!eh! Graaaazie.
Posted by: Lorenza | August 25, 2009 at 07:23 PM