SPQR

Street Photography in Italy. Mostly made during my residency at The American Academy in Rome.

The eternal city & her tourist traps.

The city of Queens and Caesars: Cleopatra, Julius, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula.

Bathed in golden light, Rome awakens each morning to a glow that blankets her ancient cobblestones. Romans walked here thousands of years ago, as they walk here today. But now, they’ve brought friends.

When I shoot on the streets of Rome, I gravitate toward bustling public spaces. Intense crowds help me blend in, allowing me to go unnoticed. I’m often met with extraordinary kindness: once, a gaggle of Roman girls noticed my camera and ran after me, eager to be photographed. I resist staging, asking only that they continue their business, avoiding posed smiles or direct stares into the lens. In Italian, the phrase is “non in posa,” which literally means “not posing.” This approach preserves the authenticity of life in the streets of Rome. It’s always alive, raw, and magnificent.

Rome has always understood performance. In a city that once staged spectacles of blood for roaring crowds in the Colosseum, I search for moments that unfold without an audience in mind.