SPQR

Street Photographs made during a residency at The American Academy in Rome.

The eternal city & her tourist traps.

The city of Caesars: Julius, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula.

Bathed in Italy’s golden light, Rome awakens each morning with a glow that coats her ancient cobblestones. Romans walked here thousands of years ago, and they walk here now. But they brought friends.

When I shoot street photography in 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 for photographs. I asked only that they continue their business avoiding posed smiles or direct stares at the lens. In Italian, the phrase is “non in posa”which literally, “not posing.” This approach preserves the authenticity of life on the streets.