Behind the Scenes With a Hotel Photographer
"EXTERIORS: Lush and verdant gardens surround the historic La Divine Comédie, transporting you from the bustling labyrinth of ancient streets that surround the hotel to a beautiful and quiet place. With these images, taken during early autumn, I wanted to blend together the hotel’s vegetation and the striking stone incorporated around the grounds. In photo one, we see a small stone bath beneath a large clock, framed by green leaves and ivy. I composed the shot so that light fades towards the edges, making clear the subject of the picture. In photo two, the pool appears as if it were a natural spring. To compose this shot I took advantage of the hanging tree branches to frame the pool and pool house, enveloping them in nature. INTERIORS: La Divine Comédie is full of art, antiques, and literature. The two vignettes above illustrate the hotel’s luxurious interior and prove the power of detail in photography. The first photo was taken in the evening, to amplify the romance of the space. Some limited artificial light was included to aid in creating shadows on the walls. The second, taken in The Naples Suite, is composed off center to display the subject (fireplace) along with the surrounding design elements (chandelier, desk chair, mirror, gold accents). The light diminishes from left to right, evoking the calm moodiness of the space." - Mark Fedeli
