A recent trip to Rome gave me the opportunity to visit Montecassino Abbey.
That’s it up on the hill. The Abbey was founded by St. Benedict and is beautiful with stunning views. This image was taken at the nearby Polish War Cemetery. The calm, serene image that I have above makes the destruction of WWII and the fighting that took place here almost unimaginable. It was so quiet while I was here, peaceful.
I used a wide angle 11-22mm lens to capture this scene. I like that lens for landscape shots like this one, it helps bring a sense of expansiveness to the image. It was very bright that day, so I took a few exposures. In Photoshop, I merged two of them into a single HDR image. I find that HDR is sometimes a good way to create an image that has a good final exposure, meaning that I haven’t lost to much detail in either the dark or light spots in the image. Other than that, I let the image stand on it’s own. It was a bit hazy that day, and I haven’t attempted to take that out of the photo.
For me, this was a peaceful, quiet moment. You will have to tell me if that is the kind of feeling it evokes for you? Feel free to comment below.
While we are on the topic of serenity, I’ll tell you my life at the moment is anything but. It’s a good thing though, just somewhat full to overflowing. I have the opportunity to do several unique and exciting things over the next few weeks, so I have decided to take a break from blogging. I will be back mid to late January, so I’d like to take this moment to wish all of you a serene and peaceful holiday season and all my best to you for the coming year. Thank you for reading.
Cheers!
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I do feel a sense of peace and serenity from looking at this image. No clouds, clear sky, no people in sight, it’s like the place is just being itself. Wishing you the best of luck for the weeks ahead and enjoy 🙂
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Thanks very much Mabel 🙂
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How beautiful. And yes, when I first look at your photo, I get a feeling of serene peace. Your narrative, however, explains the true nature of the site and I found the juxtaposition of the marvelous old Abbey and the reverential Polish War Cemetery to be quite powerful and solemn. I can almost hear voices in the great silence. I’m glad to have discovered your site and look forward to your return after a break. I am just returning from a blogging break myself and understand how essential it can be and also what a joy to return.
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Thank you for your visit. You are right, this is a very powerful place, lots to think about that’s certain. I think you have also summed up my feelings about my blog, I really enjoy it, and want to keep enjoying it, so I will take a break. Seems counterintuitive, but I think that’s true.
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A beautiful capture, and yes, very serene. Have fun on your adventures. Looking forward to reading about them in January. Happy Holidays to you too!
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Thank you very much Tina.
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What a lovely, meditative spot! Enjoy your “unique and exciting things”!
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Thank you. It was a beautiful place. It took a bit of planning to get there but was well worth it.
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Magnificent Abbey! Great capture with the wide lens. 🙂
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Yes, it is so beautiful, such a hard history though. I was really happy with how the photos using this lens turned out.
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Have a great time off, Amy. An early Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too!
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Thank you very much!
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It looks like a very serene place! See you next month, enjoy your blog break.
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It really was, despite the sad history. Thank you 🙂
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Wishing you a happy holiday season Amy. Good for you to find balance in your life and know when a break from blogging is needed. You have left us with a beautiful image as you bid us farewell. Thank you so much for all of yur support and encouragement here on the blog and on Instagram. We appreciate it very much.
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Hi Sue, yes taking a break seemed like the best way to both take care of other things in my life and also keep loving the blog. I’ll look forward to returning. It’s possible you will still see me on Instagram, I haven’t really decided if I will take a full break there or not as looking through photos is something I find very relaxing. As you know, I love reading your blog, so its easy to support 🙂
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That’s very kind of you Amy. Always happy to see you but definitely I am a firm believer in finding balance in all of this. Enjoy your time and looking forward to our next chat whenever that might be.
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Thanks Sue 🙂
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yes, it did evoke a peaceful feeling my way.
and so majestic and open –
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Glad that came through in the photo. That is something I had wondered about, that thought that just because the photo meant something to me doesn’t mean other people would interpret it the same way.
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Wishing you a safe and enjoyable festive season, Amy. You will be missed, of course. G&P, Ken
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Thank you very much Ken.
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A very serene location as it should be. Good luck with the new projects. Seasons greetings.
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Thanks, I’m pretty excited.
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Life is that much richer when it is a tapestry of serenity and creative turmoil. Best of luck with your new projects and thank you for a wonderful year of adventure and photography chats.
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Thank you and I have also enjoyed our chats here and on your lovely blog.
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Amy, congratulations on your upcoming opportunities, and that’s wonderful that you are choosing to take part. 🙂 Lovely photo as well. 🙂
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Thanks Theresa 🙂
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too! see you in January 2018!
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Thank you very much, I hope that you had a nice holiday.
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thank you
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You have beautifully captured the essence of the place in this photo. I am often not in favour of HDR, but you used it really well in this photo. Enjoy your time off from the blog sphere. And may you have a beautiful and serene holiday, too.
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Thank you very much.
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Hi, Amy. Beautiful and serene shot! I hope you have a great couple of weeks. See you in January!
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Thanks 🙂
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happy new year across the miles!
hope your break is going well.
🙂
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Happy New Year to you. I’m mostly back, I enjoyed my break, but I did miss the blog. I hope that you had a nice holiday?
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yes- holiday was nice – but very busy one this year – and while glad for parts of that – we have been decompressing – maybe like you are (?)
🙂
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Yes, very busy holiday here too, I feel like I am still working on getting back to normal and figuring out what I intend this year to look like.
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same here….
exactly
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🙂
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I am gpoing to bed now – and so nice to get your little happy face to send me off on my way – love we sorta connect in real time across the miles
🙂
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Yes, I’d noticed that, that we seem to be around at the same times.
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now always – maybe just when you are online early and I am up late (cos I napped that day or something.. ha)
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🙂
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