Siena, Italy — September 2018
From above, Siena feels almost unchanged by time. Terracotta rooftops stack tightly together, forming a maze of warm tones, narrow streets, and quiet passages that have existed for centuries.
What caught my eye in this moment was the geometry of the city — the rhythm of rooftops, the repetition of textures, and the single narrow street cutting through the center like a seam holding the whole scene together. The cars tucked into the alleyway add a subtle reminder that this is still a living city, layered with history but continuing in the present.
The warm afternoon light softened the colors of the stone and clay, creating a palette that feels almost painterly. Siena’s architecture has a way of absorbing light rather than reflecting it, which makes scenes like this feel calm and timeless.
Photographically, I wanted to compress the scene and emphasize the density of the town, so I used a longer focal length to bring the buildings closer together and highlight the layered textures of the rooftops.
Technical details:
ISO 560
f/11
130mm
1/320 sec