The so-called “Blue Hour” is the time before sunrise or after sunset until late evening. During sunset the sun approaches the horizon and its light becomes hotter and hotter as the light rays pass through the atmosphere in different ways. More intense, indeed breath-taking, colours are produced. Although the blue hour occurs before sunrise, it is most effective after sunset for many reasons, such as better visibility or the use of city lighting.
During the blue hour the light changes dramatically. It goes from warm tones to a very particular bold blue. It is precisely at this moment where colour gradations from blue to orange are found in the sky. For photographers this IS the time to take pictures and indeed Bagni di Lucca’s own photographic club is called ‘L’Ora Blu’.
Of course photographing one’s subjects only in the blue hour does not automatically make one a good photographer. Nor does having the latest technologically advanced camera. In many cases pure luck will make the perfect, legendary picture. It’s so often the right place, the right moment when the shutter is pressed that shifts a photo into history. Indeed, not all the club’s photographs have been taken during the blue hour. But using the blue hour does help…
For the next week an exhibition of the club members’ work is on show at the casino at Ponte a Serraglio. The main theme regards places of interest in our area. I went to take a look at it a couple of days ago. This is a selection of what I saw:
I could, of course, describe where each photo comes from. However, I’ll tease my reader and let them work out which of the titles are most appropriate for each of the pictures above:.
Sant’Ansano hermitage
Casino great salon
Loppia pieve (parish church)
Orrido di Botri canyon
Bargiglio watchtower
Signor Galgani, smith
San Martino in Freddana art nouveau parish church
Old Calavorno bridge
Vetriano little theatre
Puccini family home, Celle
Pania della Croce
WWII museum
Water mill
Ponte delle catene
Diecimo parish church
Maddalena bridge
Chestnut museum
Photographers can help us to refresh our sense of reality and make us realise again what a wonderful part of the world we are living in. The variety of buildings is astounding. Ranging from romanesque chapels to baroque churches to art-nouveau mansions to contemporary bridges our area is so rich in wonderful examples of art and architecture. It may not have the degree of fame of Florence or the grandeur of Rome or the exoticism of Naples but it is absolutely to be visited in all cases.
It was fun for me to recognise where the places photographed were without looking at the titles. I think I got most of them but there were a few that I had completely overlooked during my time here in this valley.
It’s great that the casino is increasingly being used for these and other events. Such a gorgeous building should be used and relished by all visitors to our town.