I Was Here

These images were captured during a long afternoon spent sitting in front of the Pantheon in Rome paced by the sound of a shutter regularly opening and closing for long exposures whose duration was counted off in a whisper At precise intervals the photosensitive surface recorded the constant flow of tourists peoplewatchers cars and animals as they moved stopped gathered and took photos The historic building thus reveals itself as a magnet whose pull on people has lasted for centuries I Was Here is a reference to the common phrase often found scratched on public walls marks left as visible proof of a persons visit to a place Like that ageold practice travel photography is an attempt to record a persons presence in a particular place a photographed place taken home as proof