John Sheldon's photos

In the church of Santa Maria Assunta, Gavinana, Tuscany, Italy. The flowering staff seems to refer to the story of how a spouse for Mary (the Biblical mother of Jesus) was divinely chosen when his dead stick miraculously burst into flower. This 'non biblical' story seems to have been popular in Italy, it was the subject of Raphael's famous painting Lo Sposalizio. ISO 12800 in a dark corner and a lot of post processing. Joseph is supposed to be a model of male humility in service and duty, so perhaps he would not mind not being the point of focus.

Gavinana is a small town of winding streets that nestles in the hills and mountains of the Pistoia region of Tuscany.

At Gavinana, Tuscany, Italy.

At Gavinana, Tuscany, Italy. An unlikely name for a cafe. Maramaldo was a villain who murdered the town's hero, Francesco Ferrucci. Maramaldo is associated with cowardice and villainy.

A shelf bending under the weight of various photographic/computer odds and ends.

Backlit bookend.

Clean and bright.

Cool light in the kitchen.

A place of great strategic importance for many centuries, Spinalonga island became a home for leprosy sufferers in the early 20th century. It is now uninhabited and a venue for tourists who reach it from the mainland by boat. The mainland of Crete is in the distance.