Matera is an excellent location for photography, and I was surprised by how open it was for exploration. This surprise was very evident after I arrived in Florence, concluding Matera. Florence is one of the most renowned Italian destinations and one that many first-timers to the country choose to visit. However, comparing the number of people in Florence to those in Matera is a stark difference. Matera does not have an airport, so the journey to Matera can deter some from visiting. You must take a bus, train, or drive; the closest airport is in Bari. Also, the Sassi is not easy to explore compared to some of the main cities in Italy, as it includes numerous stairs and challenging terrain for some.

Visiting Matera has been on my list for years, and I’m so thankful that I finally had the opportunity to spend some time here. I was in Matera for four days but was booked for five, but I wanted to consider any unfavourable weather and unforeseen delays getting there. The delays did happen, which could be a post on its own, and it was raining when I arrived. But the following three days were perfect. I was thrilled with how things turned out once I was there. It quickly made me forget about the insane journey that came before it. The Sassi of Matera is simply stunning. It is a great place to take in the scenery and enjoy what’s in front of you. It’s a beautiful city with a fascinating history.

I’ll soon have a second post on Matera that discusses tips for visiting and what to expect when you get there. In this post, I wanted to share some of the photos I had captured from my visit and the thoughts behind each image.

Photo 1 - Man and Shadow

We’ll start with one of my most gratifying surprises. This location is at the highest point of the Sassi, and the man is leaning against the Matera Cathedral, which, along with the tower, is one of the most recognizable structures in Matera. During sunset, you can get a beautiful view over the Sassi, and people gather in this area when the sun gets low on the horizon. What I love about this photo is the combination of the man and the surrounding silhouettes of people sitting on the stairs and others. It’s a great combination of recognizable and unrecognizable figures. I am pleased with the composition of the man in the center of the frame, with people on both sides and a leading line of the stairs from right to left. Finally, the tone of this photo sets the mood of late-day warmth as the sun is ideally situated horizontally to the subjects. It’s a simple photo, but one, I think, that tells a story.

Photos 2 and 3 - Matera Tower and Signs

Many landscape photos are shot in…well, landscape, but I’ve always enjoyed shooting them vertically. In this case, the Sassi of Matera has a verticality both in the construction and the tower itself, which complements the composition. This is not a unique composition, but “simple” is sometimes the most intriguing. As the Sassi’s surroundings are high on every side, with the core dipping down into a valley, the sun is blocked from lighting the lower areas when the sun is low. This allowed the sunlight to be at the top only. This time does not last long, only a few moments, which makes it a beautiful experience. In this photo, the sun is directed at only the tower. With the center composition, the eye immediately leads to the subject before going right, following the light, and then around, exploring the rest of the Sassi below.

The third photo is focused on leading lines, shapes, and patterns. I believe the most evident aspect of this photo is the shadow of the stairs. Looking beyond that, this photo can be interpreted differentely. When viewing the image, do you go up or down the stairs? Does the positioning of the arrow in the sign influence how you proceed through the photo? I also enjoyed how the signs appear to originate from the shadow. These vertical lines and the pipe that continues at the top of the frame contrast the stairs’ diagonal lines and patterns.

Photo 4 - Sunset Viewing

This photo is relatively simple in composition. I only focused on lowering the camera and positioning it to get the sunburst right. There are two other elements in this image that I feel contribute to the effectiveness of the photo. First is the few clouds; I don’t think it would have worked with more of them. More clouds would have pulled from the intended focus - the people and their experience. Secondly, the wire that proceeds across the top of the frame contributes positively. I wouldn’t have even considered selecting the photo if it was not for that. Perfect images don’t always work, and I think the “imperfection” of this wire helps push the eye down towards the middle of the frame first and also helps lead from left to right in viewing. You may think differently, but the photo would not have been as impactful without that wire.

Conclusion

I’ve been looking forward to Matera for a few years now, especially since the trip I had planned in January to Matera never happened. In hindsight, I’m glad I didn’t visit so early in the year, as I feel the mid-September weather was perfect. Besides the first arrival day, I had sunshine and beautiful weather in Matera. It was hot, but it was not unbearably so.

Matera is a captivating city. It’s not as busy as other Italian destinations and probably never will be. Although it’s not difficult to get to Matera, it’s not as easy as simply arriving at a major airport. Due to that, it remains a manageable place to explore without thousands of others. Regarding travel photography, Matera is a dream; it’s a unique city with exciting sights and pleasurable surroundings that offer the freedom to explore at leisure.