For three days we had wandered the streets of the ancient walled city of Lucca. We had climbed its towers, strolled along the Renaissance ramparts, visited its churches, and relaxed in its squares, some of which still echo the Roman layout of the city. It was all very laid-back and very Italian. Then on the last day of our stay, everything changed...
From the day of our arrival we had watched as numerous marquees sprung up in the various squares around Lucca, and smaller tents up on the walls. We had cursed them from time to time for getting in the way of photographs and spoiling the cityscape, especially in the Piazza Anfiteatro.
But now we got the pay-off. The marquees were the dispersed venues for the Lucca Comic and Games festival, the largest comics festival in Europe, and the second largest in the world. On this final day the city was full of (mostly) young people, many of them in fancy dress. It was rather damp and drizzly but that didn’t stop us getting out there with our cameras to capture the scene! We started by grabbing candid shots on the streets.
But we soon realised that they were not only happy to pose but pleased to be asked and to have the chance to show off their costumes. It was a street photographer’s dream day. Yet we hadn’t even realised when we planned our trip that this festival existed at all, let alone that we would be here for it!
I visited Lucca in 2018
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rosalieann37
What a wonderful opening statement – reading something like that you have to go on and find out what changed. And of course it was not a disaster, but something wonderful
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Rosalie, that’s exactly the effect I was trying for!
starship VT
An unexpectedly serendipitous time to be in Lucca, and you really made the best of it! Do I remember correctly that you were there for your birthday? Great images, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
You remember correctly Sylvia 😀 These photos were taken the following morning – the event was a bit of a birthday bonus I giess!
Anonymous
I know how much you love street photography and this must have indeed been a deam day out for you. OK, the marquees had stymied some of your landscapes but you got this instead. Classic case of swings and roundabouts I feel. The images are, as always, brilliant.
Youll remember my friend Lynne from Canada, her younger son is all into these “Comicons” as they call them there and he travels all over North America to attend them. It is not my gig but chaçun a son gout as the French have it.
Great blog.
Sarah Wilkie
Hi there! I’m guessing from the reference to Lynne that this must be my old mate Fergy? Not sure why you’re showing as ‘anonymous’ when you have a WP site of your own! Yes, I remember Lynne well. In fact we’re friends on Facebook, which I know you hate but it helps us keep in touch 🙂 I’m not into Comicons either but I loved photographing these young people and it was, as you say, a case of swings and roundabouts 🙂
Tina Schell
Oh my Sarah, you couldn’t possibly have had a better experience if you’d planned it! what a wonderful “photo op” you had, and wow did you capitalize on it. Wonderful portraits all
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Tina, I really appreciate the feedback and nice words about my photos 🙂
Ramona Catbush
La mia patria!
Sarah Wilkie
Grazie per aver visitato il mio blog
Lesley
What a happy happenstance!
Sarah Wilkie
Indeed it was 🙂 I had no idea about this festival when we booked our visit but apparently it happens every year at the end of October (except this year 🙁 )
Nemorino
It’s great when people actually want to be photographed.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, we had a lot of fun with them – they brightened a rather dull day 🙂