St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Here are some shots from my last trip to The Vatican that I just completed editing.

It was the second time I visited The Vatican, and one of the things I brought along to Europe with me on my last trip was the super-fast, Nikkor 50mm 1.4 prime lens. I knew from prior experience that it is very difficult to get sharp shots inside the large cathedrals of Europe, and they tend to frown upon photographer's setting up tripods inside churches and telling the priests to "strike a pose".

St. Peter's gets more light inside it than most others, but still it is a challenge. Even with a 1.4 lens I still had to shot at ISO 800. St. Peter's is so big and filled with so many Japanese tourists (no offense to the Japanese) that is nearly impossible inside it to get grand, wide-angle shots, so I focused on a lot of details.

St. Peter's basilica in Rome, Italy.

Sculpture of St. Peter at The Vatican. Vatican City, Rome, Italy.

Cobblestones in Piazza San Pietro in front of St. Peter's basilica in Rome, Italy.

Columns lining the facade of St. Peter's basilica in Rome, Italy.

Church pews inside St. Peter's basilica in Rome, Italy.

Michelangelo was the original architect of St. Peter's. His design called for a "plus shaped" nave, but it was later extended to the longer "cross shaped" nave. The dome of St. Peter's was designed by Michelangelo, though not finished in his lifetime.

The spectacular dome of St. Peter's basilica in Rome, Italy.

Sumptuously decorated Interior St. Peter's basilica in Rome, Italy.

Catholic priest walking into a confessional inside St. Peter's Basilica. Vatican City, Rome, Italy.

Detail of the intricate marble floor of inside St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy.

Minor cupola inside St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy.

Michelangelo was 25 years-old when he finished this Pietà.

Pietà by Michelangelo in St. Peter's Cathedral. Vatican City, Rome, Italy.

All images are Copyright Terry Smith, 2007. All Rights Reserved.

Rick Steves in Iran

Europe Through the Back Door expert traveler Rick Steves is in Iran for 10 days filming a TV show. Rick is an incredible travel writer,and I always read his books before traveling to Europe and take them as guidebooks as well. He was recently asked by the Washington State chapter of the United Nations Association to help build understanding between Iran and the US. I highly recommend reading this blog about his travels in Iran. It's a great read, and he's really finding the Iranian people warm and gracious.

I can't say I'm surprised. If ever there are menacing things being said about another country and its people it is typically coming from the U.S. government or being repeated verbatim by the American media. (And for my international blog readers, I am an American.) Sadly, most of my fellow Americans, the majority of which never travel outside their own country (with the exception of Caribbean cruise ships), never know any different. They hate whomever they're told to hate as being responsible for all their problems, or any problems they may yet to have experienced, instead of seeking out the truth themselves.

Every time I hear our government war rallying about Iran building nuclear weapons it makes me cringe. Oil production in Iran has already peaked and has been declining steadily. Just last year their government started gas rationing. However, you will never hear the U.S. government mention any of those facts. Iran is smart for wanting to build nuclear power plants. It is America who hasn't seen the light concerning peak oil yet. (Please read this if you don't know what peak oil is.) If a side-effect of nuclear power plants is material sufficient for building a nuclear bomb; well, I can't blame them for that either. After all, America voted George Bush into office twice! If I was a world leader I would want some protection from the U.S. government too.

To all of my blog readers, and especially incompetent American politicians, please read Rick Steves blog.