Tellaro, a small seaside village in the Ligurian Levant, nestles between rock and sea, surrounded by the fragrance of the Mediterranean scrub. Here the atmosphere is unique, a journey through time that immediately captures you. The narrow streets, carved into history, seem to whisper stories of people who have resisted the sea, its waves that crash forcefully against the rocks. The air smells of salt and maritime pine, a breath that enters your soul.
I had been admiring images of this extraordinary place for a long time, until I decided to leave to capture “my” Tellaro. The wait for the right conditions was long, as always happens. I was looking for a storm, a moment in which those buildings stood like bulwarks in front of a big, gigantic, at times frightening sea—a fury that I had never seen before. Four-meter waves broke before my eyes, raising splashes of foam that made the scene almost Dantesque.
Getting to Tellaro was an adventure in itself: the road overlooking the sea put me to the test. The locals greeted me with curious smiles—accustomed to foreigners, but not to someone armed with a camera in front of such a threatening sea. After a tour of the old town, not only to find the perfect shot but to explore and connect with the soul of the place, the choice fell on a classic: Punta di Trigliano. This large rock jutting out into the sea offers a direct view of the small church, a symbol that defies the fury of the waves.
Reaching that point with such a sea was not easy. You had to calculate the rhythm of the waves: “One… two… three…”, and then run to avoid a shower that could have consequences. At the top, however, I found a dry corner, a safe refuge from which to shoot. I opted for a medium telephoto lens, compressing the scene to push the waves even more against the town, creating a dramatic effect.
The return was equally adventurous, with the risk of a “wash” always lurking, but fortunately everything went smoothly. I dedicated the last shots to a spectacular sunset next to the Tino Island: the sun setting on the horizon, dyeing the sky orange, gave me a unique feeling of warmth, a memory that I will carry with me forever.
At dusk, returning to the car, I took one last turn in the intricate alleys, stopping to sip a glass of local Vermentino. That fresh flavor was the sweet counterpart to the sea water that had accompanied me, giving me one of the most beautiful and exciting shots of my life.
