Behind the Shot

Capri, the tiny island off the west coast of Italy in the south of the Gulf of Naples, has long been a favorite destination for the wealthy and elite. In ancient times, Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius built villas and temples that still stand today. Two thousand years later, Capri remains popular with tourists, particularly as a day destination for travelers from nearby ports of Sorrento, Positano, Naples and Amalfi.

 “My wife and I were on our honeymoon,” recalls Taylor. “I took this shot next to the hotel where we were staying. To my right are some of the many Roman ruins. I’m really blown away when I think about the history. This is the same view they enjoyed 2,000 years ago.

 “The day before I shot this, we were on the boats you see here. The water around the boats is about 200 feet deep. I jumped in with a snorkel and mask and looked down to the seabed below. Mind you, I’m terrified of the ocean. The water was perfectly clear, and I could see these huge fish swimming below me. I freaked out, jumped out of the water and back into the boat. As I’m getting up into the boat, I tossed the snorkel and mask up, but I missed, and they fell in, sinking to the bottom. I was already embarrassed but felt really horrible when I found out they had belonged to the captain’s deceased father. The next four hours on the boat were very awkward, to say the least.”