MatteoBroker with a hobby of photography, I'm not good at portraits but luckily I prefer capturing landscapes!

A Stormy Sea at Cavi di Lavagna.
The rough sea crashes against the rock outside the Sant’Anna tunnels, and when I saw this scene I immediately thought it was one of the most striking places along this stretch of coast to photograph a stormy sea. I am Matteo, and this photograph comes from my wish to capture one of those moments when the sea completely changes the appearance of the Ligurian coastline.
Cavi di Lavagna is in Liguria, in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, along the Gulf of Tigullio, not far from Sestri Levante. I know this area quite well, and when the sea becomes rough it offers views that are completely different from those seen on calmer days. The coastline becomes more dynamic and the rocks suddenly take on a much more important role in the landscape.
In this photograph, the main subject is the sea itself as it reaches the rock with considerable force. The rock seems to wait for every new wave and, with each impact, the water takes on a different shape. This is exactly the kind of moment I like to look for with my camera: not a staged scene, but something that changes constantly and has to be captured at the right instant.
The Sant’Anna tunnels are one of the distinctive features of this section of coastline between Lavagna and Sestri Levante. On an ordinary day, perhaps with calm water and clear weather, it is easy to experience the landscape in a completely different way. During a storm, however, the sea inevitably becomes the main attraction as the waves reach the rocks.
If you are wondering where to see a stormy sea around Cavi di Lavagna, this is certainly one of the places I would consider for observing the waves from a suitable and safe position. The power of the sea should never be underestimated, though. Wet rocks and unexpectedly large waves can be dangerous, so even when photographing, I always believe it is important to keep a safe distance.
There is also a small local detail that has always made me curious. In Sestri Levante, a rock is known locally as “il Grugno”, although I do not know the precise origin of the nickname. I would rather not invent an explanation. Local names like this are often part of the memory of the people who live in an area and are passed down through everyday use.
For me, photographing a stormy sea is mainly about waiting. It is not enough to point the camera towards the water and keep taking pictures. Every wave is different, and you have to look for the instant when its shape, the rock and the spray come together to create the photograph you have in mind. Sometimes waiting just a few seconds can produce a completely different image.
That is what I like about this photograph. It does not simply show Cavi di Lavagna; it records a particular moment on the coast, when the sea takes over the landscape we normally see. It is a side of Liguria that only appears under certain conditions and is worth observing carefully.
Over the years I have photographed several parts of the Tigullio, including areas around Lavagna and Sestri Levante. This image naturally becomes part of that personal visual record of the territory, where I try to show not only the best-known places but also their everyday character and the changes that appear when the weather and sea conditions are different.
I think photographs of rough seas preserve something beyond a simple landscape. The sea is constantly changing, while the camera can hold one of its many forms still for a single instant.

Have you ever watched the sea at the Sant’Anna tunnels during a real storm? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

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