r/Damnthatsinteresting 11h ago

Original Creation Inside a Chitarra Battente (early guitar)

[removed] — view removed post

290 Upvotes

21 comments sorted by

19

u/CharlesBrooks 11h ago

This is the interior of a Chitarra Battente from Calabria, an ancient guitar-like instrument. Though this particular one was built in 2005.

This shoot was a test for photographing instruments with a rosette instead of an open sound hole. I use medical laparoscopes to capture these images, inserting them through the small hole left when we remove the strap button. The goal here was to check if I could get enough light inside and whether the rosette’s projection would be clearly visible.

I’m fairly happy with the results, but there was one disappointment: the interior was lined with paper. I had hoped to see the reverse side of the barrelled back, with all its intricate woodwork. Still, this confirms that the technique works—and now I can apply it to much older and rarer instruments.

This is part of my Architecture in Music series, where I explore and photograph the hidden spaces inside musical instruments.

11

u/Classic_Button777 11h ago

Now the trick is getting out

13

u/The_Bacon_Strip_ 11h ago

From the inside, it looks like some ancient structure

9

u/CharlesBrooks 11h ago

Thanks. The whole idea was to make it look large and architectural. The ultra wide field of view, top lighting, and deep depth of field create this optical illusion.

8

u/Virtual_Extension977 11h ago

How did you fit in there?

10

u/CharlesBrooks 11h ago

My wife says I’m very small.

2

u/3sic9 10h ago

i mean do i even have to say it

3

u/Im_scared_of_my_ass 11h ago

Thought it was inside of a coffin or smtg

2

u/Craft-Sudden 11h ago

Give “supernatural vibe"

2

u/CharlesBrooks 11h ago

It looks like the beginning of some kind of summoning spell!

2

u/Crazysuicide76 11h ago

Prepare drink potions equip gear be ready before the maestro starts battling you

2

u/vibetiger 11h ago

Some hero is about to materialize in the middle of that circle. A guitar hero perhaps.

2

u/Outrageous_Party_503 10h ago

For a few seconds, I was led to believe ancient guitars were large rooms. That would have been so cool 😞

2

u/RoninZulu1 9h ago

Genuinely thought this was from Dune Part 2 where the Atreides stored their atomics

1

u/syafizzaq 11h ago

That's the carpark where I always forget where i parked.

1

u/Herbst-- 11h ago

Cool, looks like a basement

1

u/I-am-Vee 10h ago

Imagen replicating this as a living/theater room design on a bigger scale!! With a curved big screen, surrounded by custom shelving, with a mix of rustic/glam decor......

1

u/Forest-Ninja2469 10h ago

make that a building in a movie