12/30/2025
**Did you know that Pope Leo had a pet elephant? š**
On my most recent visit to Rome, I photographed the famous "Elephant and Obelisk" sculpture in Piazza della Minervaāa monument with a story as unique as the city itself. In 1514, King Manuel I of Portugal presented Hanno the elephant to the newly elected Pope Leo X as a diplomatic gift. Hanno quickly became the Popeās favorite companion, living in a custom-built enclosure between St. Peterās Basilica and the Apostolic Palace. Though Hannoās time in Rome was brief, the elephantās legacy grew, becoming a symbol of papal excess and even fueling Martin Lutherās early Reformation critiques.
What I love most is the inscription on the monument:
*"Let any beholder of the carved images of the wisdom of Egypt on the obelisk carried by the elephant, the strongest of beasts, realize that it takes a robust mind to carry solid wisdom."*
For over 50 years, my photography has been recognized internationally for capturing the unique stories behind every image. Our work has caught the attention of high-end travel and hospitality companies, who use these eye-catching photos to draw clients into extraordinary destinationsāproving that every picture truly tells a story. Thatās the story behind the story, so to speak!
If youāre looking for images that inspire, connect, and reveal the hidden narratives of the world, visit or reach out at 305.590.0470. I continue to chase these stories wherever my travels take meāand sometimes, itās an elephant carrying an obelisk, and sometimes, itās the wisdom behind the image.
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