Dear all.. thanks to some additional free time during my holidays, today I compiled some statistics about
17 years of shootings (2004-2020) for my BAREFOOT URBAN GIRLS project, and I shared with BUG subscribers:
1) a MAP showing the geographical distribution of shootings;
2) a TABLE detailing their breakdown by location and year.
The table is an exclusive gift for BUG subscribers, but I am happy to share the map with you all, in case someone is interested!

You will maybe notice that I have held relatively few shootings (6) in my hometown, Mantova; the bulk of BUG shootings so far have been held
in Venice (129, including in nearby Mestre on the mainland, and at Lido beach) and in Verona (54, including in three locations in the surrounding plains).
I hope that some of you will find the map interesting.. in case you have some curiosities that the map cannot satisfy.. you just have to ask!

17 years of BAREFOOT URBAN GIRLS shootings: geographical distribution

Very interesting

Interesting,

you should complete thhe maps with some shooting in rice field near me

Interesting, for some reason I remember a shoot in Germany at Frankenstein's Castle. The last shoot at the fortified town that was a UNESCO site was interesting, my Italian is terrible . At any rate you made some interesting use of a platform and stairs where the model's feet and toes were dangling and playing of the architecture in interesting ways not ordinarily seen when the models feet are on the ground. The Palazzo Te in Mantova seems interesting, is it possible to shoot theere?

Ciao Feetosopher! I have enjoyed the special gifts a lot. The table with detailed statistics was very interesting, and sparked some curiosities. I have some questions for you: I hope that you can reply, thank you!
1) Most of the sessions in the 2004-2011 period took place in Venice and the surrounding area. After 2011, you have tended to shoot in Verona more often. Is there a reason for that?
2) Why have you shot in your hometown just 6 times?
3) There are several beautiful cities that are rather close to Mantova (for instance, Brescia, Cremona, Modena, Reggio Emilia, Parma, Ferrara), yet you have never shot there: why?
4) Are you planning shootings also in new cities/areas for the future? If yes, which ones?

Yes it would be great to see a contemporary take on a rice girl circa Riso Amaro and other Neo Realist rice girl films as well as a recreation of documentary photos of the actual rice girls themselves

Great to know, thank you!

@clipper: we have plenty of rice paddies here between Mantova and Verona, but I love ALL areas in Northern Italy with rice paddies.. where do you live?

@DBF: I would definitely love to stage a celebration of Riso Amaro and of another, less known Italian movie of the 50s dealing with "mondine"
(female workers in Italian rice paddies).. maybe you already know that.. it is called "La Risaia" ("The Rice Paddy"), starring Elsa Martinelli, directed by
Raffaello Matarazzo. Here you can enjoy the full movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umwMfH0amz8
I am personally an enthusiast of Italian movies of the 50s and 60s featuring barefooting scenes (clipper knows that well), even though I have
very little time now to dedicate to this passion of mine.
That said, I am afraid that the kind of material you are talking about would have little commercial success.
In any case, I have already produced for BUG some material among rice paddies, starring SWAINS.. check out the picture below..

SWAINS poses amid rice paddies in the countryside between Verona and Mantova (Italy)

Thank you for your appreciation and for your interesting comments, DBF!

The map only shows the geographical distribution of shootings that I have held in Italy for BAREFOOT URBAN GIRLS.
I could indeed produce a similar map showing the locations where I held shootings abroad, for both BAREFOOT URBAN GIRLS and BAREFOOT NUDITY..
as well as a map showing the locations where I held outdoor shootings for BAREFOOT NUDITY in Italy.. I will see..

I have never shot inside either Palazzo Te or Palazzo Ducale / San Giorgio (Saint George's) castle in Mantova.
I don't know whether the personnel would question the model's bare feet. Surely you cannot take indoor pictures by using a flashlight there.
Taking a few outdoor shots in both locations should be possible, but to hold an entire shooting I am afraid that I would need to get a permit.

Ciao amico, I am really glad that you enjoyed the extra gift for BUG subscribers, that is, the detailed table.. thank you for your appreciation!

Now, coming to your questions:
1) Most of the girls I worked with in the 2004-2011 period lived in Venice, or lived in locations from where Venice could quickly be reached.
As models in that initial "Venice pack" gradually quit posing, I started finding new models in places from where it was more convenient to reach Verona.
I have always tended to travel myself for shootings, rather than having the models travel, for various reasons.
This is the main reason why my operations area in the 2012-2020 period has shifted closer to my hometown, i.e. in Verona or in the Garda Lake area.
You should also consider that KEA, SWAINS, AMELIE and FAIRY all live (or used to live) in Verona or in nearby locations.
2) I was initially reluctant to shoot in my hometown for various reasons. It is not easy to reach it by train, unless you live in Verona, Cremona or Modena. Prior to KEA's debut in 2010, no model I worked with lived in those three cities.
Plus, I was annoyed at the idea that someone that I know could see me shooting and start asking questions, or may want to follow the shooting like it was a show, etc.
You should also consider that to date, no model I have worked with lives in Mantova.
3) You are right. The main reason is that no girls I have worked with live in those cities. I was planning to hold shootings in some of them for
my "Barefoot Lifestyle" series in 2019, but my health issues and the fucking Covid-19 have not allowed me to put those plans into practice, for now.
4) I am not into disclosing my plans in advance, but if we get rid of that fucking virus and if my health does not worsen,
I am definitely eager to add new cities to the BAREFOOT URBAN GIRLS map!
Some of the cities you mentioned at question 3, plus Polesine and other rural areas in Northern Italy are surely in my wish list..

A very interesting map! It clearly shows how rich the BUG history is. I hope that the number of sessions and the number of cities visited continue to grow in the future too. Apart from that, when the pandemic is over, BUG fans can use it to plan their holiday in Italy. After all, don´t we all dream about bumping into Feetosopher, Paul or Hal and seeing these guys in action?

Ciao Feetosopher, thank you so much for your extensive reply, full of interesting information! I hope that the situation here in Italy will improve, and that your health will improve, too! It would be really great to see your wonderful models visiting new places barefooted (OK, you already explained why you cannot shoot in Rovigo). Buon Ferragosto!

Ciao amico, thank you so much for your good wishes.. buon ferragosto anche a te!

That's very interesting and informative, indeed. Venice apparently by far is your favorite location. Which I can understand...

Ciao amico, great to read from you, and glad that you found the map interesting!
Yet it would be more exact to say that Venice USED to be my favourite location..
since my operations area has gradually shifted westward, closer to my hometown.