Edited by Odeta Catana, photography editor
Could you please tell us a little more about yourself. Where do you live?
I’m living in Milan but I’m from South Italy. I have two gorgeous children, aged 9 and 18 years old, a dear wife and a mischievous cat.
How did you start taking pictures? Usually there is always the old story of the boy who finds his grandfather’s camera; did that happen to you as well or not?
My passion for photography was born rather late, it all started when, having been always a man passionate and revolt at the spiritual life, I discovered that meditation is not just about sitting on a couch or lying in a bed, but also trying to be present in every moment of life.
So to develop this, I needed something to keep me in the present, without thoughts that crowd the mind, without wandering between past memories or fantasize about the future, therefore street photography, to my surprise, was the ideal tool for my goal.
Where does your inspiration comes from?
When I go out with my camera, I can eliminate my thoughts; I’m really there to seize the moment, serene, to observe what is happening around me. In short, it’s a form of deep meditation that doesn’t distract, which relieves the mechanical processes of the brain and enabling them to share of everything that happens in front of you.
You see, unfortunately, life pushes us to be absent, because of problems, thoughts and because of the mind, that is too busy thinking about the past or hoping for the future, not realizing what is happening around us. Because of this, we lose the moment, the real essence of what life really is: an infinite instant which continues for the eternity.
What kind of relationship do you have with your subject when you shoot?
I love find the right background or study the shot, then wait for it to happen in front of my eyes, of course always with the camera ready to shoot anything interesting that happens around me at the time. I show myself always serene and nice towards my subject and, after a shot, a smile never fails, if the people doesn’t like that I’ve shoot them, I don’t hesitate to cancel at the time, but usually it never happens, rather often I find myself in front of people accomplices and amused.
Do you think it’s important to follow a school to learn how to shoot?
I don’t think there is need for a particular school to learn how to do street photography. Of course the basics of technique and composition must become personal baggage, instinctive, but creativity is at the core of everything. You can have all the technical knowledge or know the basics of composition, but you need a little creativity, which is essential! You need to have a basic thing in everything you do, the hub of everything, and it’s called passion, when there is, you need nothing else!
What’s the photo you want to take and you never did?
There are some shots that I want to do and still aren’t completely among my skills, they are “moved shot” and I think my next project will address to it. I love “moved shot”, seem suspended between two worlds, the material and the ethereal. Awesome! I already have something in mind, but I have to admit that it is a difficult task, not easy because there are more elements to consider and place the subject where you want is even more difficult.
