How did your passion for photography come about? ? The passion for photography I think I inherited from my father, because he was the classic father who when we went on vacation took a lot of pictures and a lot of videos, obviously at an amateur level. I think he was the one who passed on to me the passion for the image and also a certain spirit of observing things. My dad passed away very young, and I like the idea that I carried on this passion of his, even though he couldn’t see that I realized this dream.
When you saw your dad with the camera were you interested? Did he allow you to use it or was he jealous of it? I was very interested, and he chose to stimulate and involve me: once, when I was about to leave for a small vacation with a friend, she had a camera found on the car seat, and from there I fell in love with it.
So even as a child, did you imagine yourself as a photographer? Definitely I was very attracted to images, so I chose a school that offered communication subjects, such as film, photography, advertising graphics, etc…. Attending school, I then realized that my path was photography:from the time I was 15 years old, I had no doubts about this.
If you wonder. o what photography means to you or how do you feel when you have a camera in your hands, what do you say? It is very easy for me to answer this question, When I hold a camera in my hand. non I never look at the clock, whether it’s for work or whether it was for study years ago. When I am involved in a project, I really feel “at home.”Now that I work more on my personal projects, space and time cancel out, and that makes me feel that I am just in the right place for me.
How has your work as a photographer evolved over time? I started working with view camera and film, and today we shoot digitally, so I’ve seen a lot of changes on a technical level. In addition to the technical evolution, there has been my own evolution over the years. In the beginning the dream was to be able to support myself doing what I love, doing creative projects. Over time I have grown and my creative contribution to the work has become more and more important and instrumental. Now in fact I am less and less interested in making ready-made layouts, but prefer to work from the idea, although to do this there has to be the right space in the context of the project.
Have you ever faced the problem of how to make your work recognizable? How does a photographer put his own stamp on the work he does? In my case, being very emotional, when I do a work I put a lot of myself inside, in personal terms. I think I have a style, which doesn’t mean doing the same thing all the time, in fact I like to experiment e vary and I think my style is recognizable.
How does the art of photography coexist with jewelry shooting? For me they coexist beautifully because they represent the meeting of two artistic expressions. I love photographing jewelry, because I see jewelry as real works of art. From a technical point of view they are very difficult photographs, because in addition to having to make a beautiful image, the photograph must return the complexity of techniques, gemstones, materials and all the work and art that revolve around the world of jewelry. I have recently embarked on a path that blends art and photography in an unconventional approach. I use the technique of collage combined with photography. It is a mode that allows me the highest expression of creativity. It breaks down any barrier of proportion and undoes reality. I enjoy it very much.
Speaking of Crieri , how did the campaign you photographed come about? Da Crieri they contacted me since they were familiar with my work. It was an unconventional contact in which we exchanged feelings and reflections primarily to get to know each other. I remember that immediately after the phone call I was inspired and came up with an idea related to my passion for the collage . So I chose to print still life images of their jewelry, cut them out, and from there built collages that I then ri -photographed. I prepared a small presentation and kept it aside, because I knew that with Crieri there would be a second meeting. When I saw the Team of Crieri I presented my project and they liked it very much. From there we started working and they gave me the freedom, time and space to do. I find that this has resulted in a project that is new and different from what you usually see in the jewelry industry .
How long did it take you to implement this campaign? It was a long and challenging job as the process of arriving at the final images was laborious. I photographed all the jewelry that would be featured in the campaign taking good care of the lighting and positions. These photos were printed,cut out and later used to create a composition in which I chose to include a series of hands cut out from magazines and books. The hands took on a key role in the composition;they became a central part of the campaign message. The c ompositions made were in turn rephotographed to arrive at the final result. It is not just photography, but a craft and manual work that is very close to the concept of creation, like the creation of a piece of jewelry. It was beautiful.
Besides recognizability, what is another added value of this creative approach of yours? Personally as it did with Crieri , I move from a neutral, free point of view. Q hen I am involved in a project, I try to make an effort and look for the solution within myself, without drawing from elsewhere, in order to make something that is as original as possible. Whenever I am faced with a new project, there is always that moment when I see the blank sheet of paper and fear that the idea will not come, but I find this step exciting as well, because it is part of the path that then leads to the result.
When making a campaign there is more to it than just the shot photographic? Yes, much more. It takes the patience not to force the birth of an idea, kind of like suc yields in nature when planting a seed.
What is the photo you have taken that is invaluable to you? Is there a photo that you are very attached to, your favorite photo? This is the photograph that was published on the cover of La Lettura, a cultural supplement of Corriere della Sera. Like so many photographers, I have always taken personal research shots without thinking a priori to target them to “anyone”but just to express myself. See my picture on the cover was such an emotion that I was moved and cried . . The image is a work of collage and photography born out of a need to bring out personal emotions;it is a photo that is part of a series in which I used images of flowers associated with the female body.
At this point calling yourself a photographer seems reductive. What would you call yourself? I would call myself an artist, although as a word I don’t love it very much. I try to cultivate beauty in everything I do, from my home to my garden to my work.
Besides photography and art what else are you passionate about? After the moment of lockdown I found that I am passionate about listening to people’s stories extraneous Sitting on garden benches. For me it is of vented an indispensable stimulus as well as a personal enrichment.
Have you ever thought of writing a book? I don’t think so, because I’m not good at writing. But when I was a child I wanted to be a journalist to tell other people’s stories. I am passionate about people’s lives.
Have you ever thought about photographing people as they tell you about their lives or as they tell you about their stories? Maybe I will, but right now I like to listen. Photographing them would mean. Put in my own to tell them ;
Do you have any future projects you want to tell us about? Right now I have big dreams that I would like to fulfill. V ow I want to question myself, challenge myself. If I should realize them I will let you know!