Born and raised in Italy. During my teen I discovered the world of CG. After graduated at istituto europeo di design in Rome I started to work as visual effect artist and later as CG Supervisor.
Between 2008-2010 I moved to Milan, Stockholm, Madrid, Toronto where I worked for few vfx companies as lighting artist. Since 2011 I relocate to Singapore where I’m currently working for ILM. Because of my job I’ve always been interested in photography and imaginary in general, but since I moved in Asia I wanted to explore a new form of photography that I’d never consider before like street and travel.
The reason is partially due to my daily job as a vfx lighting artist where I have full control of every aspect of the image, and partially because Singapore was the first asian country I have been to. That opened my visual mind and pushed me towards travel and street photography. Opposite to my day job street photography is completely off my hands, I can’t control what happens, but I can snap and freeze ordinary moments and make them extraordinary. [Official Website]
What’s in your camera bag?
For my day to day shooting (mostly during weekends) I use a small camera bag, where I can fit 1 or 2 lenses and I hand-carry my camera.
I like go around Singapore, have long walks and try always to discover a new point of view that I never seen before. Sometimes singaporeans think I am a tourist, even I live in this city for 7 years already.
Usually my street photography kit consists on a Sony A9 with 28mm + 21mm converter and a 55mm.
In addition of the small camera bag I have a bigger one (Canon EOS Crumpler) and I use them both when I travel to carry on all my equipment during the flights. When I reach my destination, to explore a new city, I instead use a lightweight backpack where I put the necessary for the day. My gear consists on the following:
Sony A9, OMD EM-5, FE 2/28, FE 2,5/35, FE 1,8/55, Converter 21, Batis 1,8/85, Olympus 2/12, Olympus 1,8/17, Voigtlander 21mm f4 M mount, Extra batteries, Sd cards iPad
What’s the most surprising thing you carry?
That would definitely be a white cotton t-shirt. I use it to cover my head, so I don’t get burned. I pack few of them when I travel, usually in southeast Asia which has mostly hot and humid weather. Without that kind of headwrap I can’t go around during the hottest hours.I look like a pirate and people look at me in a funny way, I like to think that it helps me to connect with strangers on the street.
When I travel I also carry a solar charging power battery which I hang to my backpack, in case I need to recharge my phone. Sometimes I had to carry a flashlight. During my trip to Shangri-La, Yunnan, China for instance, without a flashlight would have been impossible to find our way back to the hotel. I got there in 2014 just few months later that the old city burned down because of some electrical incident. At that time nothing was left, and without lights you could barely see.
What is the one thing you couldn’t live without?
My passport and a city map whether on my phone or in paper of the places I’m visiting.
It helps me a lot to understand the city and how to get around, without it is quite hard to move, mainly in place where people don’t speak english. I constantly look on the maps for wet markets and other vibrant places to try to get the most authentic experience.
When I travel on places where english is not common I find fundamental a translation app. It saved me several times, I used to think that my body language would be enough to communicate to anybody, then the more I travel the more I realize that every culture developed it in its own way.
Of course I also couldn’t live without a positive attitude, since I do street photography I need to be kind and patient, a good pair of shoes, plenty of SD cards and spare batteries.
What are some of the details that you find essential for your style of bags?
When I’m shooting in Singapore I usually carry just 1 extra lens so I can use a small bag (the Vanguard 2GO15). When I travel I use instead a common backpack, I just want the lightest possible bag, where I can throw all my lenses in there after I put it into a pouch and bubble wrap.
Since I walk a lot I need to feel comfortable and I don’t want to be recognised like a photographer, when shooting I try to blend in and be anonymous as much as I can. When I travel with my girlfriend, she helps me to carry the backpack so it’s even easier for me to go around and snap pictures. Without a heavy weight on my back my movements are more fluid and I feel less distracted by my gear.
What are the important things for protecting your camera gear?
As I mention before I just protect my lenses with bubble wrap and pouches. It is a good way to protect my gear from shock. I also have extra plastic wrap to protect my camera if it rains.
Can you give me the essential carry kit when traveling the globe (bags, accessories etc.)?
Usually I carry all the gear I describe above, sometimes I rent another camera so it’s easiest to change from a focal to another.
Battery chargers, straps, cleaning kit and travel plug adaptor.I also have a belt on to carry a camera with Peak Design Capture. I found it really useful because sometimes I have to handle two or three cameras at the same time, those accessories are great because they are very discreet and easy to access.Last but not least, multi plug socket. Often in hotel rooms there are not enough sockets and I want to be sure that batteries, smartphone, tablet are charged in time.