MERRY CHRISTMAS !!

My initial idea was to dress up like Santa's assistant. Actually I look more like the albino version of Cleopatra or, just to stick to the Christmas subject, I'd say I can see a resemblance with the Befana.

All Right, all right... I know that between the two analogies you would choose the latter. How nice of you!

Well, this is just a quick post to wish all of you and your dear ones a wonderful Christmas and - as until the beginning of next year I'll be running the famous "Padova Gastronomic Marathon" and therefore I will not be able to pop by and write another one - a great 2012!

IN THE MARSH WITH GIULIA

Before summer was over I went to a marsh near Varese to take some photos (and to let mosquitoes eat me alive). I had been looking for such a location for a long time, to take pictures that would only be mine, which means not ordered by anyone and without any sort of constraints.

When I came across this place I got a sudden inspiration and I called Giulia at once, before the light bulb went off.

Giulia is fantastic, not only because of her smile, sweetness and helpfulness but also because every time I meet her she shows up with a huge bag of candies (last time I met her she gave me 3 kg of them. Come to think about it there must be a reason why my bottom gets bigger after each photo session).

Short preview below...you can find more shots in my website!

BEHIND THE SCENES

During a photo session, in between shots, I keep taking backstage pictures even if I haven't been asked to do so. After all it's still better than what happened on my last session in France where - in order to mingle with the kids - I played football with them, risking to see my leg turned into a bagpipe.
I definitely like to take photos of children when they are having a break, I like to look at them off the set and take pictures while they are in "their own world".And this is what happens.

Someone plays with my hairy assistant, trying to make him eat my nose. 

Others, like Ginevra, roll up on the couch, trying to make me smell their feet while I use one hand to tickle them and the other to take photos (a juggling course would definitely help).

Some of them run around me yelling unintelligible things, probably thinking that I am deaf (which, in part, might actually be true).

Then there is Stefano who - even if I have finished taking pictures of him at 11.30 in the morning - prefers to hang around the studio until 2 pm because he knows that it's worth it. He will be able to meet his favorite female models and take photos with them: he might still be a kid but he already knows what he likes.

Back to Ginevra who can't stand it anymore, decides to take revenge and starts to chase me with her own camera.

Actually I heard that a balaclava hat firm is looking for new faces and a few pictures of me might turn handy (alright, this was a subtle one).

I'M ON DISPLAY...

///// Polaroid Stories ///// +////// iPhoneography /////

This collective exhibition - where some of my photos are also on display - will be on view in Mantova until October 24. The opening ceremony was held a few days ago and even I managed to miss it. Yeah...I know...you won't find many people who will miss the opening day of an exhibition where their own work is displayed...I'm one of those few. But I do have an excuse letter - obviously signed by my mother - attesting that on those days I was in France, taking pictures of kids.

I intend to go there on one of the coming weekends and, if you happen to be around, don't miss it! I'd like to thank Lorenzo Marchi who gave me the opportunity to exhibit these two self-portraits.

I liked the idea as soon as it was explained to me, if only for the fact that two languages so different from each other were brought together: on the one hand there are Polaroid shots and on the other we have photos taken with such a different and technologically advanced tool - a mobile phone - designed for totally distinct purposes.

After all any tool is allowed, as long as it enables us to express ourselves (I know, as years go by I become wiser and wiser).

Well, see you at the exhibition then!