Andrea Monti

Photographer

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  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Fighting Disciplines,  Sport,  Summer

    Shooting Sanda (Chinese Kickboxing) Bouts

    June 26, 2025 /

    These photographs were taken during the 2025 Italian Sanda Championships as part of the sports photography course that I teach at the University of Chieti-Pescara in Italy. Initially published by 35mmc.com How the game works Sanda is a Chinese martial art belonging to the kickboxing family. As in kickboxing, fighters trade punches and kicks, but unlike in Thai boxing, they are not allowed to use their elbows or knees. A limited number of throws are permitted, including leg sweeps, reaps and souplexes. Each bout consists of three rounds, and winning two of them is sufficient for victory. However, this is easier said than done: the action is fast-paced, the fighters…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Tired or Fascinated?

    October 21, 2013

    The Mystique of Film

    August 24, 2022

    A Winter Outdoor Chat

    December 17, 2013
  • Beach Volley,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Summer

    Shooting an Outdoor Volleyball Match

    June 19, 2025 /

    The 2025 IVVA European Veteran Volleyball Championship took place in my hometown of Pescara last May, so I took the opportunity to get the students on the sports photography course I teach at Chieti-Pescara University to practise. Here are some random thoughts about lessons learned. Initially published by 35mmc.com Focal length One of the main challenges of shooting sports such as soccer, basketball and —of course— volleyball, is the choice of the focal length. The IVVA Organising Committee granted us permission to stay in close proximity to the courts. This allowed the use of a 35mm —or so— lens to take ‘scenes’ documenting the whole dynamics of a ‘moment’. In this case,…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Mid-Morning Break at Place Jourdan

    March 24, 2014

    Too Busy to Enjoy the Life…

    April 12, 2014

    Mir-20 20mm 3.5 on a Pentax K1-II – A Field Test

    January 18, 2025
  • Artists,  Colour,  Daily photo,  PhotoCritics,  Photography,  Portraits,  Summer

    On Tips’n Tricks to ‘take you photos to the next level’

    May 29, 2025 /

    I recently asked a friend, who works on the editorial side of the music industry, to share his thoughts on one of my photographs taken during a flamenco concert. His response was a deep and thorough analysis, which I will spare the readers in full. In brief, however, he praised the lighting as particularly effective for flamenco photography, noting how the chiaroscuro effect recalls the classical paintings of Caravaggio. Regarding the composition, he observed that the bailaora’s body fills the frame dynamically, without ever feeling cramped. In his conclusion, he remarked that the image captures the very soul of flamenco. As flattering as this commentary was, I must admit that none…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Who Is The Machine?

    August 5, 2019

    Zebra Crossing in Oslo… With Red Light

    October 12, 2014

    Last Puff Before the Ride

    December 26, 2015
  • Boston,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Parks,  Summer

    Selling Italian Ice in Boston

    March 11, 2025 /

    Sales culture is one of the most distinctive traits of American anthropology. The foundations of modern marketing strategies date back to forerunners such as P.T. Barnum’s ‘have a little something for everybody’ slogan and Edward Bernays, the father of public relations. It is ingrained in popular culture phenomena such as garage sales, lemonade stands ran by kids and jokes about used cars salesmen.  Sales culture is also paired with customer (not consumer) culture, as in the ubiquitous mantra ‘customer is king’, which ‘shapes’ people’s attitudes in terms of demanding fairness and a proper ‘bang for the bucks’. – Initially published on 35mmc.com When it comes to selling, creativity knows no…

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    Andrea Monti

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    My camera’s early test shots

    December 20, 2012

    Game Over

    April 15, 2022

    Late Afternoon Workers

    December 23, 2013
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  People,  Seasons,  Skating,  Sport,  Summer

    Portraits in Skating

    November 30, 2024 /

    In sports photography, portraits are as important as snapshots of crucial moments such as a win, a loss or an unpredictable event, for they are an excellent way to capture the humanity of the athletes, often and mistakenly seen – especially in high-level competitons and before the start – as soulless cyborgs. Initially published on 35mmc.com The very first moments after the game is over are a gold mine. Athletes are still full of adrenaline and eager to discuss their performance with their teammates. Before they shower, before they change into normal clothes, before they return to ordinary life their focus is on what went right or wrong. And when…

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Power of Underexposing

    December 25, 2019

    The Alien’s Seat

    October 19, 2013

    Shooting Kite Surfing

    September 22, 2024
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Roller Derby,  Summer

    Shooting a Roller Derby Bout

    November 19, 2024 /

    Of all the disciplines at the 2024 World Skate Games, which took place in Italy last September, roller derby is probably one of the lesser known, but also one of the most difficult to photograph. A contact sport, roller derby takes place in a very small space, in a very short time and at a very high speed. Once combined together, these three factors give the photographer a pretty hard time Initially published on 35mmc.com. Having been given a full access media pass to all the venues and the court, I was able to stay in a privileged position to take the shots. However, although in the past I have taken pictures of high…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Photography and the dangers of ethics

    April 17, 2013

    Outside the Nobel Museum

    June 30, 2016

    The Coach

    December 9, 2018
  • Artists,  B&W,  Daily photo,  Summer

    The Stupidity of Being Stubborn

    August 31, 2024 /

    I knew exactly that I was going to fail, but I did it anyway, irrationally thinking that for some not well clear reason the law of physics and optics could be defied by the sacred mission of the photographer. Thus, contrary to basic common sense, a few weeks ago I brought a Nikon 35TI loaded with a Ferrania P33 (ISO160) to a jazz manouche concert of the Tchavolo Schmitt trio at the French Embassy in Rome. The outcomes, as it was easy to predict, were just (euphemistically) poor – Initially published on 335mmc.com Let’s start with a test shot to ascertain if there was some issue with the hardware: Apart…

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Street Photographer Rights In Italy. The Leaflet

    July 10, 2014

    The Alchoolist’s garbage

    March 5, 2013

    Blow Up

    November 13, 2014
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Fighting Disciplines,  Parks,  Past&Relics,  People,  Summer

    Shooting Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA)-like Events

    August 15, 2024 /

    Historical reenactments are everywhere, and the volunteers who keep alive the memory of our past deserve our highest praise. Along with pure re-enactments, where the fate of the participants is already predetermined by history, and HEMA, where athletes compete using European weaponry and armour, there is a middle-ground discipline that is gaining momentum in Italy: Sport Reenactment – Initially published by 35mmc.com In short, SR players take part in reenactment events wearing faithful replica of the coats and arms of ancient Italian, Greek, Celtic and German tribes. But they also meet in forests and mountains to fight following a ruleset but without knowing in advance who is going to win. The…

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    Andrea Monti

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    So What?

    December 7, 2013

    A Portrait on the Nasdaq Building

    January 18, 2014

    Alessandro Valle – Live@Anfiteatro La Civitella

    August 11, 2022
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Fighters,  Fighting Disciplines,  Summer

    Learning to Shoot Boxing Matches

    July 18, 2024 /

    Taking pictures in a boxing gym during regular training is a unique way to learn to understand when ‘the moment’ – a hit, a miss, a bob or a weave – is coming and develop an instinct for composition – Initially published on 35mmc.com This is important for two reasons. Firstly, as always with sports photography, you need to know the discipline you want to shoot and practice different options. But, in a classic Catch 22, if you don’t attend a fair number of bouts at ringisde, you won’t know the discipline and learn how to photograph it. Spending time in a gym, then, is the best second best option…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Lorenzo negli stadi

    July 11, 2013

    On Photography and Self-Delusion

    September 4, 2022

    Player&Listener

    June 30, 2014
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Docks,  Rome,  Summer

    5 frames with a Voigtländer Bessa R2, a Nokton 35/1,4 and a roll of an expired Kodak Portra 160

    July 11, 2024 /

    Tevere, the river that divides Rome in two, is one of my favourite places. No matter how much chaos there is in the ‘high places’: walking along the banks of the river puts you in another dimension, where time has no meaning and the pace slows down – Initially published on 35mmc.com Anchored boats stand still, in stark contrast to the fast-moving streets, crowded with cars, bicycles, pedestrians and tourists who have returned in droves once the pandemic is over. This is obviously a mirror image, but it looks as if it has been projected onto a digital screen. And here is what was mirrored: There are a lot of…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Tesla Coils@Boston Science Museum

    July 4, 2023

    Different Life

    June 24, 2016

    Italian Track&Field Championship 2018 – The reportage

    September 12, 2018
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Daily Video,  Road Running,  Summer

    National Road Running Championships 2023 – Portraits

    June 28, 2024 /

    These portraits are taken from a reportage made at the 2023 National Road Running Championships. These sample images are a good example of one possible way of ‘seeing’ sporting action. In some cases, the portrait is completely isolated from the background, revealing a particular ‘moment’ experienced by the athlete, such as extreme physical exertion, rest and recovery after the race, or enjoyment of the location. In other cases, a single person is still at the centre of the image, but the surrounding environment completes and enhances the overall meaning of the photograph. The ability to superimpose different layers of meaning, and to adjust the camera and lens accordingly, is what…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Is This My Breakfast? (Kirobo, the new Pinocchio)

    December 14, 2014

    Priority Pass Lounge at Fiumicino Airport

    November 30, 2015

    Posing at Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

    October 1, 2018
  • Daily Video,  Summer

    The Real-Life Lens Test Series – Episode 1: Viltrox XF 56/1,4 AF

    June 6, 2024 /

    This is a series documenting the real-life use of various lenses. The first episode features a Viltrox XF 56/1.4 AF mounted on a Fuji X-T4.

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    Andrea Monti

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    A Modern Nazca?

    December 4, 2014

    Waiting For The Bus On Las Ramblas

    August 19, 2014

    Underground Security RA(T)P

    June 5, 2015
  • Autumn,  B&W,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Seasons,  Spring,  Summer,  Technique,  Winter

    Yet Another WDISF Post

    May 5, 2024 /

    Yes, this is another ‘why do I shoot film’ post, and no, the answers are not ‘because it slows me down’, ‘because it connects me to the act of taking pictures’, ‘because I love the unique feeling of analogue images’, ‘because the inherent limitations of a film camera inspire creativity’, ‘why not?’ or any of the other common (and perfectly legitimate) reasons usually associated with the question. In addition, the wide range of post-processing options available to make a digital image look like an analogue one, even in terms of film emulsion, satisfies the need to produce an image with the ‘personality’ of a specific film. So, even the idea…

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    Andrea Monti

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    A future to tell

    April 18, 2013

    An Essay in Composition

    October 11, 2017

    Stairway to Hell

    January 9, 2022
  • Artists,  Autumn,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Fighters,  Spring,  Summer,  Technique,  Winter

    Photography and the Importance of a Proper Training

    April 23, 2024 /

    In photography, among the various activities falling under the ‘preparation’ label, training is oftend underevaluated. Just as many newcomers to the world of guns think that buying expensive equipment will make them better shooters, many photographers think that mastering a bunch of exoteric camera settings will be enough to get decent pictures. This is summed up in a common piece of advice to novice shooters (of both guns and cameras): get out there and shoot. Results will just happen. I have nothing against a ‘Zen’ approach to things, based on instinct and intuition, but my Western, Benthamite mind does not allow me to forget that preparation is necessary to achieve…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Lost Cigarettes at Piazza Affari

    January 22, 2014

    Bronine Volkit Camera Hub. Mixed feelings

    November 30, 2021

    A Hellish Look

    March 26, 2024
  • Actors,  Autumn,  B&W,  Bruxelles,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Fighters,  Fighting Disciplines,  Photography,  Spring,  Summer,  Winter

    What Does ‘Professional’ Mean in Photography?

    March 19, 2024 /

    Pro’ is the photographer’s blessing and curse. It is the status we all – well, many of us – aspire to. It is the marketing gimmick created by the exploiters of the Gear Acquisition Syndrome to make people believe that tools make the craftsman. ‘Amateur’, on the other hand, is a word associated with casual photographers, ‘wannabe’ artists, and people who want to make you believe that tools make the craftsman. I have always been unconvinced that such a difference exists, at least in the general meaning associated with the words ‘pro’ and ‘amateur’, and in relation to the idea that the equipment used or the quality of the shots…

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Stare of a T800

    August 4, 2015

    Outdoor Aperitif

    April 7, 2017

    Late Afternoon Workers

    December 23, 2013
  • Autumn,  B&W,  Daily photo,  Fighters,  Gear,  Spring,  Summer,  Thoughts,  Winter

    Pentax – In Praise of Usability of Cameras and Lenses

    March 3, 2024 /

    The Internet is full of columns and videos about why ‘I left brand X for brand Y’, magnifiying this or that ‘new feature’ that forced a photographer to ditch his previous setup in favour of a brand new one. Sometimes there is a genuine motivation behind such a choice, sometimes – often – it is just a clickbait set up by the need (or hope) to monetise a piece of content published on a social network. This long introduction violates the golden rule of journalistic writing – tell the reader what’s the matter in the first paragraph or so – but it was necessary because this article is exactly that:…

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Ipad Shooter

    November 3, 2013

    Late for Lunch

    March 26, 2014

    Why a Longterm Relationship (with your camera) Makes You Feel Good

    March 26, 2025
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Photography,  Sport,  Summer,  Track&Field

    On Composition. Or: the eye sees what the mind is prepared to comprehend

    September 11, 2023 /

    This shot, taken during the Italian Road Running National Championships, is a fair application of the French philosopher Henri Bergson aphorism to composition: the eye sees what the mind is prepared to comprehend. In fact, although there is not a direct, cause-and-effect relationship between this image and renaissance painting, the learned observer may find some connection with works such as, for instance, Michelangelo’s Battaglia di Cascina. The connection between present and past may be loose, but this does not affect the principle. When I framed the shot I something ‘clicked’ in my mind and I instinctively decided to press the button. Photography (at least in all its variations, such as…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Moon, hand-held

    April 30, 2021

    Same Space, Different Worlds

    October 18, 2013

    Late-afternoon’s snack

    April 15, 2013
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Daily Video,  Photography,  Summer

    The Expired Film Series – Episode 4 – Ferrania Solaris 100 – Dec. 2006 shot in August 2023

    September 3, 2023 /

    This is the fourth episode in a series documenting the use of expired film in various contexts. Episode 4 features a Ferrania Solaris 100 shot with a Voigtländer Vitoret DR and a Color Lanthar 50/2,8 in the vicinity of the sea of the city of Pescara (Abruzzi) .The film was overexposed by one stop as it is customary with expired film to allow more light to impress it.The results are just subpar, however the pictures have some sort of ‘individual’ trait.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Just a soccer field… Part 2

    February 4, 2014

    Windows

    September 15, 2014

    The Rise of the Mutant Spiders?

    November 4, 2013
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Moon,  Summer

    Red Moon at the end of August

    September 1, 2023 /

    Shot handheld (no tripod) with an X-T5 and a Fuji XF 150-600. Image stabilisation worked very well.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Free Ride

    October 2, 2014

    Keep Out!

    November 30, 2019

    Fujifilm XF 100-400: a quick test

    January 12, 2018
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Fighters,  Fighting Disciplines,  People,  Summer

    HeadButt

    August 5, 2023 /

    Sometimes the difference between a pleasant result and just a plain wrong, missed photo may be challenging to tell.I took this picture years ago, during an MMA fight and, to be honest, I can not even remember framing and setting the camera accordingly for this shot. In other words, it happened almost by accident.The outcome is blurry and shaky, however, the overall result has a ‘painterly’ feel, almost like an ink sketch.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Wave Riders

    September 20, 2013

    Pentax – In Praise of Usability of Cameras and Lenses

    March 3, 2024

    Three Legged?

    July 21, 2017
  • B&W,  Boston,  Buildings,  Daily photo,  Docks,  Downtown,  Parks,  Streets&Squares,  Summer,  Travels

    From Waltham to Boston

    August 4, 2023 /

    ‘From Waltham to Boston’, an offshoot of a bigger project on documenting Boston’s pulse, is now available on Amazon as a Kindle e-book.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Access Denied

    June 1, 2015

    Workbench

    February 22, 2015

    HeadButt

    August 5, 2023
  • B&W,  Boston,  Cars&Bikes,  Daily photo,  Streets&Squares,  Summer

    UnortORTOdox (Ferrania)

    July 22, 2023 /

    This is an unorthodox use of an orthochromatic film (namely, Ferrania Orto.) It is not supposed to be the first choice for reportage or travel photography, but rules are made to be broken, aren’t they? As per the photo, it was taken in North End, Boston’s Little Italy.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Fancy a beer?

    November 3, 2021

    People

    December 21, 2012

    Antonio Onorato

    August 20, 2016
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  People,  Rome,  Summer

    Content Creators

    July 20, 2023 /

    There are many reasons for the lack of details in this image.The main one is that this roll of Kodak BW400CN expired about 15 years ago. Secondly, the Nikon 35TI used for the shot was set to ‘P’ mode, which does not allow ISO to be changed, and exposure compensation is broken: this made it impossible to use longer exposure times, as it would have been necessary.

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Ref

    June 6, 2013

    The Smoker’s Golden Rule

    July 9, 2013

    Waiting For The Patrons – 2

    June 19, 2015
  • Boston,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Restaurants&Bar,  Summer

    Coffee at Caffè Nero

    July 16, 2023 /

    On the technical side, this photo was a test of the X-T5 capability to handle scenes with both strong highlights and shadows without increasing the standard dynamic range. As per the quality, despite the similarity of the name, definitely no, it has nothing ado with the ‘Nero’ one can taste in Trieste which —unbeknownst to many — is the Italian capital of coffee.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Damned Pidgeons…

    October 8, 2017

    God Save The Queen

    September 6, 2014

    Rusted Platform

    April 25, 2015
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