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  • Actors,  Artists,  Colour,  Daily photo,  People,  Reportage,  Winter

    A Night at the Opera – Plays and Opera Photography

    December 21, 2024 /

    This is an abbreviated version of a talk I gave to a local chapter of the Italian Federation of Amateur Photographers (FIAF) on the challenges of photographing in a Teatro all’italiana environment. A word to the wise: this post has just a few pictures because it talks about what happens behind the camera and not about what happens in front of it Initially published by 35mmc.com To approach professional photography in Italian-style theatres, it is essential to understand and deal with a series of difficulties and critical issues that characterise this particular environment. The Italian-style theatre, with its architectural structure, lighting layout and show dynamics, imposes a series of technical and…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Art Auction at Piazza Navona

    February 6, 2016

    Is Batman Coming To Town?

    December 2, 2017

    The Commuter

    July 24, 2017
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Downtown,  Nagasaki,  Osaka,  Photography,  Streets&Squares,  Thoughts,  Tokyo,  Travels,  Yokohama

    Why You Should Only Shoot in Your Backyard (or ‘The Art of Belonging’)

    December 19, 2024 /

    What do these pictures have in common (apart from having been taken in various places in Japan)? No, they don’t have the same look and feel, composition or use of light, nor they convey a particular meaning. What they have in common is that they’re just dull and boring —meaningless, indeed. This picture of the Yokohama’s Chinatown Dragon is hardly different than the others available on the Internet. Initially published on 35mmc.com It shares a similar fate with this one, taken last Mid November in Osaka, and, as Google Lens mercylessly shows, with this one, shot in Omura, near Nagasaki. One can hardly say that this is a never-seen-before view of Tokyo’s Kyu-Shiba-rikyū Gardens, or of…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Horizontal

    March 14, 2015

    Bless or Curse?

    August 12, 2014

    Upcoming Call

    June 3, 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 Street Photographer Rights In Italy. The Leaflet

    July 10, 2014

    Sky Patrol

    September 12, 2021

    Washed

    November 22, 2015
  • 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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    Sting of the Vespa

    March 7, 2025

    High Heels Ghost

    August 20, 2013

    Parachute

    September 14, 2013
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Padua

    Padua, a photographer’s goldmine

    October 31, 2024 /

    During a few hours off work, I recently had the chance to wander around Padua, one of the many historical jewels that make up Italy’s immense cultural heritage. What makes Padua special is its devotion to a powerful icon of Christianity, Sant’ Antonio. A Portuguese by birth, Sant’ Antonio belonged to the Franciscan Order and gave birth to a religious movement whose importance is testified by the basilica that still bears his name – Initially published on 35mmc.com. For the photographer, Padua is a goldmine, not only for its architectural masterpieces, but also for the many less obvious and nonetheless interesting details. For example, here is a close-up of an antique…

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Alien’s Seat

    October 19, 2013

    Where Do I Go?

    October 13, 2016

    Using a 1960 Leica Elmarit 90/2,8 on a Fuji X-T3

    April 5, 2021
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Thoughts

    A Few Shots with the 7Artisans 35mm f/0.95 in X-Mount

    October 24, 2024 /

    Let’s get straight to the point: here are a few shots taken with a Fuji X-T4 and a 7 Artisans 35mm f/.0.95 (obviously) in X-mount. All photos were taken at the widest (nominal) aperture of the lens, i.e. 0.95. I’m not sure if this is a real value, but it doesn’t matter because comparing the shutter speed with (relatively) slower lenses like the Zeiss Planar 32mm F1.8 shows that the 7 Artisans is proportionally faster, and that’s enough for me. – Initially published by 35mmc.com This is an 8x crop of the featured image. Even wide open the lens was able to make the Ryanair word easily readable and I…

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    Andrea Monti

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    A Sad Cat in a Neko Cafè

    August 5, 2018

    Shaken

    October 1, 2015

    Killing Santa

    January 25, 2013
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Spring

    Shooting Fast Alfa Romeo on a Race Track

    October 22, 2024 /

    “The Citroen went into second and remained there; slowly we puffed up the long ascent. We had gone about a mile, when we became aware of a noise coming up from the valley, a noise like the noise of massed machine-guns. It grew louder and louder. A minute later a huge red Alfa Romeo road racer, looking suspiciously like the machine that had just won the Grand Prix d’ Europe, roared past at a speed that cannot have been less than fifty miles an hour. It was evidently being driven by a genius; for, looking up, we saw the scarlet monster negotiating turn after hairpin turn in the zigzag road…

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    Andrea Monti

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    How to (Unconventionally) Shoot Track and Field Competitions

    July 30, 2024

    LP – Live@Anfiteatro La Civitella

    July 22, 2022

    Under the Heat In Rome…

    June 26, 2018
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Technique,  Thoughts

    A creative approach to zone focusing with superfast manual lenses and mirrorless cameras in street photography

    September 28, 2024 /

    Manual lenses on mirrorless cameras are often a match made in heaven: (once) cheap, high-quality lenses can finally be brought back from the grave and used on modern cameras. However, as with any marriage, there are some rough edges that are difficult to smooth out. In the case of manual lenses, the main problem is the lack of autofocus, which limits the street photographer’s options. Zone focusing is the usual way to overcome this limitation, but this solution has an inherent problem: to get a decent depth of field, you need to shoot at least at F8 or even F11. This means that, in street-photography, it is not possible to…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Does It Worth It?

    May 22, 2017

    The Sniper Option

    February 7, 2014

    The Lost Garage

    July 8, 2013
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Thoughts

    5 frames with a Canon R6 Mk II and its RF 50/1,2 L USM

    September 28, 2024 /

    I was recently given a Canon R6 Mk II and a set of lenses, including the RF 50/1.2, to test them in a specific environment, so to familiarise myself with the kit I spent a few hours wandering around with the most unlikely configuration for street photography: camera, battery grip and a bulky lens: not exactly what you would call ‘discreet’ or ‘unobtrusive’. However, as counterintuitive as it may seem, I had no problem carrying a ‘real’ camera with all the bells and whistles, as they often seem less threatening and creepy to the casual passer-by, the main target of street photography, because people think you’re just working. There would…

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    Andrea Monti

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    On Detachment. Or ‘If You Love Something, Set It Free’ (cit. Sting)

    June 17, 2025

    The Ref

    June 6, 2013

    We Are All Made of Stars

    February 28, 2018
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Kite Surf,  Winter

    Shooting Kite Surfing

    September 22, 2024 /

    Kite surfing is quite spectacular but difficult to photograph. As with any water sport, the main difference that affects the results is whether or not the photographer is embedded in the organisation. In the former case, being allowed to stay on the official boats allows him to be closer to the action and get better shots. In the other case, the photographer must essentially rely on a telephoto lens (the longer the better) at the expense of depth of field – Initially published on 35mmc.com. Jumps and the flight phase are the most spectacular moments to capture. However, as the next two photos show, it is essential that the autofocus works…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Is Iron Sky just a sci-fi movie?

    May 5, 2015

    So long and thank you for the fish

    February 6, 2014

    Portrait of a politician – 1

    October 25, 2013
  • 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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    Renovating Milan

    November 18, 2017

    The Unintended March

    January 13, 2013

    Reluctant

    November 25, 2014
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Technique

    Nikkor 16mm Fisheye – Three Ways to Make use of Such a Lens

    August 22, 2024 /

    For me, a fisheye is the most challenging lens to use. Unlike other ‘normal’ focal lengths, a fisheye has an inherent deformation of reality. As a result, it is often used to create images with an unreal rendering, reminiscent of M.C. Escher’s self-portrait looking into a transparent globe.However, as happened in music with the advent of digital processors and effects, it is very easy – at least it was for me – to fall into the trap of focusing on the form rather than the message. In other words, as soon as a ‘weird’ looking photo is achieved, that was enough. Just like playing electric guitar back in the days,…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Reasonable Privacy Expectation

    April 17, 2014

    So long and thank you for the fish

    February 6, 2014

    Good Manners

    September 29, 2013
  • 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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    Frames for Sale at Via Margutta

    May 2, 2016

    An update on the poor Canon EOS-M autofocus

    March 30, 2013

    A Quiet Evening

    June 26, 2013
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Daily Video,  Gear,  Winter

    The Ferrania Film Series – Episode 1 – Ferrania Orto shot on October/November 2023

    August 7, 2024 /

    This is the first episode in a series documenting the use of Ferrania film in various contexts. Episode 1 features a Ferrania Orto shot with a Nikon 35 TI in Japan, between 25 October and 1 November 2023.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Is Iron Sky just a sci-fi movie?

    May 5, 2015

    Red Beam

    October 24, 2023

    Street Magic@Nagoya Castle

    July 21, 2019
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Seasons,  Sport,  Track&Field,  Winter

    How to (Unconventionally) Shoot Track and Field Competitions

    July 30, 2024 /

    Having been given a LOC pass for the European Athletics Championships currently taking place in Rome, I was able to practice unusual compositions in sports photography – Initially published on 35mmc.com Usually, the pictures taken by professional photographers working for media companies, broadcasters or magazines inevitably focus on the umpteenth iteration of the same actions (the concentration before the start, the relay change, the exertion after a fast or long run, etc.). Add to this the fact that the photographers are all in the same part of the venue, the results are very similar, at least in terms of perspective and field of view. This is an example: I don’t…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Pixelmator Pro Debanding and Electronic Shutter

    December 24, 2022

    Upcoming Call

    June 3, 2013

    An Altar for the Propaganda Machine

    November 17, 2013
  • 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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    An Old Camera

    October 14, 2014

    A Lonely Table

    March 8, 2015

    So What?

    December 7, 2013
  • 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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    Is Iron Sky just a sci-fi movie?

    May 5, 2015

    Portrait of a wrestler

    October 27, 2013

    Bikers

    July 14, 2014
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Photography,  Spring,  Technique

    5 frames with a Kiev 60, a Volna 80/2,8 and a Ferrania Orto

    June 28, 2024 /

    Working on a ‘project’ or ‘series’ is a well-known way of giving meaning to the act of taking photographs. It serves many purposes, such as training in a particular technique, familiarising oneself with a camera and/or lens, or exploring stylistic options. A project is usually planned in advance, though not necessarily in great detail. However, as in the case of these images, sometimes the idea of a common thread linking different images just happens. I was wandering around the suburbs of my home town with a Soviet-era Kiev 60 and its ‘kit lens’, the Volna 80/2.8, and a roll of Ferrania Orto when I noticed the oddity of a worn-out…

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    Andrea Monti

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    A Couple of Windows

    January 5, 2018

    The Wild Bunch

    October 1, 2013

    My camera’s early test shots

    December 20, 2012
  • 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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    Superpila still rides…

    December 10, 2018

    Labcoats

    December 28, 2015

    Waiting For A Customer To Come

    July 27, 2014
  • Colour,  Daily photo

    5 Frames with a Praktica MTL5B, a Pentacon 50/1,8 and a Roll of Portra 400 (expired in 2011)

    June 20, 2024 /

    An afternoon of urban exploration looking for derelicted places gave me the chance to test a Praktica MTL 5b with its standard (pun intended) lens: the Pentacon 50/1,8, which I had never used before. To make things more complicated, I also took out from the basement a roll of Portra 400, expired in 2011. Net of the limitation of a (poorly maintained) roll more than 10 years old, the shooting experience was not that exciting. Loading the film proved to be more complicated (at least for me) than with my Pentax ME Super, Nikon F3 or Voigtlander Bessa R2A, and I lost the first three frames. Maybe more training will make…

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    Andrea Monti

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    My first shot (with purpose)

    December 22, 2012

    Late Night Arrival at Bertinoro’s Castle

    January 15, 2014

    Late Afternoon Shopping

    March 1, 2014
  • 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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    Too Young to Spend Time Watching the Ducks in the Pond

    October 22, 2013

    The Misplaced Buoy

    April 26, 2014

    Pino Ammendola – L’ultima notte di Bonfiglio Liborio@Teatro Marrucino

    May 13, 2022
  • Daily Video,  Docks

    The Expired Film Series – Episode 6 – Kodak Portra 400 – November 2016 shot in Sept. 2023

    June 5, 2024 /

    This is the sixth episode in a series documenting the use of expired film in various contexts. Episode 6 features a Kodak Portra 400 shot with a Nikon F4 and a Nikkor 105 F2 defocus at the dock of Pescara. The film was not overexposed, was processed with Affinity Photo 2.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Sala degli Onori @ Triennale di Milano

    May 19, 2017

    We Are All Made of Stars

    February 28, 2018

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

    September 3, 2023
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Handball,  Sport,  Spring,  Technique

    How to Shoot an Handball Match with a Film Camera

    May 25, 2024 /

    Shooting an handball match between Italy and France, unfortunately with an unhappy ending for my Country, was an opportunity to bring back to life the rugged Canon Eos 1V, the mighty fifty and a roll of a (unexpired) Kodak Tri-X 400. When I shoot sports and, in general, events where shutter noise is not an issue, I made a point, indeed, to always carry a film camera, so this time it was Canon’s turn. Shooting handball matches is quite challenging for a number of reasons. The first thing to stick in mind is that the ball is everything: if you miss it, the shot is more often than not a…

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    Andrea Monti

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    An Old Lady in Great Shape

    September 23, 2014

    Reflexes

    December 30, 2015

    An Altar for the Propaganda Machine

    November 17, 2013
  • Autumn,  Daily Video,  Docks

    The Expired Film Series – Episode 5 – Kodak Tri X 400 – September 2015 shot in Sept. 2023

    May 8, 2024 /

    This is the fifth episode in a series documenting the use of expired film in various contexts. Episode 5 features a Kodak Tri-x 400 shot with a Yashica Zoomate 105 at the Marina di Pescara. The film was not overexposed, was processed with Darktable’s Negadoctor module and finalised with Pixelmator Pro. The results are not, by far, definitive.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Pipes in Colour

    May 1, 2015

    So What?

    December 7, 2013

    Life, the Universe and Everything

    July 28, 2013
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