Andrea Monti

Photographer

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  • 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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    Just Another Piccadilly Circus’ View

    September 20, 2016

    Red Beam

    October 24, 2023

    Boat Dock Bumpers

    October 26, 2014
  • 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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    二千円

    December 20, 2023

    Sergey Krylov live@Teatro Marrucino

    February 21, 2022

    Very British

    October 29, 2016
  • 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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    The Pizza’s Journey

    June 12, 2013

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

    September 11, 2023

    The Last Icecream?

    October 30, 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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    Luck is an Attitude

    January 25, 2014

    A Bad Experiment

    August 26, 2016

    Wrecked Ship

    November 23, 2013
  • 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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    Fuji X-T2 records audio at 16bit/48Khz

    October 11, 2020

    A promenade

    February 24, 2013

    A Rusted Window

    September 11, 2014
  • 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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    Under the Bridge

    November 6, 2013

    Spectral Lotus

    July 19, 2015

    Panoramio’s 200th photo

    February 4, 2013
  • 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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    Sting of the Vespa

    March 7, 2025

    Three of a Kind

    July 6, 2013

    Wrecked Ship

    November 23, 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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    UnortORTOdox (Ferrania)

    July 22, 2023

    Waiting for the Shinkansen – 2

    June 30, 2017

    Killing the Time

    October 10, 2016
  • 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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    Bronine Volkit Camera Hub. Mixed feelings

    November 30, 2021

    The Waiting

    December 23, 2012

    An unusual flowers’ field

    June 30, 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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    Inside an Old Gym

    February 16, 2015

    Ten Years Ago

    December 22, 2022

    Inside The Clocktower

    August 22, 2015
  • 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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    The Stupidity of Being Stubborn

    August 31, 2024

    A (Out-of-Focus) Break Between Lunch and Supper

    December 8, 2015

    Sweet Dilemma

    November 4, 2015
  • 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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    Pentax – In Praise of Usability of Cameras and Lenses

    March 3, 2024

    Real Time Update

    February 20, 2016

    Falling Tree

    May 8, 2014
  • 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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    Remainders in Prati

    December 4, 2013

    The New Church

    May 13, 2014

    What a odd couple of bipedals…

    February 26, 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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    Silhouettes@Osaka Castle

    June 12, 2018

    Dai Shodo@Kyoto

    December 2, 2020

    As Deep As The Ocean

    April 15, 2016
  • 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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    Asimo’s Ancestor@Tsukuba World1985 Expo

    June 30, 2018

    Crowd Control

    February 14, 2016

    Negrita’s Cover Band

    September 19, 2013
  • 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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    Home on the Range

    May 17, 2015

    Pillars

    January 29, 2015

    Breaking the Fourth Wall

    February 17, 2020
  • 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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    Lightspeed

    August 6, 2015

    The Floating Relic

    December 13, 2013

    Deserved Rest

    March 21, 2021
  • 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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    Davide Grotta – Live

    December 8, 2018

    Intelligent Design

    October 26, 2018

    Bulbs

    January 12, 2015
  • 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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    Nittele Tower

    April 25, 2022

    Too Big To Be Dumped

    January 10, 2015

    The Fighter

    June 2, 2013
  • 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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    Pino Ammendola – L’ultima notte di Bonfiglio Liborio@Teatro Marrucino

    May 13, 2022

    A Shooter

    December 8, 2017

    Saturday Night’s Ice Cream

    August 19, 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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    The Wild Bunch

    September 30, 2014

    The Oslo Opera House

    October 24, 2014

    Blow Up

    November 13, 2014
  • 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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    L’estate sta finendo…

    September 13, 2013

    Lightspeed

    August 6, 2015

    Full Moon

    May 9, 2017
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Rome,  Spring,  Streets&Squares

    5 frames with the (much awaited) Ferrania P33, a Nikon F3 and a Nikkor 50 F2

    April 30, 2024 /

    I managed to grab a few rolls of the very first batch of Ferrania’s brand new P33 film, so I wasted no time in putting it to work with a Nikon F3 and the glorious Nikkor 50 f2. I won’t go into the technical details of this film, firstly because I can’t claim to be an authority on the subject, and secondly because Ferrania’s website has plenty of information. There is only one thing to know: the canister is not DX-coded, so shooting is only possible in full manual mode. This may change in the future, but for now this is the state of the art. Finally, a transparency note:…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Fisherman’s Fatigue

    December 19, 2022

    So long and thank you for the fish

    February 6, 2014

    Relax At The Rapallo’s Marina

    August 2, 2014
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Spring,  Technique

    How to Shoot Stand-up Paddle Competitions

    April 29, 2024 /

    Shooting Stand-Up paddle is complicated because, like in motor sports, things go on largely even until, all of a sudden action erupts. In other words, boredom is the first and foremost enemy of the photographer: it shuts down concentration because it is not possible to keep the focus (pun unintended) for too long. It may worth shooting a single athlete, for instance capturing an intense moment or a fall. However the final result will become more interesting if there is something (or somebody) else in the composition. The first key moment in an SUP challegne is the start. Once the signal is given, the athletes start running a few steps…

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Score Keeper

    April 24, 2019

    Panoramio’s 200th photo

    February 4, 2013

    Taking-Off

    April 15, 2021
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