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  • Buildings,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Rome,  Spring

    A Hellish Look

    March 26, 2024 /

    It is quite common these days to see images of various kinds using the facade of a building as a screen. In the case of government or state buildings, a flag appears out of nowhere after dusk.The overall effect is quite spectacular, especially in Italy where the palaces of power are beautiful works of art. However, when photographed with a narrow field of view, the result can be disturbing, as in this case, where the building looks more like some sort of hell embassy.It wouldn’t be strange, though: doesn’t the Pope live on the other side of the Tevere River?

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    Andrea Monti

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    @Rome Maker Faire – 4. The Hands Controller

    October 16, 2014

    So Long, Eos-M

    January 17, 2014

    Springtime

    April 23, 2015
  • 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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    A Sad Afternoon

    October 7, 2013

    WTF Are They Looking At?

    May 7, 2014

    Pizza Maker@Ueno’s Park

    June 6, 2018
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  PhotoCritics,  Photography,  Tokyo

    Creativity vs Originality

    March 11, 2024 /

    Is the photo above creative? Is it original? Well… yes and no. It is certainly original because I ‘in person’ took it, and it is creative because – regardless of the aesthetic result – I took the time to arrange all the elements (composition, light, etc.) in a coherent moment —and I have the film negative to prove it. On the other hand, it is neither original —as in ‘unique’— nor creative because the same photo can be found here and maybe elsewhere on the Internet. Obviously, the linked photo it is not ‘the’ same as mine, because it is clear that they were taken at different times and places (mine was…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Lost Bag

    December 8, 2016

    God of the Sea or Restaurant Banner?

    July 15, 2014

    A Fix for the Wikipedia Photos’ Copyright Scams?

    December 19, 2020
  • 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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    Supporter or Photographer?

    March 21, 2013

    DSLR film scanning: episode three

    January 24, 2023

    Phone Call – 2

    February 20, 2015
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Rome,  Streets&Squares

    5 (improbable) Frames with a roll of Ferrania Orto and a Nikon 35TI

    February 28, 2024 /

    The photographer is a peculiar type of social being, characterised by a ‘rules are meant to be broken’ attitude in the search for the perfect exposure. So, sooner or later, all the dogmas about composition, hyperfocal, zone system, rule of thirds, etc. will be put aside to try something ‘different’. This is what happened with these five images, taken at night in Piazza Venezia and Via Salaria in Rome with a Ferrania Orto on a Nikon 35TI; a rather strange choice given the inherent limitations of an orthocromatic film and a 2,8 35mm lens of a compact camera in this scenario. Against all odds the 35TI performed well (especially in…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Sting of the Vespa

    March 7, 2025

    Portrait of a Perinatal Cardiologist

    July 11, 2014

    Panning the Police

    November 17, 2016
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Travels

    A Stop in Reggio Emilia

    February 21, 2024 /

    On its way to Milan, the Freccia Rossa stops at Reggio Emilia, whose railway station is a masterpiece. It is worth taking the train just to have the chance to see some of its parts from a perspective that is otherwise forbidden.

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    Andrea Monti

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    What a odd couple of bipedals…

    February 26, 2013

    Behind the News

    June 25, 2013

    As Seen on Ferrania Film’ Stories section…

    December 4, 2023
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Photography,  Rowing,  Technique,  Winter

    An Exercise in Composition (was: Rowing Boats)

    February 18, 2024 /

    Initially, I took this photo to document the poor state of a rowing teams’ dock. The idea was to praise the passion of this small group, who in the indifference of the general public, keep this discipline alive in a town, where soccer reigns supreme. However, when I saw the photo, it was the composition that attracted my attention: a classic example of the use of converging lines to drive the eye of the viewer. My only regret is that I failed to frame the small boat on the right, missing its bow. Had I been shooting digitally, I would have checked the result and retake the photo. Film, by…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Hard Choice In Quai de la Corse

    March 21, 2014

    The Hacker and the Photographer

    August 22, 2016

    Still together

    April 20, 2013
  • Autumn,  B&W,  Boulevards,  Daily photo,  Marketing,  Rome,  Seasons,  Urban Landscape

    Iphone 15 Billboard in Via XX Settembre

    February 14, 2024 /

    This is an attempt to exploit the limitations of an orthocromatic film. Shadows and highlights were deliberately pushed, as was the contrast.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Ramón Jarque, tocaor

    October 29, 2017

    A tribute to an old friend

    January 7, 2014

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

    September 11, 2023
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Nagasaki,  People

    Nagasaki Biker

    February 13, 2024 /

    Sometimes carrying a camera with a slow autofocus, slow shutter and low ISO can be a hindrance. Had I had a better camera and a faster film, this photo would have been much better.However, it is the eye that is to blame, not the old Nikon 35TI.I realised too late that what I was looking at could have been an image and had to react within a few seconds. In those conditions, the camera did what it could, but if I had been aware of my surroundings, I would have been ready at the right moment. So I paid the price for my bad habit of relying on gear rather…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Windows

    September 15, 2014

    Aren’t Tapas Spanish?

    June 29, 2015

    A Suspicious Stare

    October 4, 2018
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Photography,  Technique

    A few test shots with an MC Cosinon T200/4

    January 14, 2024 /

    This lens has several shortcomings. It has a pronounced coma and the focus barrel requires a considerable amount of turning to get it right, thus making it challenging to fast focus when you need to. Camera sensor clearly influences colours’ rendition. Despite the ‘personality’ of this lens, the overall picture’s feel is clearly (to me, at least) that of the classic ‘cold’, slightly bluish Pentax (or, should I say, Sony) sensor. At f4 (all the images published here were taken at this aperture), the bokeh is pleasant. Nothing exceptional, but for a lens that sells for around 15 euros, the results are good enough. That said, a core question, asked…

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    Andrea Monti

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    A Cello Player

    April 24, 2017

    Writer Inspiration’s Tools

    April 17, 2015

    Ramón Jarque, tocaor

    October 29, 2017
  • Airport,  Autumn,  B&W,  Daily photo,  People,  Photography,  Technique,  Tokyo

    Different Stories

    December 30, 2023 /

    Taking ‘static’ pictures, such as those of buildings and other architectural structures, can be quite challenging, as it is easy to fall into obvious, already seen compositions that rob the shot of any individuality.One of the things that can make an otherwise dull image more interesting is the presence of some kind of action that blends in with the stillness of the environment.In this case, the woman on the phone is in exactly the same position as the model on the billboard. Only they are telling two different stories.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Sky Patrol

    September 12, 2021

    The Lost Lock

    June 12, 2014

    Who Is The Machine?

    August 5, 2019
  • B&W,  Bookstores,  Daily photo,  Winter

    二千円

    December 20, 2023 /

    The 2,000 yen note is something of a rarity even for the Japanese. As Japan is mainly a cash-based society (at least for everyday life), I made sure to carry enough money on my recent trip to the Kyushu region.The bank gave me a wad of brand new ¥2,000 notes, which were so unusual that they attracted the attention of many people I exchanged them with. The photo was taken with a КИЕВ 60 TTL and a волна 80/2.8, the film was a Ferrania P30.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Tired or Fascinated?

    October 21, 2013

    Chasing the Runner

    October 6, 2013

    Settled in the wrong place

    January 11, 2017
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Rome,  Winter

    An Antique Shop in via Cadorna

    December 10, 2023 /

    The overall quality of the black and white rendition is acceptable. However, it is still necessary to find how achieve colour consistency in multiple DSLR-scan.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Sailing Home

    October 4, 2023

    Waiting for the Shinkansen – 1

    June 25, 2017

    One Shot (Plus One) Story – All That Lasts

    April 19, 2025
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Rome,  Streets&Squares,  Winter

    A jam in via Alessandria

    December 8, 2023 /

    Taking pictures with a fully manual camera is a way to keep practising the basics. Honestly, I would not use a film camera for a professional assignment —at least, not as the main one— but it’s worth doing it in a less challenging condition.As per the technicalities, waiting for the next batch of Ferrania Orto to arrive, I resorted to a Kodak Tri-X 400 roll, which is my favourite film at these ISOs.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Ultras

    July 20, 2016

    A Lamp in an Old Teather

    March 8, 2016

    A Shadow

    July 24, 2014
  • Autumn,  B&W,  Boston,  Daily photo,  Photography,  Tokyo

    As Seen on Ferrania Film’ Stories section…

    December 4, 2023 /

    A selection of the pictures I took this year in Boston and Tokyo has been published on the official Film Ferrania website, in the ‘Stories’ section.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Red Moon at the end of August

    September 1, 2023

    The Lost Church

    July 16, 2014

    The AfterTide

    December 12, 2013
  • Artists,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Winter

    Frank Gambale All Stars – Live@Teatro Marrucino

    November 22, 2023 /

    Rockol has just published a gallery with some of the photos I took at the Frank Gambale All Stars concert last 20 November.I’ve been a fan of Gambale’s for a long time and meeting him was a very nice experience: friend, easygoing, positive attitude despite the stress of the Italian tour: a great human being (and I can’t say the same about many of the ‘artists’ I’ve met in my career as a photographer and interpreter). On the technical side, the X-T4 and the lenses (Fujinon XF150-600 and an XF18-120) worked well. At ISO3200, the images have more than acceptable noise, which becomes almost invisible when the shadows are pushed.…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Yin and Yang

    November 26, 2013

    5 (random) frames of Bruxelles with a MIR-1B, a Pentax ME Super and a Kodak TMax400

    March 19, 2025

    Lightblade

    September 6, 2013
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  People,  Tokyo,  Winter

    Ghosts of Ginza

    November 14, 2023 /

    Another shot from my last visit to Japan, taken with a Nikon 35TI and a Ferrania Orto in the corridors of the Ginza subway station, Tokyo.

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    Norwegian Suits

    October 15, 2014

    A Panorama

    December 30, 2014

    Yet Another WDISF Post

    May 5, 2024
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  People,  Tokyo,  Winter

    Isolation in public spaces

    November 10, 2023 /

    This photo is an interesting representation of what it looks like to isolate oneself from one’s surroundings. In close proximity, inwardly each of the three people could not be further apart, each in a peculiar state of mind. The photo was taken with a Nikon 35TI and a Ferrania Orto in the Tokyo subway. Admittedly, the Orto is not the film of choice for street photography due to its harsh contrast and blue sensitivity. But then, rules are made to be broken, aren’t they?

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    Andrea Monti

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    Waiting To Board At Santa Margherita Ligure

    August 16, 2014

    Street Compass Rose

    September 25, 2013

    Traffic Jam in Bruxelles

    April 7, 2014
  • Autumn,  Cars&Bikes,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Photography,  Tokyo

    An experiment with Dall-E, ChatGPT and a Nissan S8

    November 4, 2023 /

    This is an experiment based on a picture of a Nissan S8 taken at the Nissan Crossing in Ginza.First, I asked Dall-E to describe what he ‘sees’. Then I started asking questions to locate the place where the showroom should be, being careful not to give any hints.ChatGPT did not give a correct answer on the first try, but eventually it did. Me: Describe this photo ChatGPT: This photo features a futuristic-looking race car displayed indoors, presumably within a showroom or an exhibition space. The car is designed with an aggressive aerodynamic shape, with large, protruding front winglets and an expansive rear wing, characteristic of high-speed, high-performance vehicles, possibly a…

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    Lost Cellos

    August 30, 2014

    Nico Cilli Band Live@Città Sant’Angelo

    October 23, 2013

    Alien Veins

    December 3, 2014
  • Autumn,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Docks

    Red Beam

    October 24, 2023 /

    The Viltrox XF 85 F1.8 II is a very capable lens. Here is a shot taken with a Fuji X-T4 in difficult lighting conditions.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Over There!

    May 29, 2022

    Does It Worth It?

    May 22, 2017

    Portrait of a wrestler

    October 27, 2013
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Milan,  Photography,  Street Photography

    How Privacy Hysteria Killed Street-Photography

    October 22, 2023 /

    At other times I would have dismissed this image as ‘out of focus’ and unusable. Just another missed shot caused by poor focusing technique on a fully manual film camera. Nowadays, however, I have begun to change my attitude towards these kinds of blurred images because of the privacy hysteria affecting the practice of street photography. There have been cases where people have been found guilty of harassment for covertly taking pictures in public spaces, but street photography has nothing to do with criminal behaviour. There is a huge difference between taking sneaky, random, meaningless pictures of people on the street and trying to freeze sketches of life to tell…

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    Busker and Covid-19

    January 26, 2021

    A Young Sailor

    August 11, 2014

    The Restorer’s Nest

    June 27, 2013
  • Autumn,  B&W,  Daily photo,  Milan,  People

    Where to?

    October 21, 2023 /

    Unlike my previous shots, this is a ‘normal’ analogue image. The film – Ferrania P30 – was not expired and the camera was fully manual – a Voigtländer Bessa R2A with a Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35 1.4.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Falling Tree

    May 8, 2014

    The Hamlet’s Dilemma

    May 20, 2014

    God Save The Queen

    September 6, 2014
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Docks

    A Lighthouse

    October 11, 2023 /

    Another example of how the Viltrox XF 56/1.4 performs in very low light.To be honest, the Fuji X-T4’s X-Trans sensor played its part.

    Read More
    Andrea Monti

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    Yin and Yang

    November 26, 2013

    The Expired Film Series – Episode 1 – Kodak BW400CN – Dec. 2014 shot in June 2023

    July 21, 2023

    Stop

    December 6, 2018
  • Autumn,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Docks

    Modern Moai?

    October 10, 2023 /

    Still pushing the Viltrox AF 56/1,4 XF on a Fuji X-T4.The limit has not been reached just yet.

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    Andrea Monti

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    The El Prat’s Lounge

    June 5, 2014

    Chasing the Runner

    October 6, 2013

    Canon EOS-M. Useless for Street-Photography

    March 28, 2013
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