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  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Gear,  People,  Seasons,  Summer,  Technique

    An attempt at DSLR-made film digitization

    January 14, 2023 /

    This is the first usable result of the attempt to DSLR-scan films. I tried several approaches, including the standard tripod holding the camera perpendicularly to a flat, LED-lighted surface. However, I finally went for a different solution: a horizontal rig with two moving plates, a micrometric head holding the film and three-axis and a panoramic head holding the camera.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Busker and Covid-19

    January 26, 2021

    Art Auction at Piazza Navona

    February 6, 2016

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

    November 4, 2023
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Gear,  Winter

    Pixelmator Pro Debanding and Electronic Shutter

    December 24, 2022 /

    Pixelmator Pro Deband feature does not work on banding caused by the well known electronic shutter lag. The Deband feature has not been advertised as working also with ES-induced banding, so the fact that it can not handle it is not a bug. However, this limit seriously reduces the appeal of the new feature. I have flagged the issue to Pixelmator Pro Support: currently, they are out of work, but eventually, they should get back to me with some news. Good news, hopefully.

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    Andrea Monti

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    A Roller Coaster… A Kind Of

    April 3, 2014

    The Calm Newsreader

    July 4, 2013

    Beer or Spritz?

    November 1, 2019
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Docks,  Winter

    Ten Years Ago

    December 22, 2022 /

    Exactly ten years ago I started my career as a photograper.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Time Runs Fast

    May 21, 2014

    Hi-Tech Temptation

    June 27, 2015

    Las Ramblas’s Talk

    June 4, 2014
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Docks,  Winter

    Fisherman’s Fatigue

    December 19, 2022 /

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Arson

    February 21, 2014

    Bored

    March 7, 2013

    The Unresting Lawyer

    February 6, 2017
  • Artists,  Colour,  Daily photo,  People,  Winter

    Daniele Silvestri – Teatri 2022 – Live@Teatro Massimo, Pescara

    December 16, 2022 /

    This is the Daniele Silvestri’s Teatri 2022 coverage I did on behalf of Rockol.it using good old Nikons (a D610 with the Sigma 150-600 contemporary and a D750 with a Nikkor 24-120). As a matter of personal taste, I still like a reflex more than a mirrorless camera. The possibility offered by the latter to shoot in total silence with the Electronic Shutter is invaluable in specific contexts such as classical concerts or theatrical plays, nowthistanding the downfalls (banding and distorted images). However (and, once again, this is a matter of personal opinion), a reflex still allow a better connection with the environment at least thanks to the optical viewfinder.…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Gary O’ Toole

    July 15, 2017

    When the parking’s lost

    May 16, 2013

    The Floating Relic

    December 13, 2013
  • Actors,  Colour,  Daily photo,  People,  Winter

    Norina shouts at Don Pasquale

    December 12, 2022 /

    This picture is part of the reportage I did for Gaetano Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, featured on December 11, 2022, at Teatro Marrucino. It has been the chance to experiment a few tricks to avoid the banding effect caused by the LED pulse frequency and the sensor’s delay in EFC is used. I chose to go for time rather than aperture priority mode. I also set the shutter speed at 1/50, as suggested in many forums, and the trick worked. In some cases, banding was still present, but it was insignificant. I also tried to shoot in full manual (leaving only the focus in auto.) Some pictures ended up overexposed, and…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Generations – II

    August 5, 2014

    The Silent Listeners

    December 27, 2013

    Pizza Maker@Ueno’s Park

    June 6, 2018
  • Bruxelles,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Fashion Shops,  Seasons,  Winter

    Cleaning the Tabernacle

    November 26, 2022 /

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    Andrea Monti

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    A Curious Bystander

    December 24, 2013

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

    June 28, 2024

    Three Lamps

    September 19, 2022
  • Daily photo

    DxO Pure Raw empirical test

    November 22, 2022 /

    This photo is a ‘before-and-after’ merge of a picture I took during the premiere of Cavalleria Rusticana at Teatro Marrucino, processed with DxO’s Pure Raw. As an empirical test, it has no specific goal but to provide a real-life example of how the software works.Overall, the results are reasonably good; however software’s ‘heavy hand’ is apparent in the visibly smudged areas. Pure Raw can not work miracles, although it proved to be a valuable tool to rescue photos shot in poor light.

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    Andrea Monti

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    The Street Photographer Rights In Italy. The Leaflet

    July 10, 2014

    The Expired Film Series – Episode 7 – Kodak Portra 160 – June 2015 shot in Oct. 2023

    January 11, 2024

    Who’s carrying Who?

    February 28, 2013
  • Actors,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Winter

    Turiddu repeals Santuzza

    November 19, 2022 /

    This is a photo taken from the reportage I made for the Teatro Marrucino during the première of Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni. It captures the moment Turiddu (Piero Giuliacci) abandons Santuzza (Alessandra Di Giorgio), who —in turns— begs him in vain to change his mind. Image quality isn’t exceptional: unlike other cases, where the Fuji X-T3/Fujinon XF 16-80 pairing provided excellent results, this time it didn’t perform at its best, probably due to the choices on the scene lights.On the contrary, the composition is particularly successful.Turiddu is in the centre of the upper part of the picture. The railings of the staircase lead the eye towards him. Stantuzza’s dynamic…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Up from the Waterline

    December 3, 2016

    When Heroes Come to Town

    April 17, 2019

    Hanging Towels

    March 29, 2014
  • Actors,  Autumn,  Colour,  Daily photo,  People,  Reportage

    The Death of Cio-Cio san

    October 15, 2022 /

    The final scene of yesterday’s Madama Butterfly’s ‘Prima’ at Teatro Marrucino. For this reportage I used an X-T3 and a Fujinon XF 100-400 that did an excellent job.

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    Andrea Monti

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    TelcoMan

    January 26, 2015

    Mediterranean Games 2009

    June 28, 2015

    Nad Sylvan

    July 10, 2017
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Seasons,  Summer,  Track&Field

    A Step Ahead

    October 8, 2022 /

    Another photo from the Track & Field Mediterranean Championships – Pescara 2022 reportage featured on the website of Chieti-Pescara university’s Scienze Motorie degree. Also in this case the Sigma 150-600 Contemporary did not fail.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Sting of the Vespa

    March 7, 2025

    Fast Call

    December 28, 2013

    Abstract

    May 9, 2023
  • Autumn,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Rome,  Soccer,  Sport

    Stadio Olimpico, seen from Tribuna Monte Mario

    October 1, 2022 /

    The picture of Rome’s Stadio Olimpico has been shot from a very exclusive vantage point: Tribuna Monte Mario. Light conditions were so unmanageable that the only option to get an interesting photo was a heavy, borderline unrealistic post-production

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    Andrea Monti

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    Portrait of a Lawyer

    October 5, 2013

    The Calm Newsreader

    July 4, 2013

    Who Can It Be Now?

    February 18, 2016
  • Autumn,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Docks,  Helsinki

    A Vessel Moored on the Pier

    September 27, 2022 /

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    Andrea Monti

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    Fireworks

    January 19, 2013

    Hidden in Plain Sight. A Japanese Journey

    August 3, 2023

    Dreaming Of Giulietta (sprint)

    September 24, 2014
  • Cities,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Helsinki,  Seasons,  Spring

    Cultural Variety

    September 24, 2022 /

    Helsinki is a place where culture matters. It is almost impossible having a taste that can not be satisfied.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Friend or Foe?

    January 21, 2013

    London Panning

    December 30, 2013

    Nad Sylvan

    July 10, 2017
  • Autumn,  Beach&Shores,  Colour,  Daily photo

    The Compelling Power of Photography

    September 22, 2022 /

    This is a picture taken while a storm was coming. The wind was expected to blow at about 80 km-per-hour. It turned the sand into a myriad of micro-bullets, pricking all exposed body parts and filling the lungs. Nonetheless, a man took his chance, went to the shore and shot a picture with his smartphone. He is no professional, nor had a particular reason to do that. He just wanted to freeze a moment. This is the power of photography. p.s. Pentax K II and the DA* 50-135 2,8 went through the sandstorm brilliantly and survived without consequences.

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    Andrea Monti

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    A promenade

    February 24, 2013

    The Ghost

    February 15, 2013

    The Three Musketeers

    October 16, 2013
  • Autumn,  B&W,  Daily photo,  Visual

    Three Lamps

    September 19, 2022 /

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    Andrea Monti

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    Skating on Avenue Louise

    April 1, 2014

    Planetarium

    May 30, 2015

    Abstract

    May 9, 2023
  • Autumn,  Beach&Shores,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Photography

    Not AI-made…

    September 17, 2022 /

    The colour rendition of a photo taken with a Pentax (camera and lens) is unique. Taste is personal, and so is this opinion. One thing, however, is sure: the pictorial look of this photography is not made by an ‘AI’.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Rest On The Way Back Home

    August 30, 2013

    Just Another Piccadilly Circus’ View

    September 20, 2016

    A Young Sailor

    August 11, 2014
  • B&W,  Daily photo,  Photography,  Thoughts

    Is AI-generated art actually killing ‘real’ Art?

    September 16, 2022 /

    This picture is how Dall-e 2 interpreted a prompt like Kodak Tri-X 400 black and white sketch in the style of Andy Warhol of a scientist facing a hajime sorayama-like cyborg in a 1940 mad scientist sci-fi lab. Does that mean that —as everybody and his cousin keep repeating— that AI killed Art(ists)? Not very. AI-generated imagery serves to specific purposes and whether is creation or not is utterly irrelevant.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Still Ruling

    February 5, 2022

    A Spanish Long Jumper

    September 11, 2022

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

    June 20, 2024
  • Autumn,  Colour,  Daily photo,  People,  Sport,  Track&Field

    A Spanish Long Jumper

    September 11, 2022 /

    This is one of the photos from the reportage on the Track & Field Mediterranean Championships – Pescara 2022. The Sigma 150-600 Contemporary proved to be a good lens, sufficiently versatile and with effective stabilization. However, used with the 1.4 teleconverter and full extension, it does not allow for high-speed focusing. In some cases, the Nikon D610 failed to lock onto the subject. This makes the lens/teleconverter pair somewhat inconvenient in sports photography. At that focal length, it is probably worth using prefocus. If you do not want to give up automatism, you can try to anticipate the moment of focusing by framing something close to where the athlete should…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Protezione Civile

    November 12, 2013

    In-Eye

    February 2, 2014

    Same Space, Different Worlds

    October 18, 2013
  • B&W,  Beach&Shores,  Daily photo,  People

    On Photography and Self-Delusion

    September 4, 2022 /

    Only travelling abroad gets exotic photos. No need to travel overseas to get unusual images. Shoot digital is the only way ‘to stay in the moment’. Going retro with film is the only way to stay ‘in the moment’. Get the latest gear you can find. No, use the cheapest stuff because photography is about the man, not the machine. Do not post process, do post process. Shoot colour; no shoot B&W. Use Midformat, no full-frame, no APS-C, no smartphone-size sensors… The list of advice coming from (self-professed) experts, journalists (most often, web content editors with no editorial clearance), and ‘seasoned’ (wannabe) photographers could grow forever.More often than not, these…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Unattainable 1:1 magnification with the JJC FDA S-1 and Micro Nikkor 60 2,8

    January 29, 2023

    Waiting For The Elections

    June 24, 2014

    DxO Pure Raw empirical test

    November 22, 2022
  • Colour,  Daily photo,  Doors&Windows,  Gear,  Photography,  Thoughts

    The Mystique of Film

    August 24, 2022 /

    I have resisted for a long time before giving out my two cents about the neverending debate ‘film vs digital’. I gave up after the next self-delusion I read in a well-known ‘semi-pro’ (purposely not linked) online photography magazine. It featured the umpteenth column explaining how shooting film ‘gets the experience back’, going full-manual ‘forces you thinking’, having limited exposures ‘pushes you to become more selective’, and all the usual motives connected with the choice of travelling on a horse-powered chariot instead of using a regular car. There is no need to shoot film to experience all that. Set the camera on full manual, disable OIS and IBIS, use a…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Ashtray

    February 12, 2017

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

    September 28, 2024

    Stripes in B&W

    April 29, 2015
  • Artists,  B&W,  Daily photo,  People,  Summer

    Alessandro Valle – Live@Anfiteatro La Civitella

    August 11, 2022 /

    When I cover singers’ concerts, I make a point of not leaving band members behind. On their shoulders lies the burden of getting the show right. Without them, there is not much a singer could do unless he is gifted with a beautiful voice and proper technique. Still, they often come unnoticed. Kudos to these musicians who make the magic happens.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Red Tears

    June 7, 2013

    Waiting For A Customer To Come

    July 27, 2014

    A Call

    December 16, 2014
  • Artists,  Colour,  Daily photo,  Reportage,  Summer

    Venditti&DeGregori – Live@Anfiteatro La Civitella

    August 11, 2022 /

    Here is the link at the gallery of the 10 August Antonello Venditti and Francesco De Gregori concert. A rather unpleasant experience, indeed. Photographers have been confined on the extreme left of the stage and not allowed to move. Of course the show comes first and any annoyance imperiling the performance must be prevented. A tad of flexibility for people who is there to work, though, would have been much appreciated.

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    Andrea Monti

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    Waiting for (Supreme) Justice

    February 14, 2017

    Oh…MG!

    July 23, 2015

    For Sale

    May 5, 2014
  • Artists,  B&W,  Daily photo,  People,  Seasons,  Summer

    José Ignacio Franco – Live@Auditorium Petruzzi

    July 31, 2022 /

    He doesn’t need to sing. His fingers do it for him. Captured in mid-strum, tocaor José Franco radiates something far more profound than musical virtuosity: duende — that elusive spirit of flamenco, born of sorrow, defiance, and joy. His guitar is not just an instrument; it’s a second voice, one that speaks the unspoken, channeling generations of Andalusian lament and celebration. Notice the scene: the blurred silhouettes of fellow musicians in the foreground, the intimacy of a rehearsal or a small performance, where the bond between tocaores is more powerful than any spotlight. The photograph’s depth of field creates a natural hierarchy — we’re drawn not just to Franco’s position, but to his expression. His smile…

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    Andrea Monti

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    Is Batman Coming To Town?

    December 2, 2017

    Superpila still rides…

    December 10, 2018

    Macarons. Again

    October 23, 2015
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