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On Film Simulation or ‘is fiction more real than reality, and why should we care?’
Simulations have turned an inevitable fact —using the chosen brand and type of film for an entire roll— into an aesthetic tool allowing the selection of the most appropriate image rendition for each single exposure. Using simulations is like having all the different kinds of film in the same roll with all the convenience of digital technology, opening a huge number of creative possibilities. Initially published on 35mmc.com This is what the standard marketing claims for software simulations are based upon, but is that actually so? As a matter of fact, the answer is yes, but if we look at the matter from a different perspective, we should consider some…
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On Detachment. Or ‘If You Love Something, Set It Free’ (cit. Sting)
A number of philosophies and religions preach the virtue of detachment from things as a path to enlightenment. When applied to gear, this advice won’t only save your soul —if you believe there’s one— but also your money and, last but not least, your photograph experience. This means avoiding the development of ‘feelings’ towards a camera or a lens that shift from appreciating their value as a tool to some sort of ‘personal engagement’. Initially published on 35mmc.com As odd as it sounds, such an attitude towards an inanimate object is more frequent than one may imagine. A paradigmatic case is the attachment of AIBO’s owners to their robotic pets:…
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Tesla Coils@Boston Science Museum
Not a great photo, taken on the fly at Boston’s Science Museum. Nevertheless, Tesla Coils hold a special place in the hearts of early Command & Conquer players, so I had to take it.
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Inside the Nazario Sauro
An important piece of history of the Italian Navy, at the anchor in the Port of Genova.
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Old Rolls, Immortal Style
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Who Is The Machine?
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Mandatory Photo Position
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Asimo’s Ancestor@Tsukuba World1985 Expo
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Wasubot. A Stiff Organ Player@Tsukuba
Photographing WASUBOT, the humanoid robot from the Tsukuba Expo ’85, is an exercise in humility. This iconic machine, a piece of robotics history, has been standing in the same pose for decades, its metal tendons and cables forever poised over the keyboard. Every visitor with a camera or a phone has taken a shot like this. The result is a paradox: the subject is inherently fascinating, but the visual narrative is weighed down by over-familiarity. In this frame, I approached the challenge by focusing on clarity and accuracy. The composition is anchored in a three-quarter view, revealing both WASUBOT’s intricate mechanical anatomy and the keyboard interface it was designed to…
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Silhouettes@Osaka Castle
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Sala degli Onori @ Triennale di Milano
Photographing grand interiors is always a test of discipline — a challenge to convey scale, symmetry, and atmosphere without letting the vastness swallow the human presence within it. In this image of the Sala degli Onori, the composition succeeds in balancing the architecture with the people inhabiting it, rendering a space that is both imposing and accessible. The shot is anchored by a strong central perspective. The converging lines of the marble floor and rows of white chairs pull the viewer’s gaze directly towards the far wall, where the mural forms a natural focal point. The figure walking down the central aisle provides a crucial sense of scale; without her,…
