Interview: Photographer Stefano Introvignn (Italia)

Can you tell us a little about you?

My name is Stefano and I live in a beautiful village on the Monferrato hills, a UNESCO heritage site in Italy. I'm married and have an 11-year-old daughter, Sofia. In addition to photography, I love walks in nature and sports.

How and when did you get into photography?

My passion for photography was born when I was about 12 years old. My father gave me a Yashica SLR film and I started taking pictures of everything around me, from landscapes to animals, from objects to people. I started with landscape photography, inspired by the places where I grew up, and then moved to other genres such as macro and nature photography. Only a few years later, I approached to portrait photography, which is my favorite today.

What does photography mean to you? Photography represents the possibility of expressing emotions. Through one click, you can communicate sensations and memories. The sight of a landscape, an animal, a food, can make you go back in time and evoke great feelings. What’s special about photography is that it can stop time. Photography is the only thing that can win over a person's death. Thanks to photography, we can remember and reveal a person’s appearance even after his death. Photography is life.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

I love portrait photography and first of all, I always try to create a context, according to the subject, that represents something important for both of us. I always try to give to the subject the freedom to move around where I shoot in order to create the best situation. I look for a personal style in the composition as well as in the colors selection, from the choice of the location until the end of the shooting.

Where do you get inspiration from?

I get inspiration from great masters of photography. Among my absolute favorites photographers, Steve McCurry: I love the way he uses color and the composition is so perfect to be almost manic. Another great photographer who, in my opinion, has given an amazing evolution to the photography of the female figure is Helmut Newton, an absolute master. His personality is tangible in every shot. In addition, I love the works of my national Giovanni Gastel, the undisputed master of portrait.

Do you think in advance what you want in the picture?

Not always. I start with a general idea and then according to the situations in which I find myself, I try to make the most of everything around me, from the light of course up to the details that make up the location.

Studio, on location or both?

I generally use locations rather than studios. Working mainly on set portraits, I prefer to contextualize the subject in a location suitable for the situation I want to create. I shoot both outdoors and indoors.

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

I'd like to become a paid professional but I'm still a hobbyist for now. Regardless of this, I think passion is what matters in any case.

What has been your most memorable session and why?

Honestly, all sessions I had so far have been special, each one for a different reason. When I shoot, I have a person in front of me, regardless of gender and the feeling that rises to reach a common end goal is always something special. I find that every single time is memorable.

Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?

I started with a Yashica. Then, I tried both Nikon and Canon and the feeling I found with Nikon is absolutely special. Nikon is the best for me.

I mainly work with a 50mm f1.8, a Zoom 24-70 f2.8 and a Tele 70-200 f2.8.

What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business?

As I said before, I am not a professional, but something I always try to do and that I feel like recommending to anyone who wants to start photographing is to create their own style, a style that distinguishes their photography from the one of others. It is important to be inspired by other photographers, but being inspired does not mean copying. Nowadays, unfortunately, also led by social medias, people always look for the appreciation from the public by following the mass, but it is necessary to stand out if you really want to emerge.

What do you think of our new magazine?

I think your magazine is exceptional, very well laid out, fluid and above all full of beautiful pictures. Unlike other magazines, it gives the chance to emerging photographers and models to have visibility and make themselves known. I think it is a privilege to be part of the magazine and I thank you for this exclusive possibility.

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