Born in Trieste Italy, Matteo is now based in the city of Amsterdam, where he can pursue his passion for photography and the possibility of enjoying every day.
He and his Canon 6D travel around the world, he just needs to make one great photo a day.
Matteo is fiRst of all a friend that collaborates with Ollie Spectacle Shapers taking awesome pictures in Amsterdam and wherever his trips around the world bring him. There are 2 things Matteo will always carry along: his camera and his BELLS optical frame with clip-on.
We recently spent some time in Amsterdam and had the pleasure to have a chat with him.
What does photography mean to you?
Photography for me is the connection between the brain and the eyes and with my photos I am trying to show people what they may miss, after all life is not flat. It’s a combination of shapes, details and scenes that people shouldn’t miss.
What inspires you?
Many things inspire me in my work, It could be the light falling on a tree or flower, the look in someone’s eyes, it might be the time of day or the time of year. Sometimes it’s a combination of the right lens choice and a situation suddenly unfolds infant of you, Or even it’s something that someone is wearing or what’s missing, I can not say just one thing because i get inspiration from all around me.
What are your favourite subjects to photograph?
I love direct eye contact, more when is about strangers. My favourite subjects to photograph are strangers during my journeys around the world.
What camera do you shoot with?
I started almost 3 years ago with a Canon 550d and recently I passed to the 6d, finally a full frame camera! I also use an analog Nikon F from 1972, it was my grandads’ camera.
Which is your favourite lens?
I do like fixed lenses, 50 mm 1.4 24 mm 1.4 gives me the possibility to play with the subject and background and I love to be up close.
What photo-editing program do you use?
I always use Adobe Lightroom.
What makes the good picture stand out from the average?
The composition, light, & subject are everything that makes a good picture stand out, but of course is all about the moment, so the viewer can imagine what it is like to have been there when the image was taken.
How would you describe your photography style?
I am still experimenting my style everyday, trying to find my unique way but it seems to be a long way, so many different styles to learn and practice. So i guess it is always evolving.
Among your works, which one is your favourite?
If I need to choose one will be the black and white series from Sri Lanka, I was in Arugam Bay during the sunset full moon celebration, there I realised the importance of eye contact, the different languages are not a problem after that, a smile given back between one and an other. Then people open to you like an old friend.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years I see myself in a beach surfing and traveling as much as possible, to be able to capture it all and to still create a capture of the moment that people can enjoy is amazing.
At a really simple level travel photography provides a visual record of places visited.
But at its best it can provide an insight to the world at large and all its diversity.
I expect to keep doing this forever
I cant really imagine stopping.
Its what I love, its what I am, and there are far to many places in the world still to see.