Welcome to another Episode of Photographer Spotlight, this time I had the honor to step inside the world of Marco Calandra who makes brilliant landscape images.
In this exclusive interview, you’ll find out what it is that makes him so good in his field.
Tell us about yourself, where are you from, what got you into photography and since how long do you photograph?
Hi, my name is Marco Calandra. I am born in 1989 and I’m currently living in Italy. My interest in photography started in 2010 when I bought my first digital compact camera to keep all the memories of the summer of that year. My passion for photography increased more and more reading magazines, books and photo-blogs so I decided to abandon Engineering Management to enroll at the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania. Many years has now passed since I’ve enrolled in the Academy and I’ve finally finished my studies earning a Master degree in Photography.
How much time do you spend on photography on average?
Marco: It depends. When traveling, I always bring my camera with me to take some good photographs. I think every city, land or place hide a good photograph. The important thing is to combine light, composition and moment so you can take a perfect shot.
What is the favorite photo you took and why?
Marco: It is difficult to answer this question. I haven’t got just one favorite photo because, since I have been photographing, I’ve lived a lot of moments, each different to the other, and this allows me to make unique photos, such as eruptions, northern lights, and great sunsets. One of my favorite photos is Camping on the volcano Etna. While I was camping on the volcano Etna together with my cousin, during the first hours of the night, the volcano started erupting. It was a great emotion to see a spectacle of nature like that and be one of the firsts to see it so closely. So we caught the opportunity to film and photograph.
Which gear do you mainly use / What is typically in your camera bag?
Marco: In my bag I always carry with me my Nikon D750 and my favorite lens, the Tamron 15-30 f/2.8 together with my Manfrotto tripod. Then I also bring with me a lot of ND and GND filters and of course a Polarizer.
How do you prepare for an image?
Marco: Before I go out to photograph I always check for images on the web so that I have a general idea about the location. Then I consult the app TPE (The Photographer’s Ephemeris), so I can see the exact spot where the sun will rise or set. Once I get to the location, I seek for good guiding lines on the scene, trying to keep simple photographic rules.
Do you have guiding principles that you follow when you’re making pictures?
Marco: Yes, when I photograph, there is a 99% of chance that I will not include people in the scene. I prefer capturing the beauty of the scene without the human presence. I also prefer photographing natural landscapes showing the charm that we can’t capture instantly, but only through an accurate observation, looking at reality with new eyes. If you look at all the photographs I have done so far, you will perceive that they are linked by a common element: the silence.
How important is post-processing for you? Can you tell us what kind of post-processing you typically do?
Marco: The post-processing is a very important part in my photography. Every good shot that I take will be then post-processed to ensure that the image I had in mind will be characterized by good colors, contrast and so on.
What’s the most challenging part about being a photographer?
Marco: Nowadays the whole world has been photographed and it is really difficult to make photographs that can stand out from the others. The most challenging part for a landscape photographer is to find scenes with a different point of view than the usual. The choice of light becomes also fundamental because it can transform a scene from good to perfect.
What are your future photography goals?
Marco: Since I am a landscape photographer, I love traveling, capturing unique landscapes in the world. I reached one of my goals at the end of 2016, that is travelling to Iceland. There I could visit unique landscapes which before I could have only imagined. So, I don’t have any real plans yet. I will see what the future holds.
Make sure to visit Marco Calandras Website and to follow him on Facebook & 500px!
Website: http://www.marcocalandra.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcocalandraphotography
500px: http://500px.com/marcocalandra89
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