Learn From Experience: Loris Spadaro
What are the rules of your photographic work?
I have no rules but one: look at the whole frame, then f/8 and be there. Composition is your photography’s calling card.
Tell us about an experience that changed the way you work and made you grow.
Switching to a wide-angle lens!
When you photograph with your camera do you notice the same things you notice with your eyes or do your eyes capture what the camera doesn't allow you to look at?
Yes, I do. The only difference between having and having not a camera in my hand is that I capture what I see when I have one. The more I take photos, the more I see with a “photographic eye” all of the time. When I don’t have my camera with me, the shutter button is in my head - I say “click” too!
If you were to create an open call or a contest, what kind of theme would you give? What would you like to look at and why?
Since I believe that street photography must capture distinctive features of an urban environment and its humanity, I would choose "Spirit of the city" as the theme. It would be focused on capturing anything - faces, places, gestures, habits, characters, etc - that would make me say "Yes, this photo could only have been taken there. Tell us about your equipment, what kind of cameras you shoot with and what tools you use and prefer.
I prefer point-and-shoot cameras and wind-angle lenses. Must be lightweight, easily manoeuvrable, fast, and discreet.
What do you think is highly conflicting with the concept of photography?
What’s not in the frame didn’t catch your attention as it never existed. Photography must be a product of your vision and critical sense must be an activity strictly connected to your concept of world and life and mankind. Which requires, in turn, a lot of time and patience to be discovered and be aware of it.
So, anything that makes you feel like you are in a big hurry to catch the perfect and most viewed and liked and highly appreciated photo, to me, is highly conflicting with the concept of photography.
Are there any books you would recommend?
Anything by Garry Winogrand, “The Americans” by Robert Frank, and “Valparaiso” by Sergio Larrain.
Tell us about your creative process and if there are any particular techniques you use during your work. (If you have any photos of this, please send them as an attachment).
Walk a lot and not too fast, work the spot, pay attention, be fast.
What do you do with the discarded photos?
I immediately delete them… but don’t try this home!
Do you follow a particular photographer or magazine?
I prefer following those street photographers whose vision is immediately recognizable - they are the ones you can learn a lot from.
Loris Spadaro
Instagram: @loris.spadaro