I specialize in Black & White reportage and documentary-style portrait Photography.
I work with both digital (mostly) and film (for some projects).
I am shooting Documentary style dynamic portraits. The portraits are usually intense and raw, trying to capture some of the energy and vitality of the subjects.
The “Dragon Portrait Sessions” and the “Riders Portrait Sessions” are Documentary Portraits Series with the objective to create a Photographic Typology by means of black & white dynamic portraits of people sharing a common subculture, often associated with the “wild side”. The sessions are shot on-site, using natural light.
I am shooting reportage photography with musicians, artists, artisans, craftsmen, professionals, as well as special projects and assignments.
In my photography, I enjoy emulating classic b&w film, with a contrasty and grainy look that appear more “alive”, creating drama and a classical quality.
I develop and print my work, as for me it is crucial to control the process and get the exact results I look for. It is very difficult to find a 3rd party who is able to produce a very high quality black & white print and the availability of highest quality matte cotton paper is rather limited. When showing my photos / portfolio, nothing can replace a good print.
I love teaching. I am coaching photographers to be more creative and expressive using Black & White. I give lectures on the subject of Developing and Printing in Black & White.
There are many artists that inspire me, with their aesthetics, clarity, precision of their work, the drama they create, including architects such as Foster, Gehry, Calatrava; composers such as Bach, Bruckner, Mahler; painters such as Modigliani, Klimt, Egon Schiele.
I am inspired by several masters of Documentary and Portrait photography, such as Yousuf Karsh, Elliott Erwitt, Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, Erving Penn, Platon. In addition, photographers such as Sebastiao Salgado and Anton Corbijn influenced me and drove me towards the special Tri-X 400 film look
My guiding principle in photography is to remain an amateur, in the true sense of the word: someone who does something for the love of it, rather than being a “professional”, who does something for money. As Andre Kertesz stated:“ I am an amateur and intend to remain one my whole life long… The photographer’s art is a continuous discovery, which requires patience and time…”
Jack Ronnel
