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| © Danilo Bazzano |
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
My name is Danilo
Bazzano and I’m a health and safety engineer. My father is a professional wedding
photographer and he gave me the gift of my first film photo cameras and taught
me the basic rules of photography. I dedicate my spare time to street
photography.
How did you choose street photography? Why not portrait or photojournalism?
I love
street photography because it puts me in contact with people. Sometimes I think
I can read the minds of the people I photograph and I am sure that they are
able to read my mind too. Other times I feel that the subject wishes to be
photographed staring into the lens of my camera. This is why I chose the street
photography… because it allows me to "get closer" to most people.
How do you find your subjects? How do you get so close to your subjects?
I choose
subjects based on who looks at me with curiosity when I approach them with the
camera. I never ask permission to photograph. I just do it. I approach the
subject, staring into their eyes, until they are close enough, and then take
the shot.
Do you think there’s a right way to take a street photograph?
I do not know if
there is a right way to take street photography. I think photography in general
has few rules that are made to be broken. Everyone should be free to apply
their own rules in street photography, and break them in search of the most
significant photograph.
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| © Danilo Bazzano |
When people don’t want to be photographed but you really want the shot, how do you go about it? Have you ever had this kind of problem with people? Have you ever offended anyone?
I've never had any problems with anyone. Generally I look for
eye contact, and I can see immediately if a person wants to be photographed, or
if a person is shy and does not want to be photographed. There are people who
look at me quickly and then look on the floor or somewhere else: I realize that
I do not have to take pictures. Then there are people who look at me steady:
and then I realize that I have to take photos immediately!
Street photography has its fashions and trends. What’s your favorite part of street photography, what attracts you to it? What do you think street photography is?
Street photography tells something about the subject. I believe that technique
is not as important in street photography, but rather what is communicated through
the subject’s eyes.
When you take photos, do you have a theme in mind? Are you working on particular subjects? Do you have projects?
I do not have specific projects. Sometimes I walk around with the camera around
my neck and I do not take photos because I don’t find anything inspiring to
shoot. Other times I walk around in public and leave the camera at home, just
to watch people in their everyday lives. When I want to photograph someone or
something, I point straight to the people, in search of those curious about the
look of my camera lens.
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| © Danilo Bazzano |
Which photographers most inspire you to shoot? Who are your influences?
Usually
I do not ever remember the name of the photographer, but rather I remember the
photograph he took. I’m interested in the great masters of the last century
such as Jean Loupe Sieff and Arnold Newmann.
What continually drives you to take photos in the streets?
I am attracted by the
street, by people walking, by the street vendors. In these places people are
really themselves.
Do you have any advice for the street photographer community?
Take your camera
when you're angry and when you're sick, or when you want to talk and cannot
find the right words -and begin photographing. At the end you will feel better,
and you may have also taken some great pictures.
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| © Danilo Bazzano |