Could you share a bit about yourself and what made you fall in love with photography?
My name is Paolo, I’m 30 and I’m from Salerno, Italy. After a bachelor’s degree in cultural heritage, I moved to Bologna in 2017 for a master’s degree in archaeology. It was in Bologna that I discovered my passion for photography. I met several photographers and artists and immediately realized that photography would become a great passion.
I began to study and attend several long-term courses, ranging from portrait photography to commercial photography in the studio. I had decided that photography would become my job. In the meantime I started to get passionate about landscape photography and then I followed some workshops and photographic trips that led me to fall completely in love with this kind of photography because it allows me to travel and spend many hours in nature.
Congrats on winning the contest! How did you react when you found out?
Honestly, when I received the email initially I did not believe it was true. I had participated for fun, I never thought I would be selected. I don't think I am a bad photographer, but I wondered why I was chosen when there are so many good photographers in the world, why me and not them? I don't know how to give an answer but I am incredibly happy and grateful to have been given this chance.
Can you explain us a little bit about the content creation project you are going to work on with OM SYSTEM?
I have always loved nature and had an interest in issues related to environmental sustainability, especially of the oceans. So I went back to my beloved Iceland, where I boarded on a ship with an NGO that works to protect the North Icelandic sea. I followed the scientific research activities carried out by the members of this NGO, documented what they do, how they collect and analyze microplastic and plankton samples from the sea, how they do outreach and many other wonderful activities that you will see at the end of the project.
Which equipment are you going to use? Are you enjoying it so far?
I am using an OM-5 with an M. Zuiko 17mm f1.8 and an M. Zuiko 40-150mm f4 Pro. I like to have a fixed lens so that I have the ability to move through the scene, be free to move closer to the subject to make the photo more intense. Of course, I also like to have a zoom lens so I can take photos when I can't get close, such as wildlife photos. I am having a lot of fun with my new equipment and am very surprised by its great quality despite its incredibly small size.
Looking ahead, what are your goals and dreams as a photographer?
My goal is to be a professional photographer. I’m trying to make photography a full-time job. My dreams with photography are really many because I have many interests, but my biggest dream is to be a professional travel and landscape photographer. I want to travel a lot in my life and I want to document with my camera everything that my eyes see. Photography for me is a way of expressing myself I hope I can always find new stimuli to communicate what I have inside.
