INTERVIEW
February 9, 2022
REVERBERATION
Photography by Lele Bissoli
Interview by Melanie Meggs
As we navigate our way through life, some of us take solace in the simple beauty of creativity. For Lele Bissoli, creativity is a way of life. Since 2015, this Italian native has been capturing moments, people, and places in a way that evokes emotion and leaves a lasting impression. Lele is no ordinary photographer. He creates art from scenes that pass us by without any notice. He takes everyday moments and turns them into mesmerizing works of art.
Lele's work has taken him all around the world, from his hometown of Vercelli in Northern Italy to the hustling and bustling streets of New York City, Los Angeles, London, Milan, and Genova. Everywhere he goes, he sees beauty and emotion in every scene. This has resulted in stunning photography that tells stories through vivid imagery.
Lele is not content with just taking photographs. With the Pictorial List, Lele shares his series "Creative" where he revisits "wrong" or "ineffective" shots and reworks them to create something poetic and free-spirited. In doing so, Lele breaks the rules of photography and creates something truly unique. A reverberation!
“The creative series is a recovery of wrong or ineffective shots, in a few words when I came back from a journey during the post production process I would then select the 'wrong' shots and mix them until a good result was obtained.
Often after finishing the work I realise that it can convey anxiety, the blind rush of our society, the not having a moment for oneself during the day. These things have haunted me for years, bringing on panic attacks which I have managed to overcome well. But obviously something has remained, so I think I convey this in a poetic way, while in some cases it is just pure desire to stand out and break the rules of photography.”
IN CONVERSATION WITH LELE BISSOLI
THE PICTORIAL LIST: Lele, please tell us something about yourself. How did you become interested in photography?
LELE BISSOLI: I was born in Vercelli a small city located in the northern part of Italy between Milan and Turin and where I still live today. I started to photograph in 2015 when my girlfriend gave me my first reflex camera, a Canon EOS 1200. I started photographing starry skies and the Milky Way until I discovered street photography three years later, and it was love at first sight.
TPL: What does street photography mean to you? How have the streets and culture you capture influence your photography?
LB: I like the naturalness of street photography, the stolen moment...I don't really like posed photos. I think I have a cinematic vibe in my photographs. I noticed it when I was in New York, after having seen a thousand movies set in that city, I realised that my photos and the characters I had chosen to photograph, seemed to come out of those films. I think my biggest influence was definitely 80's and 90's movies.
TPL: What have been some of your favourite memories or moments in your photography journey? What have you personally gained from your experiences?
LB: I love road trips and my favourite memories are probably in California, where I have been two times with my wife and a couple of friends in 2016 and 2017. I love to rent a car and go wherever I want. From my experience I have understood that if you know how to be polite and mind your own business you can go almost anywhere, and, that there is always something to learn from others.
TPL: Do you have any favourite artists or photographers you would like to share with us?
LB: Of course, there are many, but at the moment it comes to mind, Suzanne Stein, Peter Chelsom, Meryl Meisler, Giovanni Gastel, Mick Rock, Ross Halfin, Dee Dee, Anton Corbijn...but my list is endless!
TPL: If you could just choose one photographer to shoot alongside for a day...who would you choose? And why?
LB: Sorry...but I chose two that have a lot to teach...Peter Chelsom and Anton Corbijn.
TPL: Does the equipment you use help you in achieving your vision in your photography? What camera do you use? Do you have a preferred lens/focal length?
LB: Yes, I have always used a Canon EOS. But in the last two years, I have switched to Fujifilm XT2, and I love its retro side which is also reflected in the photos. At the moment, I use a 23mm f1.4 lens and I love it.
TPL: What are some of your goals as an artist or photographer? Where do you hope to see yourself in five years?
LB: I think I will continue to try to improve but I will stay on this path. I would like to be a photographer of concerts and possibly rock, blues, and jazz artists. I'm not interested in making money but doing what I like...to make sure my passion doesn't die.
TPL: Are there any other special projects you are currently working on or thinking about that you would like to let everyone know about?
LB: This year I would like to embark on a long journey through six American states, a road trip between Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia, which I would like to document with photos and videos. It would be a cultural journey through the Blues highway, the music I love about African Americans, the origins of the Blues.
TPL: When I am not out photographing, I (like to)…
LB: Run! I'm a Runner! And I will organise future trips...sooner or later...I will make them!!
Lele Bissoli's photography is a testament to the power of creativity and imagination. Through his stunning images, he demonstrates that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places and that boundaries should not be limited by rules. By taking wrong shots and reworking them, he has proven that creativity is the key to unlocking new and exciting possibilities. We can all learn from Lele's example and take the time to be creative, to look for beauty, and to tell stories through vivid imagery. Take inspiration from Lele and go out in the world with a camera to capture moments, people, and places that evoke emotion and leave a lasting impression.
