INTERVIEW
September 4, 2020
VISUAL COMMUNICATION
Photography by Fabio Barzaghi
Interview by Melanie Meggs
Sometimes it takes a spark of passion and creativity to begin a journey that can last a lifetime. For photographer Fabio Barzaghi, his journey began with a camera gifted to him as a teenager, growing into a love of visual communication and a desire to tell stories. Based in Milan, Italy, he has mastered his skills autodidactically, seeking out workshops from some of the greatest master photographers out there. From Nikos Economopoulos, Ernesto Bazan, George Georgiou, Joakim Eskildsen and Jacob Aue Sobol, he has learned the importance of stepping outside his photographic comfort zone in order to create powerful narrative images. With a raw talent for capturing emotion and moments of time, Barzaghi’s photography stands out as something uniquely special and inspiring. As we unravel his dedicated journey to perfecting his craft and creating stories through his lens, you will discover not only his incredible talent but also the intense physical and emotional journey that has defined him today.
“I have always been interested in photography, when I was a teenager I was gifted a camera that I took everywhere I could and during any occasion - I really have used it to its full potential! Classic story, you know. I have attended several workshops trying to push up my photography.”
IN CONVERSATION WITH FABIO BARZAGHI
THE PICTORIAL LIST: Fabio, where do you find your inspiration to photograph?
FABIO BARZAGHI: Everywhere is a good photo occasion. I can feel where it could happen and I play with the situation. Sometimes I start talk to people trying to go deeper with the situation.
TPL: What do you want to express through your photography? What are some of the elements you always try to include in your photographs?
FB: I always try to remove elements from my pictures. I want to focus on the subject.
TPL: Has your style of photographing changed since you first started?
FB: Definitely, now I know what I want when I’m taking pictures. It was only when my girlfriend started gifting me photography books (about 10 years ago) that something clicked in me and I began taking photographs with a different, more focused and more mature approach. In particular street photography is the genre I fell in love with, and it still keeps me motivated to grab my camera, exploring places through people and tell stories with photos.
TPL: Who are your favourite artists/photographers?
FB: Daido Moriyama, Nikos Economopoulos, Alec Soth, Arnold Newman, Marco Pesaresi and many others...
TPL: Do you have a favourite place to photograph?
FB: I always look for places where things can happen.
TPL: How does the equipment you use help you in achieving your vision in your photography? Do you have a preferred lens/focal length?
FB: I'm using only the Fuji X100s that I bought years ago. I chose that camera because it has a fixed lens at 35mm, a very good quality. It is a really small and low weight camera, and I can bring it with me every day. It also has an optical viewfinder, which is a plus.
I shoot always and only on 35mm. When shooting I have the final frame in my mind.
TPL: Are there any special projects you are currently working on that you would like to let everyone know about?
FB: I have several projects almost completed. I would like to find someone interested in them.
TPL: What are some of your goals as an artist? Where do you see yourself or hope to see yourself in five years?
FB: I want to keep photography as my personal escape from reality. Business with it could infect its pureness.
TPL: Have you ever been involved in the artistic world before photography?
FB: I play drums, a little bit the guitar. But I’m an electronic engineer, arts are helping me to have a side look to problems.
TPL: “When I am not out photographing, I (like to)…
FB: Run, play music, listen to the music, travel, cook and spend lazy days on my sofa."
Fabio Barzaghi's journey of photography has pushed himself to explore the world of visual communication. With an artistic eye, Fabio captures and creates stories with his photography, emphasizing the importance of making moments count in our lives. To see more of Fabio's amazing work, follow him on his social media or check out his website. Fabio's photographs encourage us to discover the beauty of the world that lies in front of us, and his call to action is to share those moments with others.
