Federico Feliciotti is a street photographer from Italy. Today we will get to know his opinion on street photography. For him, street photography makes you understand what you have around you. Let us carry on the discussion of street photography with him.
Thank you for joining us here today! could you please introduce yourself?
Thank you for joining us here today! could you please introduce yourself?
Hello everyone! I come from Porto Recanati a small town in central Italy. Photography for me was a recent discovery in life. I graduated in sports science and have been working for years as a tennis instructor in a school close to where I live.
What first drew you to street photography—and how did you discover it?
The first thing that brought me closer to the world of photography was certainly traveling to different countries. Capturing those magical moments for me through a photo is what brought me closer to street photography. Then I met people who were already doing street and I started to dedicate myself specifically to that type of photography.
Please share some of your memories of art & street photography?
About a year ago I signed up on Instagram with the intention of getting to know street photography better and from that moment on a world of different artistic cues opened up to me. I started following street photography artists and pages and taking inspiration day after day. Then I started going to different photography exhibitions in person and seeing the works with my own eyes. From there I began to understand that I wanted to devote myself more to photography and to have my say in some way.
What makes street photography so special for you?
Street photography makes you understand what you have around you, allows you to pay attention to detail, and to that moment of life which is a bit of a philosophy for me. When I am in a place I have never visited, I stop and look for inspiration, I carefully observe what I have around with the camera always ready. Street photography is a means of grasping reality better and experiencing it more deeply.
When did you start shooting and how did this love for photography happen?
I started taking photos in 2016 when I bought the first Fujifilm X100S. I still didn't know street photography and taking photos was only for me to capture the trip and capture the detail. In 2019, since I opened Instagram I have taken so much inspiration to understand what I wanted to start doing. A path to start from, namely street photography.
How does black and white vs color play into your work?
It's something I still have to understand. Like most of the photography. For now, I think that black and white respect more what the soul is, while colors are more a representation of the reality of what actually surrounds me. Working with black and white is more natural to me, while with the color I still feel inexperienced.
What was the proudest moment in your photography career so far?
The best moment was when they first published me on street photography international. I had a hundred followers and I didn't have much visibility. I sent several photos for the contest and one day they published one of the ones I sent him on the Instagram page. From then I understood that someone who knew more about me considered my photos and this gave me a strong stimulus.
What is a good photograph for you?
For me, a good photographer is the one who through the photo makes himself understand the world and his point of view. Something that is recognizable and recognized by everyone, but also the one who through his art is able to move people's thoughts.
What are some of your favorite books on street photography?
I still haven't had a chance to read photography books. But if I had to recommend books I would start with those of Mario Giacomelli and Bresson.
What are your thoughts on working on single images versus projects?
I think the street is more of a single image than a project. A reportage could be a good way to associate the street with the concept of the project. There are certainly various ways of associating the street with photographic projects but for now, my street remains tied to the concept of single images.
When you are out shooting—how much of it is instinctual versus planned?
Initially, I took many photos without thinking too much, without programming any type of element in the photo, as in the classic street where you walk on the street and take photos. Over the months I understood that everything must start from an idea in my head and I approached a more conceptual street, made of elements that are not always random. Now I process my images a lot. Maybe I go back to the same place several times until I have an idea to develop, a new composition, or simply a different subject.
Who are some of your favorite classic photographers, and how did they influence you?
I don't know many artists yet, having recently approached street photography. I would certainly recommend Robert Capa and Bresson to everyone to get started. But also Fan ho, Robert Doisneau, Vivian Maier, Elliot Erwitt, and Robert Frank. These artists are among the classics of the street, every shot of them can be a starting point.
Apart from photography, what are your interests and hobbies?
My hobbies besides photography are movies and music.
The Street Photo Collective wants to thank you once again for this interview. Do you have some tips for budding street photographers?
I recommend everyone to be passionate about what you do. Taking your camera with you is always a good start to finding ideas. Always listening to the points of view of those around us, everyone has their own thoughts that can be welcomed in each of us and make us more inspired. Finally, look at the works of those who made the history of photography, not just street photography.