David Marciano
1. Can you introduce yourself and talk about how you got into photography?
The interest in photography was born around the end of the 90s, when on the occasion of my humanitarian trip to India I bought my first reflex. I immediately fell in love with the camera "object", then I realized that thanks to this I began to see with different eyes, to look at everything more carefully. Hence my passion for travel and photography continued together. At that time I devoted myself a lot to humanitarian associations and photography was also a means of letting other people know certain realities. Over the years I tried not to completely detach myself from documentary photography but I tried to bring my language from simply descriptive on a slightly more conscious level, giving a lot of attention to the composition and the search for light or at least that's what I try to do
2. Where did you study photography?
I am a self-taught photographer, I trained by attending the photographic associations of the Italian federation of photography. In the early years I have dedicated myself a lot to the development and printing of black and white in my laboratory and I have always tried to keep myself updated with magazines, exhibitions, portfolio readings and also on social networks.
3. Do you remember your first shot? What was it?
My first photographs were taken in the Tuscan cities near which I live, I mainly tried my hand at street photography, preparing for my first trip to India.
4. What equipment do you use?
I currently own two Sony mirrorless full frame and a range of lenses among which I prefer wide angle
5. What do you hope to achieve?
I would like to continue photographing as long as possible because it helps me to keep my window on the world open, it keeps my curiosity alight to discover and get to know new countries and above all new people with customs and customs different from mine. If I then manage to continue to exhibit some of my works or have other awards, I would clearly be happy
6. What compliment inspired/touched you the most?
Several people who have looked at my photos over the years have defined them as empathic, I think this is the compliment that touches me the most
7. What inspires your unique storytelling?
When I study a new destination, I try to find out about customs and traditions, religion but also the typical sports that characterize that place. Sometimes it is the journey itself that gives you surprising encounters and small and intimate stories can become an interesting tale. However, everything starts from the interest in everything that surrounds man and new encounters
8. What THREE (3) words describe your photography style?
Perhaps, aesthetic, empathic, instinctive
9. Congratulations! As the winner of the London Photography Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?
Winning this award was an incredible surprise and I am honored and proud of it. It will definitely inspire me to move forward and seek out new stories.
10. Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2022 London Photography Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
My photographic project "Monlam, The Great Prayer", is an excerpt from a much larger work that I have been following for years around Tibetan Lamaist Buddhism. I consider it a long-term project, these photos in particular were taken during the most important and heartfelt religious celebration of the year where pilgrims pray for good wishes for the following year and invoke the Buddha of the future who will wipe out famines. , diseases and all negativities returning to manifest themselves
11. How has winning an award developed your career?
Photography is not my main profession, but surely this award will help me to promote my project which I would like to make a great exhibition of
12. Name 1-3 photographers who have inspired you.
Eugene Smith, Larry Towell, Francesco Zizol
13. What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out, by a mentor or your role model?
My old masters told me to start photographing the things I like, the ones I felt closest to my being
14. What advice would you give someone who would like to become a photographer today?
I would tell him the same thing, start photographing what you love but don't neglect the study of both technique and great masters. Keep up to date and be curious to look at other styles that are far from your own, to try to arrive at your own identity and your own style
15. What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
I do not think I am successful, I am happy with the awards received but we must ensure that curiosity is always on, in my opinion this is the key to finding a way to tell new stories again by igniting the interest of others in wanting to look at them
16. How do you stay in that space of being receptive to new information and knowledge?
I try to watch as many exhibitions as possible, I look at the selected works of the most prestigious contests, I keep myself informed with the most dedicated social networks such as Instagram. As soon as I have the opportunity, I buy photo books.
17. Anything else you would like to add to the interview?
My warmest thanks again for this recognition, I hope to have the opportunity to show you more new works in the coming years
