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| High-concept photography by Valentino Sani
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| "Better to see once than hear a hundred times" - a Russian proverb.
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Most articles on our site have a prologue. This story started with a
phone call from Piter, our friend and customer.
He needed images for a presentation in his environmental project.
After a long talk in which he was trying to describe in words what he was
looking for, I pointed him to the image on the right - "Exactly! This is
exactly what I was looking for!!!"
In our modern world of web sites, blogs, forums, etc we need images that
explore and illustrate the ideas we have. Some of us can come up with an image
with a story behind it, but only some.
I asked Valentino, a high-concept photographer, how he comes up with images
that demonstrate and amplify his ideas. I think it would be interesting for you
to read his answers.....
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First of all, is one of my aims to create images that are visually original,
unique and conceptual. I have this system developed during the years, to keep a
note-book with all images that I see in magazines and that 'hit my mind'. I cut
them out and glue into this sort of visual 'bible'.
Mostly they are images very creative, humorous, crazy and conceptual. I use
these as source of inspiration or simply to keep my mind trained to think
differently and creatively.
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I have my favourite visual 'icons': butterflies, human hands,
eyes, and clocks are some of these.
Having always loved surrealism and dadaism, I think that reflects also in my
way to think and see. Anyway I must try to balance my need for a highly
creative approach to visual imaging and the need of commercial stock
photography.
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Simplicity is another word that is important to me. I often think that less is
better.
One of my best images (besteller) is one of open female open female hand in blue, with orange butterfly over it.
Just two elements. And stunning color contrast.
Image on the left
Freedom -- a female hand in gesture of giving freedom to an orange
butterfly
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I haven't a 'creative procedure' for my
images. I must say that the best works often came out unexpected, as
an association of ideas, maybe looking at a movie or reading an intersting
article or seeing a photo.
Of course, as all creative people do, I keep a diary where I scribble down bits
of ideas, concepts I'd like to express, and themes. Sometimes I draw
a sketch of a complete idea when is already clear in my mind. But basically I
think my best ideas are those that aren't planned ahead.
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Usually I recognize a good idea, because I don't just put it down on paper, but
I rush to realize it as soon as I can. That's the first clue: the impossibility
to resist to put it out.
Green Energy --
female hand holding a bulb over a green natural blurred background as concept
for green energy
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I consider myself an instictive artist, but I'm learning with age to do more
planning and to concentrate on what is really worthwhile to try.
I also try to juice out from one idea all the possible variations before coming
to an end. I use for example the image of hands open with butterfly.
Those hands were the base for a series of other ideas. With clock, our planet
earth, numbers, an eye (yes, Man Ray inspiration! :-) and several other
concepts. This system, that I would call 'oversqueezing' of an idea, is
particularly good for stock photography, in my opinion.
Hands And Butterfly
-- sepia toned open female hands with a monarch butterfly as concept for
creation
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I process my images (now I work just in RAW) with adobe Lightroom and then use
Photoshop accordingly. Many my images are 'collages' so I need to make
selections, montages, use layers and so on... Very often I stumble across some
new and interesting visual results during my experiments with Photoshop, there
are endless possibilities.
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| Eyeglasses
And Graphs -- close-up of eyeglasses and pen over financial market
graphs
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Business News -- close up of a business
newspaper headline in warm color
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Safe Computer -- pocket pc tied with a chain and
lock concept for security in computer
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Of course I'm a fanatic of digital photography, despite the fact I came from the
old school of film photography. I like the possibility of instant review the
most. The second advantage I really appreciate, is the time savings. No
more waiting for film development. I'm really an impatient person, and in the
old times to wait also just one day for film development was a pain for me!
Now, I can download to my computer at once my new images and have complete
control over it. Unbeatable.
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