Public Republic

Interview by Yana Radilova with the photographer Federico Scotto d’Antuono

Federico Scotto d’Antuono

Federico Scotto d’Antuono was born in Naples, Italy in 1970.
Growing up in a city like his gave him a lot of ways to feed his soul; observing the people, the landscape, and absorbing all the culture and the art that surrounded me since he was a child.

He currently lives in Philadelphia, USA, still pursuing his dream of catching the light, traveling around with his third eye, his camera.

Infinity

Federico, do you remember your first photographs? How did they look?

I don’t remember my first photograph but I do remember my first camera. It was a compact Kodak, 35 mm. It was a Christmas present from my mom when I was 15 years old.

I took a lot of great shots with it at concerts and on vacation with my friends (I was always the one always carrying the camera with me. At that time they would make fun of me, but now they are very happy to see the old pictures of us).

I stepped up with a full manual camera, the Yashica super fx 2000 35mm, when I was 23 and since then everything has changed. I started reading and educating myself about light and lens mechanics and began to understand what really photography is… I finally started to combine my passion with technique.

Along the canal

You claim that the street was your teacher. What fascinated you most in the surrounding buildings, nature and people?

The diversity of my surroundings, and capturing them in a single shot for the rest of the world to read the story the way I see it.

New York City

Deliver the emotion of a moment. That’s my target.

People of the street

Have you been interested in other kinds of art?

Yes. I love music, I play the guitar.

I love reading and also wrote some short stories, some of them have been published in a local magazine in Naples. One of my future projects is to make a book of my collected works.

Pau_the Rockstar

Do you think there is a big difference between a professional photographer and an amateur?

The professional photographer has to follow standards and parameters required by his job. The amateur can just express his passion with no restrictions.

Autumn

Do you follow the example of any famous photographers?

I love Guido Harari and the Maestro Henri Cartier-Bresson.

How often do you take photos?

My camera is almost always with me. I want be ready when the shot of my life comes along.
The shot that would change my life!

After the thunderstorm

Are your photos spontaneous or premeditated?

It depends. Most of my street shots are spontaneous. I just act like a hunter looking for the right scene and the right face…. I have to be quick in that situation (just mount the lighter lens on my camera and set it accordingly for fast shot).When I go out for landscapes and sunsets, it’s a different story. The tripod is mandatory. I just wait for the right light to come up.

The Catch

What are the disadvantages of photography nowadays?

Digital photography and the internet changed everything. Professional photography now has a lot more competition to deal with. Websites with stock photos changed the market.

Ben Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia

Digital cameras and related post-process software give everyone the chance to practice and improve very inexpensively.

Dream or reality?

Do you take part in any contests?

Not many. The last two I participated in were “One Life” and “Photographer’s Forum Magazine”, where one of my works reached the finals and was included in their annual publication of the best 100 pictures of the contest.

What place is more inspiring – Philadelphia or Naples?

Definitely Naples, and not just because I was born there.

Vesuvio Naples

Naples is unique. We would need another interview just to describe the commotion, the culture and the contradictions that this city offers.

Neapolitan fisher

What is the most important thing in a photo?

As I said above, it’s delivering the emotion of a moment. That’s always my target.

The best of youth

Of course prospective and composition are important too. The right blend of all these elements makes a good photo.

Patience

Do you like being photographed?

Not much, I’d rather be on the other side of the camera.

Federica

Describe your style in several words.

In my landscapes and still life photography I combine the raw, dramatic and beautiful elements of a scene with the surreal atmosphere of HDR post-processing.

Another surreal trip

In my street shots I use a candid or stolen shot approach to both incidental and planned subjects. Both methods allow me to capture the moment of emotional intensity that my heart and eyes are always looking for.

Metropolitan love

Is there a photo you are most proud with?

There is more than one. They are the ones that give me a new and different emotion every time I go back and look at them.

The house by the tree

I can take you to heaven

Sky`s explosions

Make a wish to all readers of Public Republic!

I wish for all of us, I want to include myself, a lot of luck and invite everybody to keep feeding our soul with any kind of art, we all need it!

Wicked sky from the future

Federic and the future

For more of his photos click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fedesk8/