Alessandro Schiariti about photographing between the pillars of the Vatican City.
Alessandro, please introduce yourself briefly.
I was born in Rome in 1980. Since the first years of life, I have been surrounded by art and artists, my father himself is an artist. I grew up among paintings and galleries, poets and writers and probably this made art a natural element to me. I discovered photography at the age of 20 starting from scratch and after that, I have never stopped shooting.
I’m a professional photographer today. For years I have worked as an official photographer in several “alternative” events (rock, metal, dark). Today I’m still involved in this kind of events.
I carry on my business as a commercial photographer and on the other hand, I dedicate myself to the organization of photographic exhibitions and to the disclosure of street photography culture in Rome and Italy through “TRA ASFALTO E LUCE “, a community of which I am responsible of and the founder: I teach photography and street photography.
Currently, I am involved in several collaborations with artistic collectives and when time allows I realize small reportages of situations that I find interesting and that I love to tell. But what I love most is shooting in the street using photography to abstract reality and make paintings of light.
I love photography, I love art, I always thought that it is not the intellect that makes us different from other animals, but the ability to give shape to the soul through art.
What is Street Photography for you?
It’s a different way of seeing reality. Tell a story or paint picture with concrete and light. It’s about mankind and its behaviors.
Why did you choose the Vatican City to shoot your series?
Because I am fascinated by the cultural, social and ethnic heterogeneity that can be found between the pillars of Vatican city. This is part of my project “Lux Aetherna”. It’s impressive as in such a small place it is possible to find the whole world: the rich, the poor, the career man and the man of faith, all enlightened by the same light.
What makes Rome so special for street photography?
Someone said “all roads lead to Rome “. It’s a city with a huge history behind it, and you can feel it when you walk on the streets. I think I’m lucky. I can shoot in vatican city, at the coloseum. Those places are part of the culture of each of us and I can be there to shoot. Photographers who live in important cities or places such as New York, Rome or Paris are lucky but they don’t always realize it. Rome is an extremely heterogeneous city that allows to shoot in many different social and cultural contexts.
What do you shoot when the sun isn’t shining?
I love a certain aesthetic in street photography and I am always looking for a good light. But I am also realizing social reportages. In those cases, I am more interested in the narrative and the composition than in the light. These days I’m following a football team of refugees from Africa and the history of their team playing in Rome.
Please tell us about your future plans or projects.
Continue to make street photography exhibitions with my community “tra asfalto e luce”. Carry out the projects and reportages that I already have and start new ones. Continue my personal jorney in photography and art.
Where can we find more of your work?
http://alessandroschiariti.wixsite.com/photographer
https://www.instagram.com/alessandroschiariti/