Okay, so today I want to talk about this guy, Mario Sorrenti. I’ve been digging into his work lately, and let me tell you, it’s been quite a ride.
First off, I started by just looking him up, you know, the usual. Born in 1971, Italian, fashion photographer – that’s the basic stuff. But then I found out this dude blew up in the ’90s. That was my first “Aha!” moment. I mean, the ’90s? That’s when all the cool stuff happened, right? That’s when he got into the world of fashion photography. I needed to learn more about this.
So, I began to look through tons of his photos. And what really caught my eye, you know what I really noticed? It was how he captures people. It’s like, he doesn’t just take a picture, he somehow gets to the heart of who they are. You can see it in their eyes, their posture, everything. It’s raw, and sometimes even a little intense, but always feels real, not like those overly polished images you see everywhere. I tried to imitate that approach, taking pictures of my friends and family. Trying to make each image convey feeling and personality. It’s a lot harder than it looks!
- Experimenting with light and shadow: I noticed Sorrenti often plays with dramatic lighting. So, I started experimenting with that. I got myself a couple of cheap lamps and started messing around with different angles and intensities. It’s amazing how much light can change the mood of a photo.
- Black and white versus color: I know Diane Arbus shot in black and white, but I realized that Sorrenti also uses black and white a lot. But he also uses color film, too. I tried both, and I gotta say, black and white really strips things down to the basics. It makes you focus on the composition and the emotion. But color, it just adds a whole other layer of richness.
- Shooting different subjects: I tried taking pictures of all sorts of people. Old, young, different styles, different personalities. Each one taught me something new. I’m still figuring out my own style, you know, but it’s been a blast learning and trying new things. It is interesting to see how Sorrenti captures the essence of his subjects in a glamorous and sophisticated manner.
Getting Feedback
I showed my photos to some friends who are into photography, and they gave me some good feedback. Some of it was tough to hear, but it was all helpful. I think I’m getting better, but there’s still a long way to go. I think I will keep researching his photos.
This whole process, it’s made me appreciate photography so much more. It’s not just about clicking a button, it’s about telling a story, capturing a moment, showing the world the way you see it. And Mario Sorrenti, man, he’s a master at that. I hope one day to be on his level, but for now, I’ll keep practicing.