Stefano Pellegrini
1. Can you introduce yourself and talk about how you got into photography?
My name is Stefano Pellegrini, i'm an italian designer. I always liked photographing, especially during summer trips, but I started doing it a bit more seriously in 2019
2. Where did you study photography?
I did not study photography. I learned the basics thanks to some onlyne tutorials, then I impruved on the field trying.
3. Do you remember your first shot? What was it?
My first real shot was the milkyway over the Furcia Pass in dolomites. I spent the night there in a tent only to have that perfect shot. Of course looking it now was not so impressive...
4. What equipment do you use?
I use mostly a Nikon D850 + Tamron 15/30mm
5. What do you hope to achieve?
My Mission is to translate what the eyes see and often the camera can't. Using stacking and combining different exposures, only to reproduce reality in all its art, without fictions and replacements.
6. What compliment inspired/touched you the most?
"you are an inspiration" "you made me feel to be there with you"
7. What inspires your unique storytelling?
I always follow what I like: I started shooting everyting, than I discovered that I preferred shooting nightscapes, now I discovered that i like ad some lighpainting in it... its an evolution more than a storytelling
8. What THREE (3) words describe your photography style?
dark
real
creative
9. Congratulations! As the winner of the European Photography Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?
Im very gratefull
10. Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2022 European Photography Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
The photo was the incredible result of a crazy night. Last january I decided to hike to Cir Pass to make some winter milkyway in this amazing location. Going up was a bit hard: at the beginning (Gardena Pass) the snow was not much but as soon as I reached altitude the snow became very deep and proceding was difficult. Also the path was not beaten so I had to find the way by myself. Once on top, I found out that at midnight a winter arch was possible. So I prepared the shot. My idea was to frame my little tent lost among the huge rocks with the complete arch above. The only problem was that, while shooting, the wind started to rise, and it became so strong that it flew the tent away despite the 25kg backpack acting as a ballast and the two ice-axes planted in the snow to hold it back! Due to the wind the carbon poles that hold it together broke, and in order to be able to use it at night I had to tape them back together. On the other hand I had an incredible clear sky that gave me the opportunity to frame all the nebula of the winter arch, without a star tracker (that I didn't used because of the condition).
11. How has winning an award developed your career?
Till now, I haven't fell any difference...
12. Name 1-3 photographers who have inspired you.
Fabio Antenore
Bruno Pisani
Enrico Fossati
13. What advice would you give someone who would like to become a photographer today?
A lot of planning and a lot of trying...
14. What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
A lot of planning and a lot of trying...
None of my picture were made without a lot of "pre-production" (scouting, planning, scatches...)
A lot of my pictures are "second attempts"
15. How do you stay in that space of being receptive to new information and knowledge?
Ill stop learning when Ill be dead. Till my eyes will be open, I will try to learn and improve.
