Newcomer of the Week: Marco Minetto

Marco Minetto has been an ardent follower of the Lomography Community for almost a decade. Through his freshly created LomoHome, @mrgamera, he shares his fascination with architecture and urban landscapes, focusing on documenting them in the most authentic way possible. Embracing what he calls as "wonderful mistakes", he makes sense of the world around him through film photography. Get to know our featured Community from Rome, Italy in this brief interview.

Please tell us something about yourself and what you do.

Ages ago I got a degree in biology and then I ran a comics shop for years—I still sell them now but only online. I took pics from my youth, but I studied basic techniques just ten years ago and I've been passionate about film photography since. I absolutely love architectural photography, buildings, and urban landscape from everywhere in the world. I like the shapes, textures; through these kind of pictures I can understand (or try to) better how people live. In spite of being a man of science, I have a huge desire for art in every form. And, ops, i don’t like soccer!

How did you find the Community and who/what convinced you to join?

I discovered Lomography in 2008, before buying my Diana F+ and since then I constantly use the website as a source of inspiration. Some days ago I thought: “Hey, time is came to contribute!”. This Community is so full of advice and information. Also Lomography is a community of friendly people, lot of them greeted me as soon as i arrived!

As you have read the 10 Golden Rules of Lomography, what rule do you apply in your everyday life?

Definitely the number 5 (Approach the objects of your Lomographic desire as close as possible)! I am shy so this rule is a big motivation for me. I struggle to use it not only with the subjects of my pictures but even with people. Even number three (Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it) is meaningful to me, cause photography is the way I question the world.

In this digital age, why still film?

Cause film pics are better! Jokes aside, analog photography is a fantastic teacher. You are forced to learn theory, practice and mostly “think”. And there is this fantastic, big world of “wonderful mistakes”, so every time you develop or get your printed pictures you can say: ”WOW! I din’t imagine i have shoot this!” And these pictures are real, they become part of your life and memories.

Your favorite analog camera as of the moment? Why?

Right now I am in love with a Praktica MTL3, an Eastern countries old camera, really difficult to load but absolutely indestructible. A piece of iron with a classy shape. No batteries, only mechanical, you can bring it everywhere and it will make his job perfectly.

What is the Lomographic camera you’d want to have someday?

One day I will have a Lomo Lubitel 166+, so i could approach people closer without being spotted! But i also want a Holga CFN 120!

Any song, book, or movie you live by?

This a complex answer. Do you know Tangerine Dream? Their first three LP are awesome to me. A book I read countless times is The Silmarillion by professor Tolkien, a tragic tale with a deep meaning and a movie that left me breathless is Santa Sangre by Alejandro Jodorowsky, which is also the writer of the comic that changed my life The Incal (Moebius were the penciler).

Share your current favorite Lomograph, could be yours or a friend’s. Why?

This is a “mistake”, the quality isn’t good, but describes my city better than monuments or touristic places. There is a field, church, popular buildings behind, this the true face of Rome.

Any Community member you look up to? If so, why him or her?

I follow a lot of people that make really good pictures, if a have to name some I will say @lafilledeer for her bizarre imagination. @annalisa-gaeta87 because her nudes are gentle and tender, and @solariswhiteball that made up an incredible collection of pictures!

What are you looking forward to in our Community?

Inspiration! Every day I am rewarded with some new ideas. I also can see distant places. I like pictures of far cities, that make me understand how people live in different countries.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Marco! Welcome to the Lomography Community and we're all looking forward to seeing more of your photos.

2018-06-22 #persone #lomohome #lomohomes #newcomer #newcomer-of-the-week