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Giancarlo Gallinoro
@giancarlogallinoro
Landscape photographer based in Italy
As a child, I would spend my holidays in the magnificent, mountainous regions of central Italy, tracking wildlife, skiing and exploring the outdoors. Inevitably I fell in love with nature. And so you could say that my journey into photography and adventure began way before I even had my first camera.
"Despite growing up in Italy, the enchantment of cold and remote places has always been strong within me."
At the age of eight, I saw a documentary about Greenland. The icebergs, the glaciers, the polar bears roaming around the snowy hills. My young mind was blown! It was at that moment that a seed was planted, that has been with me ever since. Soon after, I was given a photography book on the Arctic, and I would lose myself in the beauty of the images, for hours on end. Always dreaming that I would, one day, be exploring these incredible places for myself.
"Little did I know that, at some point, my dream would become a reality."
Not that long ago, I was working an office job in London. I wasn’t feeling particularly satisfied with my life, as that intense affection for the natural world never left me. That’s when I started discovering the work of photographers like @paulnicklen and @benjaminhardman. Their images of icy scenery and pristine lands fascinated me. The way they were able to use photography as a means to inspire positive change in people, so we can conserve nature, was a game changer for me. I knew I had to contribute.
"So I quit my office job, and booked a flight to Iceland."
And that was where I finally got to see the types of awe-inspiring, stunning landscapes I originally fell in love with as a child. The eye caressing environment, combined with the crisp, clean air was in complete contrast to London. It was one of those hair-raising moments we’ve all had at least once in our lives. The effect this had on me reignited my desire for adventure and contributed to the development of my photographic style. This was only going to be the start of my journey.
Next up was Svalbard, Norway. One of the world’s most uninhabited places, known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers, and a sizable population of polar bears. Never would I have thought that visiting there would change the course of my life.
When you dream of something for your whole life, the reality of it when you actually get to experience it can often be disappointing. But every single moment of my trip to Svalbard exceeded my expectations. It was one of the defining moments in my life, when I felt I had found my place in the world. Raw and pristine nature, combined with the resilient and beautiful wildlife were impossible to ignore.
"I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I was forced to live in the moment."
"But those enchanting, formidable environments are now more fragile than ever."
Global warming is affecting them, and we’re approaching a point of no return. Just in my lifetime, the temperature in the Arctic has risen by almost 5°C. In fact, I was stunned by how little sea ice was left in winter. And you can read as much as you want about climate change, but it’s never going to have the same effect as when you experience it in person. So traveling is a powerful eye opener. Which is why I feel it’s my mission to go back there and allow my photographs to showcase the exceptional beauty, but also the devastating impact of our lifestyles.
When I was on a boat to the small town of Barentsburg, the captain announced we were going to stop by a huge glacier named Esmarkbreen. As the boat started to slow down, the glacier was still hidden behind a thick layer of fog. I was gazing into the mist, eager to catch sight of it, when I felt a sudden drop in air temperature and humidity. Then I saw it. The elaborate ice structure, piercing through the icy water. And to this day, it’s still the most evocative and surreal scene I’ve seen. The engines were turned off, and there was silence.
And I think photography is a powerful tool to help do this. It’s a bit like writing a song. While you’re writing it, you can lose yourself in the moment, and that moment is only yours – a moment of introspection. But then, when you share it with other people, it becomes everyone’s and it can really break barriers. Because when millions of us live in cities, away from nature, photography can act as a vehicle for exploring a world that might not be accessible to many. That’s why, via my images, I hope to instill awe of the natural world in the minds of my audience. And the more people feel close and connected to nature, the more they’ll be willing to do their part in protecting it.
But no matter how good a photograph is, it will only ever deliver a small effect of what it’s like to see it with your own eyes. There are many components to it, when we experience something in person. So when I edit my photographs, I try to recreate the feelings and emotions felt when I was shooting the image. I try and emphasize the coldness of the environment by working on the light, to subtly convey the coldness I felt.
"I want you to experience and not just see."
"For the most part, I don’t plan a shoot beforehand. Instead, I prefer to let the moment take me."
And that is what my work reflects. When I look at a landscape, my eye falls onto the features that make it unique, and that’s where my camera follows. Because within every landscape, there’s a unique charm that can be captured, when you stop and take a closer look.
I have a personal tendency for minimalism, which leads me to naturally decide what to exclude from the frame. Cutting out all “disturbing” elements. I suspect this might have something to do with my background working in the film industry, where the goal is to guide the eyes of the viewer to a specific point, on the screen.
Photography has given me so many memories. It’s difficult for me to pick a favourite image. Yet I feel particularly fond of the arctic fox photos I took last year in Svalbard. I was, like many others, especially keen to see the king of the Arctic: the polar bear. But when I encountered these little fellas, it was love at first sight!
These rare, authentic encounters can be hard to capture. Most of the time, animals know you’re there, way before you’ve even seen them. And more often than not, they’ll scurry away before you can take your picture. But sometimes, just sometimes, they develop a curiosity about YOU. A compelling curiosity, despite their untrusting nature. Any sudden movements you make and they’re off. So when these rare occasions happen, and I get to share a few moments with them, it’s like pure magic. And I believe that shines through in my pictures.
What are my plans for the future? Well, the pandemic has turned so many lives upside down. For myself, I was about to embark upon the amazing adventure of guiding in the Arctic, before lockdown hit. Currently I’m keeping busy with projects that combine my photographic talents and my deep desire to protect the natural world. I’ve been working with the Italian NGO, Salviamo l’Orso. And I recently spent a month on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, helping with a reforestation project with Gone West @gonewestagram. Also, I’m currently collaborating with fellow photographer and director @lanatannirphoto, on a documentary about the plastic pollution in our oceans.
"But in regard to my Arctic travel plans, I have itchy feet. And as soon as I can, I’ll be straight back over there!"
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