© 2020 Nomadict. All rights reserved.
I am Simone Musacchio, a young aeronautical engineer with a huge passion for photography. I have spent my adolescence being extremely eclectic: I was always excited about studying history, art, math, science, doing sports, and enjoying nature. When I started my university time in Milan, all of this suddenly changed. Necessarily my focus started to be driven in one single direction and my energies were spent in the infinite academic lessons about all the scientific subjects related to the aeronautical engineering degree which I had chosen to study. This motivated me to catch up on some old nice interests, like history, politics, and sport; but I was still missing something to give a shape to the artistic part of my brain. I could feel it.
I had my old smartphone in the pocket and I realized that just pointing up my nose while walking through the city would show me a new perspective of the world which absolutely needed to be captured by a camera… so I have started, and I never stopped.
Day after day, walk after walk, I started including new subjects in my frame, new colours, new perspectives. I started in the comfort zone of the buildings and their roofs, watched from below, with all those clean lines, geometries, easy perspectives which allowed me to understand the first fundamentals of photography. The initial struggle was big, but the rising passion was even bigger.
Step by step, people have been included in my frame, then nature, then shadows and lights, and so on. I must say that as a young student, before any investment in books for photography, YouTube was pure gold. There are no excuses in these modern times. With a smartphone and an internet connection you can learn all the basics of photography, admire the masterpieces of the most famous photographers in history, and find inspiration. That’s all you need to start shooting.
I postponed buying a proper camera because I was always afraid to do a wrong investment. My thoughts went like: “what if I buy an expensive camera and after a couple of weeks I leave it on the desk to take dust?” “What if I buy an expensive camera and I will not be able to appreciate its performance for a lot of time”. These thoughts led me to wait for that moment when you say: “Ok, now I am ready and I need higher performances”.
This way of thinking drives my passion for photography even today. I finally received the first camera from my friends (a Canon EOS M100, a good small mirrorless) and I am still using it! Waiting, once again, that moment when I am going to feel the need for higher performances. This is how I have started photography, and my personal advice to people who are approaching the world of photography is: “Get the best of what you have today, before moving into something new tomorrow”. With this in my mind I have always tried to get the best from the location where I was.
I started collecting new subjects, new scenarios, weekend after weekend. Cityscapes, landscapes, daily life scenes, seascapes… During this process I have begun to appreciate the mountains. Being born in the south of Italy I was more used to the sea and wonderful hills. Among all the mountain sceneries available in my amazing country, I literally fell in love with the Trentino-Alto Adige region, in the north of Italy. The variety of landscapes, weather and magnificent mountain tops made this territory a playground for photographers. If you would like to see what I am talking about you can have a look at some of my last shots. From the amazing wine hills of Segonzago, deeply crossed by the fog, to the magnificent height of the Piz Ortles and the shining white snow of the Sella pass.
If you are wondering when and where I had my first mind blowing realization of what photography can mean and what a camera is able to frame, we need to go back to the summer of two years ago. Together with my girlfriend and adventure mate Sofia we rented a van in Ireland. Departing from Dublin, we decided to discover the life, the landscapes and the food of this country. It has been the best experience of my travel life by far. With no idea how to drive on the opposite side of the street and a lot of excitement, we began driving the coastal roads, through the mountains, and passing by the fishermen’s villages. The fascinating loneliness of those places, the ocean breeze charged with nostalgia for something that you have never seen before drove my camera all the time. This allowed me to take what I considered the best picture I have ever taken, even today: The White Irish Cottage.
The big names which I usually look at may sound strange because of the big distance between my style and their incredible and particular way of shooting, but it gives me a different point of view and a big push toward improving on new aspects. These two names are Steve McCurry and David Yarrow. And finally, the person which I personally considered the God of photography: Ansel Adams. The way his photography has changed over the decades must be the first thing a young photographer should be interested in. His path suggests everyone to not rush to find a unique style in photography, but try, play, experiment and always move forward.
If you are a beginner, if you are still learning a lot like me or if you are already a pro, do not stop shooting. We are on a mission of capturing beauty and feelings for now and for the future. We can use our camera to tell a story, to give to a place the value it deserves, make it contemplated and respected.
Would you like content like this sent to your inbox?
Mazur’s journey intertwines his love for travel with a deep commitment to capturing the world’s fleeting beauty. His work often reflects his awe of nature, such as in his image of the jungle that won Best of the Week at Nomadict, taken from above at sunset with perfect timing and serendipity.
From the wild beauty of Vermillion Cliffs to the depths of Mexico’s cenotes, Katarina’s work reflects a deep connection with the environment and a love for visual storytelling. With 18 years of experience and the co-founding of her production company, HiishiiPhoto, Katarina continues to evolve her craft. Katarina’s photo of the Vermillion Cliff was chosen for Best of the Year 2023 by the Nomadict community.
In this article, Alex Pantela shares strategies to deepen your connection with nature through content creation, his favorite environments to stay creative, techniques for storytelling, the vision behind his work and editing style, and most valuable lessons!
Arnaud’s journey into photography began in 2023, inspired by a friend’s breathtaking road trip photos. Starting with a basic drone and a desire to capture the beauty around his home, his passion quickly grew, leading him to invest in a camera and fully immerse himself in the craft. Though still early in his journey, Arnaud’s dedication to practice, patience, and embracing mistakes has already shaped his evolving style. One of his images won the Best of the Week at Nomadict.
From his early days experimenting with a DSLR to capturing breathtaking drone shots in the mountains, Cuno’s work reflects his love for storytelling through images. In this article, he shares the experiences and lessons that shaped his career, from winning awards to balancing his creative pursuits with family life.
In this article, photographer and creative director Harry shares his journey from a college hobbyist to a professional creative, rediscovering his passion during the pandemic. He delves into his approach to capturing authenticity, his techniques for brand promotion, and the tools he uses to achieve a distinct, film-like aesthetic.
Derrick is a photographer from the Navajo Reservation (New Mexico), a member of the Navajo Nation tribe, and an electrical engineering student. A recent highlight was capturing his dream shot of Shiprock surrounded by fog, a photo that won the Best of the Week at Nomadict.
Liam Alford is a self-taught nature and wedding photographer with a passion for capturing the special moments in the world through his lens. In this article, we learn about his journey, valuable lessons from his outdoor experiences, and his shooting + editing approach to the image that won the Best of the Week 33, 2024.
© 2020 Nomadict. All rights reserved.