Valerio Sbriglione

@vsphotoscape

Landscape photographer based in Italy

I was born and raised in the Northwest of Italy and with my dad, who is still today both a photographer and mountain lover, I used to hike through the Italian Alps. The epic landscapes of the highest peaks and the deep forests of the Alps between Italy and France impressed me as a young boy and this sensation never disappeared when growing up. My passion for mountains and landscapes has been growing year after year, until it reached a significant point 4-5 years ago during my first travels to the Dolomites. I did some amateur photography and video and the craft began to really trigger my interest.

"This shared passion for the mountains and photography brought me and my dad closer together."

In the beginning because I had a lot of things to ask him about gear, shooting techniques, etc. I must admit that he had a lot of patience with me, especially when my craving for shooting made me ask him to go out together even on cloudy and rainy days. Meanwhile we had many shooting sessions together and it has always been amazing – besides photographs, we created unforgettable memories. When my passion started to become something more, I received lots of support from my dad and the rest of the family.

"Without any doubt the most defining moment of my photographic activity happened in Scotland in 2019."

Until then I had a good passion for landscapes and photography, but not outstanding. During this trip though, while looking at the incredible Scottish landscapes, I felt that something was changing. I felt a strong need to develop my photography skills and testify as best as possible through my lens what I could see with my eyes. The Highlands was a total immersion into the wild – the region has something magical, the light was so special I fell in love with every single corner of it. And the Isle of Skye was so wild and emotional, I could not believe how beautiful it was. Even the persistent rain was totally insignificant in front of that gorgeous place.

"Since then, photography keeps my mind busy most of the time."

Planning almost all my hikes and my travels according to my photography desires, studying the theory of photography, editing photos to gain practice and insight and of course comparing and deciding on the best gear for my needs. I also opened my Instagram account that now can count on a real and good active following, and an official website with a webstore for my prints. Today I keep learning and studying – there’s always something new to unpuzzle and I am unceasingly searching to expand my portfolio. As soon as it is possible I would love to travel north to the Scandinavian countries as I am totally missing that experience so far.

Last year I took one of my favorite astro photos at one of my favorite mountains. I was on the top of Col du Mont-Cenis (France) at night, in a total darkness. I could not even see the big lake that the eye is drawn to when you are there during the day. I was stunned by the innumerable stars in the sky. It was so clear that I could see the Milky Way with the naked eye. I was standing in the dark for almost an hour, admiring the beauty. Once I came back to life, I started to shoot that incredible Milky Way…What a night! 

"It was in 1990 I think that I first visited this mountain."

Ever since, I keep on returning to this spot every year, several times. It’s only 1,5 hours drive from home and moreover, it’s absolutely a wonderful spot both for landscape photography and Milky Way shots. Another of my favorite spots is located in the Dolomites. During my latest trip there this summer, after an almost 3-hours hike from Pordoi Pass, we finally reached the top of “Sass Pordoi” which is also called “Dolomites balcony.” You can have a 180 degrees view over the peaks and it is more than epic. It is hard to put the camera down there, every inch is photogenic!

"Whenever I am editing my photos, I usually try to obtain a "fairy" and "dreamy" mood - I’ve always been a big fan of fantasy and ancient cultures."

Besides, in my photos it is all about separation: colors, layers, lights and shadows, sharpness. I aim to separate everything in order to get a three-dimensional photo with a big depth. Then, I like to accentuate the lights on the main subject: a peak, a waterfall, a lonely tree, etc. I think that we must use technique to accentuate the best elements of a good shot rather than trying to get a beautiful shot we weren’t able to take with the camera itself. This is why I always dodge and burn, depending on the shot how I do it, to accentuate the lights and the shadows. Also, the addition of glow and orton effect are very important to give an atmospheric mood to the shot, but I always work on local adjustments. The same for radial filters; I love those and use them a lot to increase the attention on small elements within the frame. Lastly, I often play with the white balance in order to get more separation on the colors. 

"I feel I have evolved a lot in my editing, as a result of my energy put into learning about the techniques."

I started to study on my own, as mentioned before, but after a while I decided to assist a photography course for beginners in my city. It was so educational and allowed me to learn the basics in a correct way. After that, I attended several online lessons, masterclasses and one to one sessions with outstanding photographers. And there are many photographers that inspire me still today to keep learning, such as Max Rive, Daniel Kordan, Mads Peter Iversen. Since some time now, I have started to get requests about either private workshops and editing lessons in Lightroom/Photoshop. In the first place, I offer a full-immersion day(s) from how I start to plan the shooting to getting my shots in the field. Then I show how I handle my editing workflow and which techniques I use the most. I also do editing sessions on Lightroom and Photoshop in person or online. 

I am proud of what I have done and learnt so far. Surely my girlfriend was the biggest help I could have as she always supported me and had a lot of patience while waiting for me to take shots. I must also thank my parents who are so helpful, always being there for me with any question or doubt – especially my dad. Last but not least, I must thank my first teacher and now close friend Marco Saracco, for teaching me the basics of this art in such a solid way. He is an awesome professional photographer specialized in my hometown.

"Landscape photography has brought me so much until today."

Challenge, excitement, friends, breathtaking views, beautiful memories, and above all, passion. I believe that we can really feel 100% at our best when you have nothing but nature around. I think that it’s nature that fills me up with an insatiable energy to be the best version of myself, whatever happens. 

“There’s no success or failure in nature.”

Would you like content like this sent to your inbox?

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
MUST READ STORIES OF SEPTEMBER
MUST READ STORIES OF AUGUST
MUST READ STORIES OF JULY
MUST READ STORIES OF JUNE
MUST READ STORIES OF MAY
NOMADICT

ART GALLERY
THE LATEST STORIES

WRITEN WITH PASSION TO INSPIRE YOU
@withmazur_Maksym Mazur_Nomadict 2024_10

Maksym Mazur (@withmazur): Best of the week 35 at #nomadict 2024

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.

@katarina_mandarina_Nomadict Best of the Year 2023

Katarina Batuta Višekruna (@katarina_mandarina): Best of the Year 2023 at #nomadict

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.

Azores-Bird-Photo-@alexpantela

Alex Pantela (@alexpantela): Photographer based in Cyprus

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_ribeiro_OrangeLines

Arnaud Ribeiro (@arnaud_ribeiro): Best of the week 26 at #nomadict 2024

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.

@cunodebruin_Nomadict 14

Cuno de Bruin (@cunodebruin): Best of the week 33 at #nomadict 2024

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.

@harrysohalphoto - Nomadict

Harry Sohal (@harrysohalphoto): Photographer based in Canada

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.

@liam_alford_photography_Nomadict 11

Liam Alford (@liam_alford_photography): Best of the week 33 at #nomadict 2024

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.