Interviewing members of Pixtury's photography community: it's Claudio Marchionne's turn

Claudio Marchionne is the third photographer from Pixtury's photography community to join us for our interviews. Born in Rome in 1981, he discovered photography in the days of film and has been with Pixtury since the very beginning. He has taken part in several of our photography competitions and is one of the most active members of the community.

Throughout this article, we will show you some of his best work from his personal Gallery.

Hi Claudio and welcome! As usual, would you start by telling us a little about yourself?

Hi, thank you so much for the invitation and for choosing me for this interview. As for me, outside the world of photography and in a nutshell, I can tell you that I'm someone who loves travelling, playing volleyball and rap music.

Now tell us what Photography means to you.

For me, Photography is about capturing a moment. A photo can be beautiful or ugly, and it may or may not be open to different interpretations, but what matters to me is that it conveys something.

What's your story as a photographer? How did you get into this world?

I started with my first Kodak and a 24-exposure roll of film. Beyond that, I taught myself by reading, learning through hands-on experience and getting the settings wrong again and again. Mainly, though, I learnt by observing what was around me and trying to capture those images.

What equipment do you use for your photographs?

Well, I have quite a wide range. Here's a list of my kit:

- Canon 450D

- Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II - EF-S

- Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro

- Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II

- Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

- Canon EF 50mm/1:1,8 II

- LensFisheye Opteka Super Af Hd² 0.20X

Is there a colour that particularly inspires you to take a photo?

I have to say I'm especially fascinated by the colours of the setting sun.

How did you come across Pixtury?

A friend recommended it to me a few months ago.

Imagine you could exhibit some of your work anywhere you like. What do you see?

A one-of-a-kind installation in the middle of a square.

What are your favourite subjects to photograph?

I have a particular fondness for landscape photos and images related to architecture.

How do you see yourself as a photographer?

Veeery amateur! As they used to say at school: “the boy tries hard, but could do much better!” ;)

In your opinion, who is the best photographer around?

That's a big one! In my view, a good photographer needs imagination and must know how to “build” a photo, but at the same time also be able to seize the moment. If I really have to name someone, well: Steve McCurry.

Have you ever taken a selfie? What do you think of this trend?

More than one, actually, I have to admit. I don't see anything wrong with it because, in fact, self-portraits have always existed. Now they call it a “selfie”, add a # and voilà, they've created the new “trend”.

What lighting conditions do you prefer for taking a photograph?

Personally, I find daylight and sunset the two best conditions for shooting.

What photographs do you have planned for the near future?

I'm having a lot of fun with photos of water droplets and I plan to keep going down that road.

Who will be the first to read this interview?

Veronica, my partner, for sure. After that we'll see, I still have to think about it :)

Great, that's all from us. Thank you so much for your time, Claudio, and best of luck with your future photography projects!

If you'd like to discover more of Claudio's work, visit his photo Gallery! You can buy posters, pictures and prints of all his shots online.