A few weeks ago I bought a lens I alwasy wanted to have in my camera bag.. it’s a really fun toy the LENSBABY! Lensbaby focuses manually so it’s best used when you have some time to play around with it, especially because only one part of the photo will be on focus and everything else, as you will see from these images comes out quite blurry or distorted, creating an unique artsy image! I tested it at a recent maternity shoot and with a little magic filter in the editing room the atmosphere is created!

During dinner time at a wedding, I played focusing on one single element, while everything else is washed away. Perfect when the sorrounding is not important or want to enphasize a moment in time!

The real challenge will be using LensBaby with kids… they are subjects in constant movement so focusing manually can be a real problem! But I am sure the results are worth the effort… I quite like these two shots of little Sierra…

Stay tuned for more experiments…

I am on assignment in Italy and finding some time to enjoy the beauties of my native country. I have never been much of a landscape photographer so I always get more attracted by architectural details, colors and shapes. I spent a fabulous day and a half in Liguria, and strolling in the streets of Noli and Finale Ligure I snapped a few photos.. I should maybe show more of the breathtaking coastal views of Liguria, but living in California I get plenty of coastal views, so, here’s what captured my eyes

I love iron work and there is plenty to see of that in Italy. Balconies and gates are so rich and detailed. I also love old towers, can’t stop immagining when they were built, how medival life must have been.. so many centuries of history…

If you are ever in Finale Ligure, please stop by and try the delicacies of the region at “Osteria dei quattru canti”.. It’s a small, intimate, characteristic restaurant serving local, super delicious food.

May is a fantastic time to visit Italy, the weather is just perfect, not too hot, great for enjoying strolls and traveling around. Even the locals say it’s the best time of the year, they get to enjoy their surroundings without too much confusion around… This one below is a typical scene in small villages, the elderly gathering in a piazza to chat away in the late afternoon while a light breeze is blowing.

Returning back from Imaging USA in Phoenix, my friend and I drove by Joshua Tree National Park. We had a chance to unwind after the frenzy of the photographic convention and enjoy the amazing atmosphere of the desert… the peace, silence and its almost lunar feel.

You can notice on the right side of this big rock a brave climber…

We also encountered a curious site passing through Angel View County… these rocks were all vandalized.. this one below reminded me of Mount Rushmore…

Ok.. I should have at least put some make up on for this picture! But, it was the end of a three day convention and I was just ready to drop on the floor.. here I am half way there

Jokes aside, I was so happy to start the year attending Imaging USA, one of the two major national conventions for professional photographers. It was very expiring and thrilling to hear from their own words, pros like Yervant, Joe Buissink, Dennis Reggie, Hanson Fong… Like going to Disneyland for a child…

I got back so full of energy and new ideas… It’ll be a great year 2009! Here are a few postcards from Phoenix.. got to love the weather there, although I heard the Bay Area got lucky too while I was away..

In the reflection of the Convention Center building you can see Saint Mary’s Church. Inside one of the convention center buildings there is this big mirror that got everyone’s attention…

Here’s my collegue Gino De Grandis, taking a photo of a model bride while Hanson Fong was explaining lighting techniques… And him again agaist a Kodak wall picture..

In Phoenix downtown, here’s the Orpheum Theater. Nights were quite challenging as the excitement of the day would keep us awake, our heads buzzing with informations and new ideas… more coming up on the rest of our trip back home passing through Joshua Tree National Park.

Yes! It is finally here, the new Canon Mark 2 5D that all us photographers have been so long waiting for!!! It arrived yesterday and I could test it this morning on my fabulous and handsome twin godsons… Alessandro and Daniele.

Just some technical notes.. As I was shooting I could immediately see from the large (yes!) LCD monitor that the images where very crisp even using 400 ISO settings. And I was impressed especially at the sharpness of some of these super fast action shots.. wild swinging velocity!!! The following photos have not been color corrected, these are just as I shot them… I was pretty happy with the saturation of the image and the light camera readings using the aperture priority (it’s hard to go manual when photographing kids in action!!).

The camera responded pretty well also in very contrasty light situations, this backlight portrait still has some hair details…

And, let’s finish the gallery with this adorable couple we encountered at the park… I want a puppy just like this one!!!!

Thanks to Eric for this homage to our new President!!!!

I am beyond words happy for the outcome of this election. These are exciting times for America and I am so proud to have been able to contribute as a first time voter… I have received my citizenship early this year and I couldn’t have been more excited to have the chance to vote for such an incredibly inspiring man.

I have seen Barack Obama for the first time at the Democratic Convention 4 years ago when he spoke supporting John Kerry. I was so impressed with his words, passion and ideals that I immediately wondered why wasn’t he running for President.. well, apparently many people shared my feelings

Tonight I was celebrating this victory among some Italian friends, all thrilled with the results. Some of my friends are not able to vote yet so it is quite something to see non Americans being so captivated by Obama. I can say Italians don’t get that excited with Italian politics… It is really true that foreigners understand and feel the power of a nation like America and what a positive change can do for this Country and the whole world. Let’s see Obama work his magic now…

Help me support the LLS on Thursday September 24th! For a small donation of $20 you will be helping the blood cancer research while partying on with mexican food and music. As a sponsor, I will be donating a free portrait sitting and the complete set of images on CD. This is a $650 value that could be yours purchasing one or more raffle tickets at the Vinyl Room in Burlingame! Please help my friend Georgina reach her goal and come party with us!

Hi all!

I am so thrilled to have you read my blog, it is gonna be such an incredible adventure for me.. to write about what inspires me the most. I am so lucky to have such a fun job! It has been 8 years now but I feel I have never had as much fun as nowadays… it just keeps getting better and better…

I am going through a very creative phase, I have many ideas for exploring new areas as a photographer and artist, and it’ll be amazing to keep track of all these new adventures writing about it.

I always found extremely important to have a connection with the people I photograph and this blog will be a perfect way for you to know more about how I work and what inspires me… I will talk about my experiences, my favorite shoots and locations and give my suggestions and recommendations for a perfect photo session or a perfect wedding day. And I will do it in a very personal way, which will make it easier for me to write, I am not good at all with those technical speeches…

So, welcome again and enjoy, please subscribe to my journal!

.. so, what’s new these days?

I have just moved back to the Peninsula, I have missed the nice weather and friends… but it has been an interesting experience to live in San Francisco for a while. I am glad I did it.

I can’t believe summer is almost over… after a few weeks in Italy I am back and looking forward to the last few fall weddings and the Chrstimas portraits wave… more on the Christmas Special very soon! I have in store many new packages and services for the fall and new year, so, stay tuned!