I am technically UNEMPLOYED!

Hiya,

it’s a long time I don’t post anything, isn’t it? Well, yes perhaps, but the fact is that this blog should have not even begun before I moved to Italy and started my new life and my new career.

Today it’s been my last working day as computer engineer…well, to be honest I already have some fancy IT-related ideas when I settle down in Milan but, for the moment, this is over!

I will surely be missing my former colleagues, all my friends and this wonderful country (i.e. the UK) but I just can’t wait to embark in brand new project, new challenges and new inspirations that, finally will make my life brighten up again.

All the stuff that I had accumulated over these years has finally been packed up. I hadn’t realised that I had so much here! It’s going to cost a fortune to have it shipped to Milan, but it’s worth every penny.

I’ve got quite a few projects in mind, mostly related to iStock but I can’t be more precise than that here.

Like every fairytale, there will be an happy ending, I promise.

Good night and….stay tuned!

Hooray to the Extended License!

I think I can’t really refrain from writing a very short post today, after noticing that one of my pictures on iStockPhoto was downloaded under the Extended License!!

This shot is part of my collection made in my studio-home environment, by using common objects that everybody has or works with everyday. Literally anything can work out as a success on iStockPhoto: so don’t be shy, go out and try!

This certainly is a great achievement and a big push for whoever intends to carry on with a change in life, in order to become a professional photographer.
I can’t really wait to see where this picture is going to end up in…maybe a magazine, maybe a poster or a billboard…who knows…

The picture is the following one:

Do you like it?

Invest on new skills!

“You never stop learning!” Tell me, how many times has your granny pronounced this old say? Well, there isn’t a more actual truth than that!

Whether you aim to reinvent your life or only want to apply for another job, or maybe just keep pace with the new challenges of the modern life, you need to keep learning. This is THE Rule Number One, especially in the competitive market that is photography.

By learning I mean:

1. Buy and read as many books and magazines as you possibly can.
2. Read eagerly great photographers’ blogs, in search of new inspiration.
3. Attend some workshops/classes/seminars delivered by well established professionals, even on subject that you think you already know or master, because you’ll be amazed at how much help and new ideas you will draw from their knowledge.

Ok, talking about workshops, I’ve recently spotted two succulent opportunities in the UK that couldn’t really be missed. The first one is a KelbyTraining Live class taught by Joe McNally and the second is an all-day seminar organised by The Flash Centre with David Hobby, aka The Strobist!

What can I say to describe them? They are both splendid and unique opportunities to meet two legends of the lighting techniques with the use of off-camera flashes. I’m sure any photographer would kill to meet these two gurus and I have not missed one second to realise that I had to attend both before leaving the country.

For your convenience, I’ll link the full details of the workshops here: Joe McNally, The Strobist

See you there…

Hello World!! Ehm…Hi…Here I am, should I say

After long time pondering the opening of my first official Blog, I’ve finally come to a conclusion: I shall do it when the moment is right.
I’ve been thinking about blogging for a very long time but, to be honest, I couldn’t be bothered so far. I’ve always thought – and actually still think – that, after so many hours already spent in front of the screen, this activity would just waste other precious time and make it disappear in a puff of smoke way too easily.

Now, the time has come…perhaps not just yet… I’ve decided, in fact, to change my life, get rid of the previous job, despite all the nice people I’ve been working with, and pursue my original and stronger than ever passion of being a photographer! Yayyy!!
This is not being an easy choice, especially for the financial implications that it brings with it, but at least it will make me spend more time on other more fruitful non-9 to 5-computer-related tasks,  hence letting my time spent on-line be more productive.

Well, this is all for now, but stay tuned. The journey has just begun and there are more stories and experiences to share.