Interview with Francesco Bosso
#1 Please introduce yourself
I am Francesco Bosso and I am an Artistic photographer. I work and live in Italy, but I consider myself a World citizen.
#2 How did you get interested in photography?
My uncle was photographer and I looked at his darkroom when I was 14 since then I have been fascinated by the magic process of development …
My first camera was a Comet Bencini, that I still have in my collection today, but I had to pester my father a lot in order to get my first good camera, a Canon A-1.
The sea coasts of Southern Italy have been my old subjects. Over the years I found it very exiting to combine my passion for travel with photography, so travel photography and people have been the main part of my photographic work in the past. But in 2004 I travelled to United States and thanks to a number of lucky occurrences I met Kim Weston and did a workshop with him, after which was born a nice friendship. I felt from that time a very deep interest in Landscape and until now it is still my favorite subject.
#3 Do you have an artistic/photographic background?
At the beginning I was self-taught, but at certain point I started to study photography in depth and attended several workshops including those of Kim Weston, John Sexton and Alan Ross, all of whom gave me great support and knowledge, not only in terms of technique, but moreover different perception of the photographic medium.
#4 Which artist/photographer inspired your art?
Probably my love for photography started a long time ago, looking at some famous Italian painters like Carlo Carrà, Ottone Rosai and Virgilio Guidi. Also I admire many master photographers such as Sudek, Brassai, and many others, but I’m really fascinated by the works of Brett Weston that I’m lucky to know in depth due to my friendship with Kim Weston.
#5 How much preparation do you put into taking a photograph? Are you planning every step or is it always spontaneous?
Almost always I work on long term photographic projects. I prepare for a long time to research the right places, to study weather and light conditions.
Then I plan several trips. Projects normally take 2-3 years or more and when I feel I have reached my goal, I prepare the portfolio for exhibition as well as a related book sometimes.
Of course when I am on location I start to study the subject from different points of view as well as the available light. I don’t have pressure and I’m never in a hurry. I take the time it needs to catch the photograph that I have in mind. Sometimes it takes many days.
#6 What fascinates you in places that you shoot?
Overall the “Atmosphere”. I don’t think of myself as a landscape photographer rather, I am an “Atmosphere hunter” !
I try to connect myself to the secret soul of the place and when this happens I am surrounded by something special that makes everything simple and smooth, in this situation I am clear about the way I want to shoot.
#7 We can see your photographs mainly only in black and white, why have you chosen to present them in this form?
About 12 years ago I made a definite move away from color, that at time I was using as well as black and white, for travel photography and magazines. I switched to black and white only and now I use only on film. I like to have full control of all the process, also I think that the high quality I want for my photographs can only be reached in this way.
Furthermore the black and white helps me to show certain “Atmosphere” without the distraction of colors.
#8 Could you please tell us something about your technique and creating process?
I only use traditional processes. All my photographs are taken on film with a large or medium format camera. My favorite view camera is a Toyo 125VX in 4×5 format, but occasionally I use a Mamiya 7 or a Hasselblad.
I have used many brands and kinds of films over the years, in fact for several years I have been using Kodak T-Max developed with X-Tol.
I print all photographs by myself using traditional techniques according to the best American Master school. I think I will not switch to digital till traditional materials become available, which means in fact probably never.
Even if the digital process is faster and sometime more easy, I feel I cannot achieve the same durability and quality that I see looking at a genuine silver gelatin print.
#9 Could you tell our readers how to reach such excellent results in photography?
PRATIQUE – METHOD – QUALITY
Pratique is the most important point, the more you use the camera, the better the results. The same is true in the darkroom, the more you work, the more you are satisfied with the prints.
I devised my own method and follow it always.
Quality is my first goal. I try to control each step from shooting to the final presentation. Quality is like a chain, you need to pay attention to the weakest rings.
#10 What do you do in your life besides photography?
I’m involved in the Fashion World as my family owns a garment company. So I work together with our Designer and also as the Art-director of the Marketing office. Even so I find a little time for relax by going sailing.
#11 What future plans do you have? What projects would you like to accomplish?
I usually work on several projects together, since each of them takes a several years to finish.
Currently I have just completed an Icelandic portfolio named “Golden Light”, that will be shown in Milan from t May 9 and the next step will be the publication of this work. Moreover I’m working on a big project on the Far East.
Francesco Bosso Official Website:
www.francescobosso.it
2 Responses to “Francesco Bosso”
anna
Great interview!
jacksavage12
Great moody work and very interesting interview.