Tech data: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 - Olympus Zuiko ED 14-150 mm f/4-5.6
Location: Parma

Over the years and growin’up as a photographer, become automatic, even when not shooting, to pay attention to all the visual elements around me. Wandering around my hometown or jogging with my dog, in some place of my brain I register the direction of the shadows or the particular shape of a cloud and doesn’t matter if some times I don’t have the camera with me. In this way, my iPhone came to rescue me several times, and did its job very well! “Look, don’t see” is, in some ways, my life. I walk around watching the details, I notice high contrasts and dark shadows, and, if you are a photographer like me, know that our approach to things is different from other people. When you “look, don’t see”, you can certainly try to find a visual solution and try to fix it into your mind or on paper, of the ever changing puzzle that is our world.

Spring equinox passed away not so long ago and after a quick taste of summer, the weather has taken definitely an ugly turn and, never mind the calendar, has returned us into a depressing fall panorama: lead-coloured sky heavy with rain, 12 degrees temperature and the Apennines range on the horizon unusually snow-capped. Looking forward for blue skies and temperatures more appropriate to the period, in the meantime I enjoy a good blended whiskey, some photography books and the company of family and friends.

Duesseldorf - Milan. An hour and a half flight. Just enough time to read reluctantly a newspaper, to consume fat snacks offered by flight attendants and browse the in-flight magazine before landing. But every time I can not avoid taking a snap of the Alps in all their glory on a cold February morning. The amazing white range helps me to get absorbed in my thoughts…until a dull sound brings me back down on Mother Earth.

In everyday life, we often think of things in terms of opposites like strong/weak, light/heavy, fast/slow and so on. Talking about photography, the main opposites that we can think about are light and shadow. One of the most powerful uses of shadows is for the creation of contrast to produce a dramatic effect.
Using of shadows reveal also forms and textures. This often involves the sun, at a low angle to the horizon, casting long shadows across the ground. Take a look at the new photo of the month on my website. Enjoy!

The 181-kilometer drive on the Florida Keys Scenic Highway is definitely one of a kind.  The so-called Overseas Highway, travels through some of the nation's most spectacular scenery, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and winds through vistas of natural beauty, areas rich in history and legend, views of spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Folks in the Florida Keys still describe the stretch of US 1 from Key Largo to Key West as the "Road to Paradise." At each spot, you can park the car and also non-divers should find plenty else to do, from snorkeling to exploring state parks to visiting museums. From the first island of Key Largo to the “southernmost city” of Key West, take some time to experience the splendor of this byway, and find a feeling of beauty and relaxation in a one-of-a-kind location found no where else in the world.

Tech data: Canon EOS 5D, Canon EF 17-40 mm f/4 L
Location: Scheggino - Umbria

There are places where time seems to stand still, where you can find only peace and tranquility, without any noise of cars and the rhythm of the day is marked only by the movement of the birds, sunrises and sunsets. I found one of these places last weekend in Umbria, near Spoleto, with my love. A weekend of relax and a full immersion in nature, in order to regenerate the body and mind after long winter months. I really needed it!