SHORT BIO OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER:
Datlas Erre was born in Naples. He graduated in Dramatic Art at the V. Bellini Academy in Naples. He has worked as an actor and assistant director in various theater companies in the city of Naples. He is the curator of various graphic sections for emerging artists of the Italian music scene for the Suono Libero Music record label. He has published numerous shots for some prestigious magazines. In 2019 he obtained a master’s degree in photography directed by Maestro Steve McCurry and participated in the training course in social photography at the CSV in Naples. . He judges for the 35 awards of the 8th International Photography Awards.
- How did it all start? What inspired you to take up photography as a profession (or as a hobby)?
I remember once, seeing Francois Truffaut’s recurring dream in the film “night effect”, where the director’s dreams are in black and white and see him as a child, at night, heading to the nearest cinema to steal the exposed photos of Citizen Kane. This unlocked a memory of when I was a teenager, walking in a street of my city, I was attracted by a now abandoned theater with black and white photographs on display depicting actors and photos of the time which, looking at them, made me excite and experience a world that was now disappearing, I too would have liked to take them as in the film and keep the memory of them, this made me acquire greater awareness of the enormous potential that photography has to excite and enclose a story in a single shot. This vision aroused in me the curiosity to delve into the world of images and to want to do it as a profession.
- Can you tell us about yourself and your background?
From a very young age I showed interest in art in general. From 1998 to 2014 I worked as an actor and assistant director for various theater companies. I have curated various graphic sections for emerging artists of the Italian music scene. Later, I decided to deepen my passion by attending a photography master’s degree and immediately after a social photography course in Naples. From this moment on I came into contact with the world of images. For a while I devoted myself to stage photography, both theatrical and musical; at the same time I developed some of my artistic projects which were then published in various national and international magazines.
- Who were your early influences?
The photographers who impressed me are Steve McCurry with his way of interpreting the portrait with the gaze of the subjects and Man Ray painter, subversive and iconoclast artist, director and also avant-garde photographer for the Versatility and experimentation of his portraits in black and white.
- What are the subjects you like most to photograph? What attracts you to a particular scene or subject as a photographer?
My photos are born from the emotions that certain moments arouse in me, observing subjects that capture my attention or simply some of my shots are inspired by movie characters, read books that I love to summarize in a photo shoot. I don’t have a favorite genre, I photograph different genres, although I prefer to shoot portraits. I am attracted by the almost Film noir atmosphere of the scene that I research and sometimes create. In “portraits of emotions” in particular they are all shots in black and white, with high contrast and I only use the available light, without a flash.
- What was your most memorable experience related to photography?
The most memorable experience was during the pandemic, where Italy was in lockdown and not knowing what to photograph, I started photographing my father at home. From this came a shot entitled “The human caress” published in a book “The Year Time Stopped”: The Global Pandemic in Photos edited by the founders of Scopio.
- What are some of the challenges of photography?
Telling stories through looks always moves me and passing them on to those who will see my shots.
- How do you find the balance between what you see and making it dramatic and beautiful as a work of art in its own right?
I find that the balance is dictated by the light conditions, this element is fundamental and allows a shot to reveal itself in all its drama and beauty.
- What do you want to capture in your photographs?
The soul, the personality and the truth of the people.
- Do you always keep an eye on what’s new on the camera market?
Not particularly. I believe that a photo can be beautiful and give emotions even when taken from a mobile phone. I always say that art doesn’t need big goals but broad visions.
- What is the post-production process like?
I believe that post-production can be useful for correcting the lights and making the images better without deviating much from reality. And often this process can turn them into art.
- Where do you want to take your photography career?
I haven’t set myself a goal, I live in the present of my work, I’m still dedicated to improving my shots in search of my perfect photo.
- What is the hardest part of what you do and what advice would you give to emerging photographers?
I find no difficulty in what I do because I love my job and I am aware that the best results can only be achieved with study, dedication, mistakes and continuous research. The advice I can give is to practice photography every day, because only in this way can we improve the images and develop our own personal style.
- Where can our readers find you online?
Instagram and https:// wwwdatlaserre.com/
