Marco Grassi - There Will Always Be Something New to Master, or at Least Learn About (Photographer)

I mainly shoot landscapes and have a preference for wild and remote destinations. At the very beginning I was shooting a bit of everything, including wildlife and portraits but then started focusing on landscape photography as it's the one I've always liked and enjoyed the most. On a side note, I do also enjoy abstract photography!

1. Tell us about your background and journey. 

Long before getting into photography, I was a nature lover and trekking enthusiast. I was raised in the Alps, where I’ve spent 8 years living in a very small village, so small that, counting me, we were only 5 kids. So as a kid, I was always hiking a lot and running up and down the mountains and always felt a connection with nature. 

Several years later, after finishing High School, my girlfriend and I decided to spend a year in New Zealand. There, I started feeling the need to capture the amazing sceneries around me and quickly grew an interest in photography. Only at the end of that trip though, on the way home, I bought myself a camera. So I started learning and practicing, while planning for the next adventure.

2. What inspired you to pursue photography? 

After New Zealand, I knew that traveling and being in nature was something I wanted to keep doing in the long term and I soon realized that landscape photography would be a great way to pursue this dream. So I worked hard and, driven by my passions, I pursued photography and turned it into my job.

3. Which subjects or frames attract you the most? 

I mainly shoot landscapes and have a preference for wild and remote destinations. At the very beginning I was shooting a bit of everything, including wildlife and portraits but then started focusing on landscape photography as it's the one I've always liked and enjoyed the most. On a side note, I do also enjoy abstract photography!

4. What elements make the best photograph? 

I guess everyone has her/his own view on this, but with landscape photography, in my opinion, a good image is the one that has depth. 

So one of the things I always try to do in my pictures is to make them as tridimensional as possible, by looking around for elements that can create depth in the scene. It can be anything, really: a flower, a rock, a tree. The trick is to use an ultra wide angle lens and get as close as possible to the object. 

5. What challenges do you face as a photographer and how do you overcome them?

When out, it doesn’t matter if it is just for a couple of hours or for a week, weather can be the most challenging factor. With bad weather, it is harder to find the motivation to even get out and explore, but as a landscape photographer, I always need to find the mental strength to go and try to get something good out of the situation and often, the most challenging conditions are the ones that allow for the most unique results. 

This can be harder when I've been on the road for a long time, or when I've been waiting for good conditions in the same place for days, but it's all part of the adventure and when the weather eventually works out, the result is even more rewarding :)

6. Who is your favorite photographer and why? 

Naming one would be really tough, I know so many talented photographers and each one has his/her own interesting vision, philosophy and style. My favorites are not necessary landscape photographers either, as I do appreciate different types of photography and I'm always inspired by others' work.

7. What attributes should a photographer have? 

Passion. I personally think that, like anyone with anything else, a photographer should be passionate about what he/she is doing. Then, I think every photographer should have an open mind and be prepared to "never stop learning". You can never rest as a photographer and there will always be something new to master, or at least learn about :) 

8. Which is your favorite book and why? 

I don't have a favorite book, but one I recently finished and particularly enjoyed is "Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing". It's the brilliantly written tale of British explorer Ernest Shackleton's plan to cross the South Pole on foot in 1914. 

It's one of those books that literally keep you on the edge of your seat, like a thriller, and it's one of the most incredible adventure stories of the modern age. Highly recommended reading! 

Marco Grassi

Born and raised in Italy, Marco Grassi is a self-taught, award-winning photographer focused on landscape photography as well as an avid adventurer and experienced photo educator, leading workshops all over the world to share his vision, knowledge and approach with others. 

He’s traveled the world extensively to capture the beauty around him, driven by his interest in pristine landscapes and remote destinations which has led him to some of the most incredible places on Earth. 

His pictures, mainly focused on nature, evoke a sense of mightiness and highlight the power behind everything that surrounds us, from giant mountains to vast desert areas. Marco’s work has been published and rewarded worldwide in a large variety of media outlets, such as the National Geographic, CNN, The Telegraph, BBC and GEO Magazine.

Interviewed By - Serene Ingle