Spotlight: Pietro Pazzi Photography

After spending many years out and about travelling the globe, Pietro Pazzi has returned to studio in Cape Town to share his skill and passion for this art form. We chatted with Pietro about his journey into the world of photography and why the move back to South Africa. Here’s what he had to share…

Can you begin by telling us a bit about yourself?

I am an Italian-South African and have lived in Africa, Europe, and the South Pacific.

When I started out in early 2000, I spent much of my time perfecting my studio lighting (in my own fully equipped studio) for commercial, portraiture, and glamour photography skills.

My 7 years in Europe saw me delving into studio work (where I had another studio), which I mainly used for fine art nudes. This is one of the most tricky types of photography. I started to travel regularly and developed a taste for travel and landscape photography and was an exclusive photographer for Getty Images.

During my 4 years in the South Pacific, studio photography took a bit of a back seat (even though I brought all the gear along), while travel and landscape photography came to the fore.

At the same time, my interest in videography and audio deepened. I have created (filmed and post-produced) several travel videos using drones, cams, phones, and my mirrorless army.

I look forward to meeting you, capturing the essence of the images you require, and bringing them to life.

When you’ve read this article, you would quickly surmise that I like to take on life. I follow opportunities. I live life to its max.

But I do so with intense passion and dedication and a sense of humour. I delve deep into a subject and aim to be the best I can be at it.

I always tell my kids:
• Flow with life.
• Do not fear the future.
• Do your very best at what life requires from you now.

Having said that, it’s not always easy. But when one manages to tick all three life really happens.

Can you share more about your journey into photography?

One could say I’m a late bloomer since I started to develop a serious interest in photography in my late 30s.
But, since I can remember, I have had a deep sense that photography is a part of me. I have always had a fascination with cameras, particularly DSLRs.

In my early teens, I had a basic film camera. By basic, I mean point and shoot. The only thing one can influence is composition. The camera did the rest.

I remember taking pictures of birds. Once I got a fantastic shot of a bird flying overhead, and everyone, my mother, in particular, raved over the details and composition of the image. That moment set some wheels in motion that later saw me really getting into photography.

What about your non-photography background?

There have been a few years during which my photography life and non-photography overlapped.

I trained as a psychologist and used my understanding of humans to improve myself and use that knowledge successfully in sales and marketing.

I later obtained my MBA and spent many years in management and consulting roles.

I had the opportunity to re-skill myself and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Master Black Belt that saw my career take on an international dimension during which I had to fortune to visit every continent on our planet.

Having achieved heights in the corporate world, my partner, Eltje, and I decided to jump ship to live on an island in the South Pacific.

What attracted you to return to South Africa?

I missed the early morning bird sounds of the African bush while enjoying a lekker hot cup of ‘moer koffee en bescuit’. And that little global event, called COVID restricted our travel possibilities. We literary could only get a flight from the UK to CT, and we took it.

How has changing countries helped push your creative skills and confidence in photography?

Being a global citizen I’m not sure that changing countries has a large impact on my creativity and confidence. The thing that does push my skill level and confidence, is my own inner drive to experiment and take my equipment and software to their limits. And fortunately, these continue to evolve allowing for more and more possibilities.

What got you to open a gallery in Cape Town?

After spending many years out and about travelling the globe, I return to the studio. We have set up a fully equipped studio at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, Cape Town. In addition, I have amassed more than 120,000 images during the past 2 decades, of which we will select a hand full for exhibition and sale in our studio, also in the Old Biscuit Mill.

Why now?

For years I toyed with the idea but never really felt ready. Now just feels right. Why Cape Town? Because Cape Town has got such a unique artistic vibe. I believe it will become one of the world’s hot spots for creatives.

And it seems we made the right decision. Initial feedback and reviews and extremely positive. After only being open just over 6 weeks, we already have almost 30 x 5 star ratings and positive reviews on Google.

How do you juggle shooting your work and making art and running a gallery?

With great difficulty and often a fair dose of stress … positive and negative. Thing is, I have a standard that I must be maintained, and I like to control all aspects of the creative and business process. Yes, I’m forever doing something to reach even high standards in the shortest possible time.

I’m so fortunate to have Eltje by my side. With her German upbringing, she crosses the many ‘t’ and dots the ‘i’s’ that are allowed to slip through as I swiftly move from one task to the next.

Between us, we take care of all the aspects of the business. Over the past few years, we have learnt all aspects of creating content, publishing books, website design, social media, SEO, videography, etc. not to mention relearning the business and cultural practices of the countries we move to.

Where do you find inspiration for your subjects in South Africa? What fuels your creativity? And how do you keep that creative eye going?

I look at people and I can honestly say I see something of beautiful in each one. I see the work of other photographers, amateurs and pros, and I see something special in many of their creations. The people of South Africa and their unique creativity inspires.

I do not follow specific artists or style of photography. I learnt early on in my career, that one learns what everyone else learns about a topic, but it is those that quickly forget it and create their own path that stand a change of finding their own voice.

But it is out there in the deserted wilderness, where one is allowed to be in nature and live it fully, that the inspiration really flows.

You seem to have a deep connection to nature and this has sparked your love for photography. How important do you believe it is for a landscape photographer to love the outdoors, not just the results?
Actually light and shadow sparked my love for photography. I could spend hours in my studio experimenting with light setups. Nature on the other hand has sort of fixed lighting conditions, which is typical best at or pre dawn and dusk.

I love being outdoors in nature, and so does Eltje. We both love exploring new places and continuously be surprised by nature and its beauty.

How have nature and photography played a part in shaping the person you are today?

I think with technology today, it is easy to over process images in name of art. I see too many high potential photographers simply over cock images in an attempt to create something different.

I am a firm believer in knowing ones gear and technology extremely well but to use them only to empower the recreation of that sense of owe experienced when making the shot. This means that nature and photography has taught to me use constraint and patience and not be untrue to nature.

What is your favourite photography genre?

During my early years of really getting into photography, I attended night school to understand the fundamentals of photography. Assignments would see one experiment with many genres. I fell in love with controlling light and shadow in the studio.

I spent much time after that in the studio photographing objects and people alike until I developed an excellent understanding of how to light subjects perfectly.

So, long answer short, I love playing in my studio and diligently work at getting the perfect play of light and shadow.

For more visit Pietro Pazzi Photography.