Photographic portraits that transcend celebrity culture to reveal the subject’s authentic soul
For Gianluca Fontana, photography means tuning into the subject, delving into their emotions, and capturing their power in a single frame. The aim is to forge an authentic connection with the interviewee, revealing the person behind the aesthetic image.
Details, moving fragments, fleeting and imperfect intuitions. In a word, uniqueness. The very quality that defines this recent photo series, captured during Paris Fashion Week at the Saint Laurent show through a distinctly unconventional approach.
In Private Sitting, by Skira, Fontana brings together five years of personal research aimed at blurring the lines between the person and the public persona. It features 15 women portrayed without artifice, make-up, or styling
Your gaze manages to beautifully combine refinement and sensuality. Would you agree? “Yes, my goal is to put the subject at ease, allowing them to speak about themselves in a very spontaneous way. For this project, it was just me, the actress, and the stylist. The idea was to take off the mask and fully commit to the process. It was also very interesting to read the thoughts the protagonists wrote about their sessions.”
How important is getting to know the subject? “Very often, working dynamics prevent you from getting to know your subject in depth. Other times, I have had the chance to work with the same model multiple times. Let’s say that, for me, a space for dialogue is always necessary, however brief, to establish a connection.”
How did you move from Architecture to Photography? “I began working with photography as a student and even won a competition for a permanent position as a lab technician. But it wasn’t the right path for me. So, I started working as an assistant at a publishing house, which was invaluable training. Then, I started following my own projects. Fashion came naturally along this path: the human figure has always been at the centre of my research.”
Were there any turning points in your career? “I could mention the work for Givenchy or Prada, but it was a gradual journey. When I was an Erasmus student in London, I had taken a collection of images to the Galleria Corso Como for a portfolio review. Beginner’s luck had me sitting right in front of Franca Sozzani, who, very kindly, briefly explained to me what fashion photography was and saw something in two of my photos. I truly appreciated the advice she gave me.”
Where do you feel you are in your career today? “This path continues to fascinate me; however, while keeping the human figure central, I am looking for different projects.”
Everything is ready for a new story…
The interview continues on DENTROCASA on newsstands and online.
Project Director RITA BAIGUERA
Graphic Designer CRISTINA ZANACCHI
Written by STEFANIA VITALE
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