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ENGLISH Manuel (born in Desenzano del Garda, Italy in 1972) began his lifelong love affair with photography in the ’80s, as a self-taught analog photographer – ultimately however, he made the switch to digital photography. He's now concentrated most on fine-art photography. Having started out as a landscape photographer who captured his images using long exposure, Manuel has since evolved into a fine art photographer and he is known for his elaborate preparation for his conceptual, staged shoots – yields thought-provoking photographs that embody a radically different aesthetic than his earliest work did. His extensive knowledge of the history of photography, along with his technical expertise – equipped Manuel with the skills necessary to allow him to begin teaching both subjects in 2009. He also leads photographic workshops at high schools in his area. Under the auspices of several different art galleries in Brescia, Rome, Merano (Italy), Virginia (USA) – Manuel has enjoyed the privilege of exhibiting both his personal and his fine art photography collections. In 2010 he begins to teach photography technique in collaboration with the Photographic Art Gallery “Skin Gallery” In 2011, he’s one of the resident artists at the Photographic Art Gallery “Galleria Gallerati” in Rome and he signed on as a supervisor and promoter of “ISO600 – Instant Photography Festival”, the first Polaroid Photo Festival to ever be held in Italy. He has also been a jury member of many highly respected national photography contests. In 2012 Saatchi Gallery selects one of his photo to represent Italian Contemporary Art. In 2012 he also realizes official poster and fliers for Marco Rosson’s movie “New Order” featuring Franco Nero as main character. In 2013 Manuel begins to exhibit in the United States. In 2013 Vanity Fair magazine, Italian edition, awarded one of his photos from the series “La Settima Onda”. In 2014 he exhibits his series “Finding Beauty” in several events, including “One Shot” and “AMA” in Brescia, receiving many positive reviews among curators and magazines. Also in 2014 he’s one of the resident artists at the Photographic Art Gallery “OnePound Gallery” in Virginia (USA). In 2015 he exhibits the “Biomechanics” series, one of his most complex works, during the VIII Biennale of Soncino, Italy. In 2016 Manuel realized a photo book with the collaboration of the italian writer and journalist Simonetta Caminiti (“Le Ragazze del Borgo” published by “Lettere Animate Editore”) and his first book as a photographer and writer ("La Vita Sottosopra") based on his photographic work "Dissolvenze". In 2017 he exhibits his work "Who's That Girl?", in collaboration with actress Jane Alexander, at the "Museo Nazionale della Fotografia" (National Museum of Photography) in Brescia and he becomes one of the resident artists of the Museum. He also realized the book cover of Nadia Busato's novel "Gioca con Me". In Semptember 2017 is special guest at "Festival of Erotic Literature and Art" in Zibello (Parma) and he exhibits 40 polaroid works. In 2019 his work titled "Eisoptrophobia" was selected from Francis Bacon Foundation and puslished in the book "Francis Bacon: Painting, Philosophy, Psychoanalysis" Manuel’s work has been published in magazines of national and international importance, book covers and Musical CD covers and booklets and it has been bought by several private collectors in Italy and U.S.A. He loves red, black, dark and light. |
ITALIAN Manuel Colombo (Desenzano del Garda, 1972), si avvicina al mondo della fotografia negli anni ’80 da autodidatta vivendo tutta l’evoluzione dall’analogico al digitale. Si avvicina dapprima alla fotografia paesaggistica, quasi sempre ritratta con tempi lunghi, per arrivare poi alla fotografia artistica e concettuale mantenendo il suo modo fare fotografia, con lunghi tempi di studio e di preparazione, privilegiando uno stile più attento, stimolante, studiato ed elaborato dando forma ad un’estetica radicalmente diversa rispetto ai primi lavori. Attualmente la sua attività è dedicata alla fotografia fine art. Spinto dalla passione per la lettura fotografica, a partire dal 2009 affianca all’attività fotografica l’insegnamento di tecnica e storia della fotografia, iniziando la sua collaborazione con alcune gallerie d’arte fra Brescia, Roma e Merano, Virginia (USA), dove ha modo di esporre le sue opere in diverse personali e collettive. Sempre spinto dalla passione per la Fotografia, tiene seminari sulla lettura fotografica e sulla storia della fotografia di moda. Nel 2010 inizia ad insegnare tecnica fotografica in collaborazione con la galleria d’arte fotografica “Skin Gallery” a Brescia. Nel 2011 diventa “resident artist” nella galleria d’arte fotografica “Galleria Gallerati” a Roma ed è tra i responsabili e promotori di “ISO 600 – Festival della Fotografia Istantanea”, primo festival della fotografia italiana mai tenuto in Italia. Sempre nel 2011 è giurato di diversi concorsi fotografici a livello nazionale. Nel 2012 la galleria Saatchi, Londra, seleziona una delle sue fotografie in una collettiva rappresentativa dell’arte contemporanea in Italia. Nello stesso anno realizza la locandina del film “New Order”, diretto da Marco Rosson ed interpretato da Franco Nero. Nel 2013 inizia ad esporre negli Stati Uniti e riceve un premio da Vanity Fair Italia per una fotografia della sua serie “La Settima Onda”. Nel 2014 diventa “resident artist” nella galleria d’arte fotografica “OnePound Gallery” in Virginia (USA). Nel 2015 espone uno dei suoi lavori più complessi, “Biomechanics”, alla VIII Biennale di Soncino. Nel 2016 realizza un libro fotografico erotico in collaborazione con la scrittrice e giornalista “Simonetta Caminiti” (“Le Ragazze del Borgo”, pubblicato da “Lettere Animate Editore”) e pubblica il suo primo libro come fotografo e scrittore (“La Vita Sottosopra”) basato sul suo lavoro fotografico “Dissolvenze”. Nel 2017 espone il lavoro “Who’s That Girl?”, realizzato in collaborazione con l’attrice Jane Alexander, al Museo Nazionale della Fotografia di Brescia. Sempre nel 2017 diventa “resident artist” dello stesso Museo. Nel 2017 realizza la copertina del romanzo erotico “Gioca con me”scritto dall’autrice Nadia Busato, edito da Ultra. A settembre 2017 è ospite del Festival della Letteratura ed Arte Erotica a Zibello (Parma) dove espone anche 40 delle sue polaroid. Nel 2019 la sua opera Eisoptrophobia è stata selezionata dalla Francis Bacon Foundation di Londra per essere inserita nel saggio "Francis Bacon: Painting, Philosophy, Psychoanalysis" Il suo lavoro è stato pubblicato su riviste nazionali ed internazionali, copertine di libri e romanzi, CD musicali ed è stato acquisito da diversi collezionisti privati in Italia e negli Stati Uniti. Ama il rosso, il nero, il buio e la luce. E il cioccolato. |
"non legga, l’osservatore, il genere introspettivo come spiccia concessione all’autocompiacimento:
l’artista è attore al servizio della platea, e il servizio è risvegliare l’intelletto sui significati di gioie e paure, di pulsioni, debolezze e perplessità che quotidianamente attraversano la psiche."
"Guardare per pensare, allora, come a ogni mostra è normale che sia.
E del resto il pubblico si raffina nel tempo da sé: desiste alla lunga chi – saturo di spot televisivi e cartellonistica stradale – ancora indugia davanti a un’opera di fotografia senza cogliere il dislivello ontologico che la solleva su un poster da complemento d’arredo"
(Carlo Gallerati, gallerista e critico d'arte)
l’artista è attore al servizio della platea, e il servizio è risvegliare l’intelletto sui significati di gioie e paure, di pulsioni, debolezze e perplessità che quotidianamente attraversano la psiche."
"Guardare per pensare, allora, come a ogni mostra è normale che sia.
E del resto il pubblico si raffina nel tempo da sé: desiste alla lunga chi – saturo di spot televisivi e cartellonistica stradale – ancora indugia davanti a un’opera di fotografia senza cogliere il dislivello ontologico che la solleva su un poster da complemento d’arredo"
(Carlo Gallerati, gallerista e critico d'arte)
As interview by Azaria Magazine #5 on April 2015
Manuel Colombo... Now tell us what's your preferred motif?
I don’t think to have one preferred motif. For sure I’ve recurring ones. Nude (the dress I love the most), tattoos (I love them so much not to have any on myself), the red color, latex, fetish, erotism. If all of these motifs are in the same shooting with one model I love more to photograph, Aine Atum, then this could be considered my “preferred motif”.
Who is this creative photographer at Manuel Colombo Photography?
I’m not sure I know him very well even after all these years. I know he has weird visions, sometimes. Some other times he’s lucid and rational. Head over heels with his passions. Always dreaming. And sometimes he’s able to photograph the result of all these things. I’m sure he’s not able to stand still for a minute. And, unfortunately for the people around him, he’s not able to shut up.
I know he was able to realize just a few of the stuff he dreamed of. So far.
He just needs a 36 hours day. Or to be immortal. If he had to choose one I am sure he would go for the second.
For how long have you been a photographer and is this something that you always wanted to do?
I’ve begun when I was 15 years old. I don’t remember my actual age, but I’m sure I’ve spent more than half of my life taking photos. With some long time off in the middle. It’s not something I’ve always wanted to be, because I don’t think of myself as being a photographer. I'm not a photographer. I “make” photos. In my mind it’s different. Not easy to explain.
Let me try. Do you remember Jessica Rabbit? “I'm not bad.. I'm just drawn that way”.
Ok. That’s me. “I'm not a photographer.. I'm just drawn that way”
What happened at the most crazy photo shoot you ever had?
There have been several weird and absurd situations in the past. Especially for outside shoots where I cannot control what’s going on around me.
One day I was shooting in a port in Venice. A huge ship was docking and all the crew started watching the model with binoculars and the captain, as the ship was approaching, horned the siren to wave at the model. I still remember those fuc#ing powerful vibrations in my stomach.
One other day we were shooting in a container depot. One prostitute was warning us about the police and another one was yelling at us because we were occupying her working place! It was surreal.
Another time some cops wanted to see the photo we were taking. Maybe they became suspicious because we were in a dangerous abandoned house. Or maybe because we were naked. Don’t know it for sure.
On another time I found myself licking the model’s shoes. You know, she was an Australian stripper: I had to taste them!
But the craziest things…they’re better left unsaid, if you know what I mean.
Tell us about Manuel Colombo Photography. How did it all begin?
The real beginning was when I stopped with landscape photography. I owe a lot to landscape photography. I was able to do my first exhibitions and my first sells with it. But I get bored doing the same stuff for a long time and landscape photography ran out its appeal for me. The rebirth, or the birth, of “Manuel Colombo Photography” was when I started to photograph bodies.
I find bodies very interesting. Just like puppets, they are adaptable to my ideas. The more adaptable, the better they are. That’s why I like to work often with the same models: they support my ideas and they know how to give me what I’m looking for.
I can say “Manuel Colombo Photography” began when I’ve found out I can photograph the images I had in my mind, more like a painting than photography. I’d rather “create” or “build” my image than photograph what already exists. And I’m getting older, my friend. The older I get, the less wise I am. And I can really tell a naked female body is thousand times sexier than a sunset.
We notice a beautiful sharp photo style with rich colors in your photos, but how would you describe your photo style?
One of the things I’ve always tried to do is not to repeat myself, or trying not to be recognizable. This doesn’t mean I was always able to do it, but I’m doing my best.
I’m sure that being recognizable, connecting a photo to the photographer regarding the style, is not a merit, but a shortcoming. Nothing worse than finding the perfect recipe and going on and on about it. Deadly dull.
My effort is about finding different styles, different genres, different techniques. Hoping not repeating myself and not to be recognizable.
Despite this, I know there are some recurring elements in my photos, just like signs: one of them is the red color. But it’s not the only one. I like rich colors, as you have noticed. There are many revealing Easter eggs in my photos, but I don’t want to reveal them.
Please explain to us what makes a photo not just good, but great?
First of all, to be a great photo it has to be one of mine! Joking aside, talking about other’s work, when I find myself thinking “Holy shit! I wish I had taken this photo!”… than that is a great photo. I’m not used to be envious, but I can recognize a great photo.
Talking about my work… I can feel immediately when I’m taking a great photo, right from the very moment I’m shooting it.
In a very odd way and I’m not sure I can tell it. Let’s say my body tells me if I’m taking a great shot. If the photo shooting and the live preview turn me on (literally, in a sexual way)… then yes, it will be a great photo.
Maybe I’ve got a “great photo” fetish!
Describe to us your best photo and tell us the story behind it?
I’m fond of italian writer Maura Chiulli’s photo I’ve taken a couple of years ago. It was a Saturday of a rainy May, but that day it was not raining. There were perfect clouds shading the sun, giving me the right soft light. We were in Milan, under the “Arco della Pace”, with a very long red drape. Some cops wanted to see what we were doing there, in a public place. One of the cops was an amateur photographer and asked us if he could watch “the show”.
Then a strong wind started to blow. The 15 meters drape started to fly and the composition was very evocative.
It lasted for just a few seconds. But I was able to shoot one of my best shots ever.
Till now it’s one of my most published and exhibited photos. I love it.
Manuel Colombo... Now tell us what's your preferred motif?
I don’t think to have one preferred motif. For sure I’ve recurring ones. Nude (the dress I love the most), tattoos (I love them so much not to have any on myself), the red color, latex, fetish, erotism. If all of these motifs are in the same shooting with one model I love more to photograph, Aine Atum, then this could be considered my “preferred motif”.
Who is this creative photographer at Manuel Colombo Photography?
I’m not sure I know him very well even after all these years. I know he has weird visions, sometimes. Some other times he’s lucid and rational. Head over heels with his passions. Always dreaming. And sometimes he’s able to photograph the result of all these things. I’m sure he’s not able to stand still for a minute. And, unfortunately for the people around him, he’s not able to shut up.
I know he was able to realize just a few of the stuff he dreamed of. So far.
He just needs a 36 hours day. Or to be immortal. If he had to choose one I am sure he would go for the second.
For how long have you been a photographer and is this something that you always wanted to do?
I’ve begun when I was 15 years old. I don’t remember my actual age, but I’m sure I’ve spent more than half of my life taking photos. With some long time off in the middle. It’s not something I’ve always wanted to be, because I don’t think of myself as being a photographer. I'm not a photographer. I “make” photos. In my mind it’s different. Not easy to explain.
Let me try. Do you remember Jessica Rabbit? “I'm not bad.. I'm just drawn that way”.
Ok. That’s me. “I'm not a photographer.. I'm just drawn that way”
What happened at the most crazy photo shoot you ever had?
There have been several weird and absurd situations in the past. Especially for outside shoots where I cannot control what’s going on around me.
One day I was shooting in a port in Venice. A huge ship was docking and all the crew started watching the model with binoculars and the captain, as the ship was approaching, horned the siren to wave at the model. I still remember those fuc#ing powerful vibrations in my stomach.
One other day we were shooting in a container depot. One prostitute was warning us about the police and another one was yelling at us because we were occupying her working place! It was surreal.
Another time some cops wanted to see the photo we were taking. Maybe they became suspicious because we were in a dangerous abandoned house. Or maybe because we were naked. Don’t know it for sure.
On another time I found myself licking the model’s shoes. You know, she was an Australian stripper: I had to taste them!
But the craziest things…they’re better left unsaid, if you know what I mean.
Tell us about Manuel Colombo Photography. How did it all begin?
The real beginning was when I stopped with landscape photography. I owe a lot to landscape photography. I was able to do my first exhibitions and my first sells with it. But I get bored doing the same stuff for a long time and landscape photography ran out its appeal for me. The rebirth, or the birth, of “Manuel Colombo Photography” was when I started to photograph bodies.
I find bodies very interesting. Just like puppets, they are adaptable to my ideas. The more adaptable, the better they are. That’s why I like to work often with the same models: they support my ideas and they know how to give me what I’m looking for.
I can say “Manuel Colombo Photography” began when I’ve found out I can photograph the images I had in my mind, more like a painting than photography. I’d rather “create” or “build” my image than photograph what already exists. And I’m getting older, my friend. The older I get, the less wise I am. And I can really tell a naked female body is thousand times sexier than a sunset.
We notice a beautiful sharp photo style with rich colors in your photos, but how would you describe your photo style?
One of the things I’ve always tried to do is not to repeat myself, or trying not to be recognizable. This doesn’t mean I was always able to do it, but I’m doing my best.
I’m sure that being recognizable, connecting a photo to the photographer regarding the style, is not a merit, but a shortcoming. Nothing worse than finding the perfect recipe and going on and on about it. Deadly dull.
My effort is about finding different styles, different genres, different techniques. Hoping not repeating myself and not to be recognizable.
Despite this, I know there are some recurring elements in my photos, just like signs: one of them is the red color. But it’s not the only one. I like rich colors, as you have noticed. There are many revealing Easter eggs in my photos, but I don’t want to reveal them.
Please explain to us what makes a photo not just good, but great?
First of all, to be a great photo it has to be one of mine! Joking aside, talking about other’s work, when I find myself thinking “Holy shit! I wish I had taken this photo!”… than that is a great photo. I’m not used to be envious, but I can recognize a great photo.
Talking about my work… I can feel immediately when I’m taking a great photo, right from the very moment I’m shooting it.
In a very odd way and I’m not sure I can tell it. Let’s say my body tells me if I’m taking a great shot. If the photo shooting and the live preview turn me on (literally, in a sexual way)… then yes, it will be a great photo.
Maybe I’ve got a “great photo” fetish!
Describe to us your best photo and tell us the story behind it?
I’m fond of italian writer Maura Chiulli’s photo I’ve taken a couple of years ago. It was a Saturday of a rainy May, but that day it was not raining. There were perfect clouds shading the sun, giving me the right soft light. We were in Milan, under the “Arco della Pace”, with a very long red drape. Some cops wanted to see what we were doing there, in a public place. One of the cops was an amateur photographer and asked us if he could watch “the show”.
Then a strong wind started to blow. The 15 meters drape started to fly and the composition was very evocative.
It lasted for just a few seconds. But I was able to shoot one of my best shots ever.
Till now it’s one of my most published and exhibited photos. I love it.
