15 Questions With… Fabrizio Albertini

How are you at the moment?

Everything fine here. I’m writing from my new home, in the centre of Italy (Marche Region). Quite warm, it’s 23°C. and the sun is shining, with only a few clouds in the sky. Today is ten days since moving to my new house.

What is your morning ritual? How does your day begin?

My day begins with breakfast. Breakfast is something that I truly love. Even when I’m travelling, one of the first things that I’m looking for is “Where to find a good breakfast”. I prefer a salty breakfast, but here in Italy it’s not in our culture. So, my routine is Greek Yogurt, black bread with fruit jam, an espresso and a glass of water.

What, right now, can you see?

The Marche Hills outside from my window.

What artist, project, book would you recommend we see/follow?

I’m not too involved into a definition of Art. I prefer the word entertainment—with a capital E. By this I can suggest “Different Seasons” by Stephen King.

Tell us about your process when starting a new project

Usually, for my previous projects, I simply begin by taking pictures. I’ve kept this act as a private space, as a recreation and restoration. Especially for “Il Giardino” it was also a way to discover a landscape, not only in geographical terms. Then I collect pictures and pictures until they start to reveal a coherent sense and language. Anyway, probably, for my next project I would like to go forward, back to documentary, since the urgency about telling myself is changed.

What has been your favourite collaboration?

For sure with my wife.

What is your greatest achievement?

Getting Married.

What is your greatest regret?

I don’t know honestly.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

To not have regrets.

What is your latest project about?

Il Giardino continues the journey that started with my earlier project Radici. As in the previous chapter, the narrative is built by following the urgency of a need to accumulate—collecting images that surround and testify the author’s daily life.

If from one side the language remains faithful to the mechanics of Radici, on the other it introduces new themes. Themes that concern the landscape, the distance between the camera and the subject, and the horizons that derive from it. A new territory, not only intimate, but above all geographical.

Lastly: as for Radici, Il Giardino is a series that is born from self-analysis, as a moment for the Self, as a catharsis, and as for any other human analysis it is not a theorem and there are no solutions.

It’s just a story.

“I went back to my garden.

I like to photograph it, I need it.

Something is changed,

A small movement, to the surface.

I haven’t moved too much after all.”

What are you researching at the moment?

A new Story.

What can you not work without?

A kit for cleaning camera and lenses.

What challenges have you faced working in your industry?

First challenges was to try to start a career as a professional photographer, and build your economical solidity. Then to build a network. It is a continuous challenge.

What are you hoping for in 2023?

I hope to find the right story.

Share a song with us, what are you listening to at the moment?

It’s not a song of the moment, but during my recent house move I was listening to Sonnet by the Verve.

(Editor’s note: Listen to this song and other favourites from the ’15 Questions With…’ interview series with our Spotify playlist!)