I find it very interesting to portray people and animals. I prefer casual, inadvertent portraits when the subject does not realize that it's being focused by a camera cought by surprise. There is an addictive point in capturing the essence of the subject and that freshness of the moment, only possible when we improvise and let everything flow naturally.

I'm more and more attracted to portrait photography. Surely the place I've enjoyed taking pictures of people the most has been in Thailand. Its people are open and laughing. When you ask them for a picture, they usually agree with a natural smile. It is very easy to establish a moment of connection with that person and share a fun moment.

I love to visit markets around the world, and again, Thailand earns points by being one of the most interesting countries I've ever been to. There is a lot of life and color in the Thai markets. There is a sense of positivity and joy. I love it. There are countless markets in Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand. In the city center, during the weekend, we have the opportunity to experience a real show where art, souvenirs and local food are the main subjects. Rivers of people pass through alleys flanked by small shops where smells, tastes, colors and languages ​​are mixed, in the busiest city in the country, after Bangkok.

If Thailand has so far been the country where I have had the best time photographing strangers, Kyrgyzstan has been a challenge, not without difficulty, on this issue.

Why is it so difficult for me to photograph people in Kyrgyzstan?

Just taking the camera out of the bag I perceive how it attracts people’s eyes. These are serious looks, and now, months after landing in Bishkek, the country's capital, I remember the first few days I felt like I had a gun in my hand. After my first attempts and a series of refusals, I didn't dare to ask anyone for a picture.

Kyrgyzstan is one of the countries that were part of the old USSR, a time when anyone could be suspected of espionage. I suppose that caution and fear are still, in a certain way, present in Kyrgyz society. Still today, a guy with a camera taking photos on the street arouses suspicion.

I find that in cities like Bishkek, people are more reluctant to be photographed by a stranger. On the other hand, in rural areas people seem more participative and even like to follow some advises from the photographer.

This reluctance is likely due, also, to the increasing use of camera phones and the ease of posting images on social media, which is almost immediate. People are wary of the use that can be made of an image that shows their face.

Camera size

A small photo camera helps is less intimidating than a large one and more professional look. My Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III with the M.Zuiko 17mm f1.8 is a combination I feeld comfortable with, practically in any situation. The articulated screen allows me to not have to use the viewfinder and be more discreet when I want to photograph scenes where there are people. Another advantage of this type of screen is the ease of framing from different angles and thus achieving a different point of view.