Among the waves before the mountains

AMONG THE WAVES BEFORE THE MOUNTAINS

A photographer, but first and foremost a man of water, Filippo Maffei likes to describe the world through the lens of his Leica, always with a truly personal point of view. The swells, the surfers, the giant manta rays of the Maldives, the Apuan Alps behind the house: his is always a direct, unfiltered approach. Even when he shoots Jovanotti.

What is your relationship with nature?
More than a relationship, it is an ever-evolving need. More and more I find myself seeking the connection and well-being that only the natural environment can give me. The wilder it is, the greater the emotion and respect.

And with photography?
Photography is a means to tell those flat days apart from the interesting ones. Taking a picture is not just a job, for me it is a passion that has become a profession.

Your photography ranges from underwater images in the waters of the Maldives to design and famous people. Does your style change depending on the subject in front of your camera?
I always try to maintain my own unique style in everything I do. Usually my approach does not vary depending on the subject, but on how I might see it. Before shooting I always ask myself the same question: what if I looked at it from a different perspective?

What is your relationship with nature?
More than a relationship, it is an ever-evolving need. More and more I find myself seeking the connection and well-being that only the natural environment can give me. The wilder it is, the greater the emotion and respect.

And with photography?
Photography is a means to tell those flat days apart from the interesting ones. Taking a picture is not just a job, for me it is a passion that has become a profession.

Your photography ranges from underwater images in the waters of the Maldives to design and famous people. Does your style change depending on the subject in front of your camera?
I always try to maintain my own unique style in everything I do. Usually my approach does not vary depending on the subject, but on how I might see it. Before shooting I always ask myself the same question: what if I looked at it from a different perspective?

The Apuan Alps are a strange place, they are a little bit Alps and a little bit Apennines, the white looks like snow but it is almost always marble. What did you want to portray in your Metamorphic series?
The Apuan Alps are the mountains behind my house, you can see the peaks from the sea even when you're surfing and I grew up with this mysterious mountain range that comes from the depths of the sea. I made Metamorphic, then exhibited at the Leica Gallery in Florence, where I portray these mountains in black and white. The white marble is now being extracted at a devastating rate and I wanted to somehow do justice to the beauty of these places but also highlight their fragility.

Warm or cold?
Both lead me back to one thought, the sea. Water is my element: when I shoot in the waves in the depths of winter, the conditions can be very harsh but I know how to handle them. I believe that on a photographic level, cold places are more interesting than warm ones, and this pushes me to experience the mountains as well. On the other hand, even if I start to suffer the extremes of scorching summers, I like that autonomy that tropical waters give me.

Tell us about your latest project with Lorenzo Jovanotti.
I met Lorenzo in Florence on a photo shoot where I was portraying him wearing the handmade hats he wears during his concerts. Working with an artist like him was an experience: he instantly put me at ease. After that shoot he called me to do the pictures for his latest album ‘Il corpo umano' (The Human Body). Along with the record company, Universal, we decided to take a series of photos in a mystical place in Umbria that Lorenzo had found. The photos were then released on the double vinyl and also as a poster inside. When you work with Lorenzo, time stands still and you can talk about any subject with total ease. As only happens with the greats.

Tell us about your latest project with Lorenzo Jovanotti.
I met Lorenzo in Florence on a photo shoot where I was portraying him wearing the handmade hats he wears during his concerts. Working with an artist like him was an experience: he instantly put me at ease. After that shoot he called me to do the pictures for his latest album ‘Il corpo umano' (The Human Body). Along with the record company, Universal, we decided to take a series of photos in a mystical place in Umbria that Lorenzo had found. The photos were then released on the double vinyl and also as a poster inside. When you work with Lorenzo, time stands still and you can talk about any subject with total ease. As only happens with the greats.