Meet Duccio and his photos : Catching a moment, fixing an instant, capturing an expression, a look, the light of a particular moment … all of this is, for me, equivalent to making an instant last forever.

Extending a moment, stopping time, as if it was endless.  Handing down something to those remaining after us … transmitting a feeling through an image, sharing an experience, a feeling with those who are not with us at that precise moment … This is what Photography means to me . A form of  “art”.

I have never been a good photographer but I have always been in love with photography, well before the arrival of the digital photo era, responsible for  deceiving people, for letting them think that everybody can take professional pictures.

I remember with pleasure the opportunity I had, years ago,  to take part in a photo shoot for an advertisement. I played “assistant to the photographer” and it was fascinating to learn how to arrange objects and details to enhance or highlight one thing or another.

Duccio,  il Fiorentino

It was on this occasion that I met Duccio, a Florentine photographer with an ancient tuscan name and remarkable talent.

Duccio approached the world of photography since he was a child.  Aged 14 he was fascinated by portraits. When he was a student at the Art Institute in Florence, he used to stop  school friends (especially girls , we must say…)  to offer free portrait photography sessions. Then he used to develop and print the negatives all by himself.  In short, a passion was born very early on.

Graduated in Architecture, passionate about sports (not only as a spectator but as a true sportsman) after various jobs, Duccio realized that photography really was his passion and  decided (or it was life that decided for him) to make it as a profession.

Not everyone  is lucky enough to match the two things!

I feel that  his photos exude his passion; whether he  is capturing images of sports in motion, or he is focusing on romantic weddings  or , my favourite, in his portraits.  Moments and expressions that Duccio is able to catch from unaware subjects busy doing something else.

Sports and Photography

With his heart close to his homeland, Duccio not only takes beautiful photos of Tuscany but he “lives” the region by doing a lot of snowboarding on the Apennine mountains and  breathing the marine salt of his coasts with his beloved wave surf, a sport he has been practicing for over 20 years.

“These sports have deeply changed and conditioned my lifestyle ...” In what sense, I ask? “I am constantly chasing the best condition … this happens with snow, sea and with photography! It turns out that my life is conditioned by this way of thinking!”

In 1996,  Duccio started his first experiences as a professional photographer,  following snowboard competitions in Italy and abroad.  Later, he worked for sport magazines.  It turned out to be personally  rewarding but for very little money … Then, one step at a time, wedding and ceremony requests started to be  more and more frequent, especially with weddings in Tuscany for foreign audiences becoming so popular.

His photo shoots are special.   An amazing eye for  details and portraits always ready to become protagonist!

I ask Duccio what he looks for in particular while photographing.

Anticipate & Predict

“It is more a question of” anticipating. Anticipate, predict the moment, what is going to happen next in order to take that photo that often makes all the difference. But this can only be done after so much experience! ”  He adds “ One must have a natural “visual curiosity”, as I call it. Definitely I note things, details, which others often do not see … When I talk to my wife and compare what I saw with what she noticed, I realize:  she sees the same things differently, she doesn’t notice details that she then only catches from my photos. “

I believe I understand what he means. It ‘s the difference between “looking” and  “seeing”, that subtle difference in verbs that I teach in my  language classes …

It is interesting to listen to him while I look at his photos.   After talking with him, I can understand better now what I see or glimpse from his images.

I ask him if he has a “dream project”:  He says that he hopes to be able to keep planning new projects  and would love to do something where photography is not tied to commercial purposes but … it takes time” and between his  young family and work, I guess for now it is going to remain a  project on hold.

Needless to say, I really like his work.  For information or requests you can directly contact him at info@duccioargentini.com. His shots can be followed on his Instagram account or on the website www.duccioargentini.com  

Hope you enjoy some pictures I have  “stolen” for you!