Cartagena de Indias — Gente / December 12, 2024 by Adrian Galli

Colorful, lively, hot, I came for the wedding of my two friends Liz and Chris but stayed for the photography… and food. The vibrancy of this place is only eclipsed by that of its people.

Some parts look like a movie set, some look like a Latin American Miami Beach, and some a not as pleasant. However, one with a camera might find all of it beautiful and would also hope to share it with others. Should you find yourself in this part of the world, keep your iPhone or camera ready… and bring extra storage. This would be the first time I nearly ran out of memory for my photographs—only room for thirty-four shots by the time I boarded my flight home.

At times I felt like I was in an episode of White Lotus, with friends traipsing around this magnificent place on the verge of some drama and excitement—which we found occasionally. Other times I was fending off street vendors with trinkets, cigars, and bottles of aqua, sin gas… if that’s all they were trying to sell me.

Many times words serve not the justice a place deserves and I find little sense in an attempt for this place. The days are hot, the evening more kind, but the people of Cartagena are always easy on the photographer.

People of Italy / October 25, 2024 by Adrian Galli

I’ve sent plenty of time in Lucca, where my father lives, and tend to take many beauty shots. After so many trips, I wanted [needed] something new—inspiration, subjects, etc. I usually take my 23mm (35mm in 35mm terms) lens and my FujiFilm camera; usually my X-T5. Italy works very will with wider lenses. Many streets are narrow compared to the broad spaces we have in the United States. However, taking the same gear would have put challenges in the backseat.

My lens of choice: 35mm ƒ1.4 lens. Just a change in lens but doesn’t do well for broad, sweeping landscapes, or whole-building architecture but for details—getting close to ones subject and maximizing the minimalism of photography. That focal length doesn’t distort much, it doesn’t exaggerate perspective or compress the seen. It is a boring lens… and one much focus on interesting content.

For this trip to Italy, people became a suprisingly common subject for me. Surprising because I tend not to do the typical street photography but I loved it. While New York City is considered a mecca for street photography, I would argue the people of Italy of been sold short on that premise.

These are some of the people of Italy; Lucca, Pisa, Orvieto, and Firenze.

Edited on iPad Pro using Capture One

A Year in Photographs 2023 — A Journey's End / January 8, 2024 by Adrian Galli

A Year in Photographs

365 Days, 12 Themes, 1 Creative Journey

Museo Soumaya — Day 98

I started writing this entry with some grand idea that there was a lot to say, stories to tell, and great insight I learned. While I do have many stories, evolved creatively, pushed myself hard to achieve this tremendous goal, and want to share so much of my journey, I didn’t find that I could completely convey what #AYearinPhotographs has meant to me nor engage it all in just a few paragraphs.

Instead, I intend to keep this short because, perhaps, minimalism is a certain type of valor. A photograph every day for a year is an undertaking. One sets out, like every journey, with the first footstep and from there, the Universe leads one on. Simply put, it is a lot of work. Sometimes hours spent crafting one photo—it is easy, and it is hard. One is excited to do it and one will be tired.

Then it is all over and there is pride, sadness, love, and even bewilderment. And it is absolutely something that I recommend everyone should do—whether it be photography, writing, music, art, cooking, fitness, or whatever your passion may be. Do it. Journal it. Blog it. Share it.

It is a wave that washes over you and you’ll either ride it great distances or it will stay your feet, and you will be left behind. It is a commitment that if you hesitate for merely a day, you can never draw level. But when you reach the end of every day, every week, month, and the year, you have an accomplishment that only those who have traveled this path can truly appreciate.

Over 11,000 photos, 365 days, 12 themes, thousands of kilometers, two continents, four countries, and one singularly fantastic camera later, #AYearinPhotographs comes to close.

Here’s to the journey’s beginning, the path, the light, the shadow, and to the journey’s end.

Until next time.