Roberto Covi
Roberto Covi gained widespread appreciation due to his personal style and approach to photography. Passionate about music, philosophy and poetry, Roberto is clearly an artist at heart. What is unique about his work, is precisely this diffusion among several forms of art, that gives birth to exquisite ideas, innovative editorial approaches and an almost cinematographical approach of the subjects. His photos manage to send accross real messages and feelings; they challenge, intrigue and inspire the viewers.
Roberto Covi was born in Bolzano. Ever since he was a child, he discovered his affinity towards all forms of art. In school, he learnt that he had a natural inclination towards words and writing. Consequently, he decided to follow Literature and Philosophy courses at the University of Bologna.
During his years there, his fondness of poetry was awarded with his name being included in the list of the „Ten new promising italian poets”. Shortly after finishing University, Roberto became more and more drawn to photogrphy. He discovered that not only writing could help him express his intimate, personal view of the world, but also the camera. Thus, this became his new means of capturing the essence and meaning of everything surrounding him.
Looking through Roberto Covi’s portfolio, we can notice a great range of subjects, topics and thoughts captured. Clearly, he sees photography as a powerful tool of expressiong both emotions and concrete concepts. A self-taught photographer, he needs to experiment a lot, which only results in a great diversity in his work. The artist successfully makes use of natural decors or unusual outdoors settings, such as abandoned factories, while feeling equally confident working indoors. Also, he proves to be comfortable shooting both men and women; this can be observed especially in his editorials. Last but not least, a glance through his „Personal” section in his portfolio, helps us get an idea about the photographer himself; here, he exhibits images that are the pure result of his own beliefs and feelings, unconstrained by magazines or clients of any kind.
Overall, the artist manages to shoot an ample array of photographs, through numerous techniques, in tremendously different styles, while still managing to maintain his personal signature throughout every picture. For instance, his latest works include a shooting for the Alfa C4 new prototype; the shooting was definitely a challnge for the photographer, as he had to work in rather difficult conditions- he had to shoot in the showroom, factor which tremendously limited his options and ideas. However, Roberto quickly adapted to the situation, and came up with a great idea: since he couldn’t fit the whole car in one shot, in such a way to suit his artistic view, instead, he took several pictures from different angles, each time capturing only a part of the car, such as the front, or the side. Put together, the pictures illustrate the whole vehicle. The idea is clearly imaginative and stands proff of Roberto’s natural talent.
Roberto has had several exhibitions, such as „Bilbao”- held in Bologna, in the spring of 2001, or „In the valley”- held in the Studio Metrogramma in Milan during the Design week, in 2007. Aside from his widely-acclaimed exhibitions, he held several workshops and seminars on various themes, including fashion, in a workshop entiteled „Beyond Fashion”, held at Micamera in Milano, in 2009. Also, in 2005, he held at the Milano IED Moda Lab a Master for History of photography.
The artist’s fresh, sincere approach to photography, inspired clients such as: Armani, La Martina, Rodrigo, La Perla, Les Tropeziennes, Baci Rubati, Betty Blue, Grazia’lliani, Sony Columbia Usa, Warner Italia, Wella, Cafè Noir, Entrà, Grazia’lliani, Saatchi & Saatchi, LDB Advertising, Hole in One, Myths, Schwarzkopf etc. As for magazines, he collaborated with: Marie Claire Italy, Velvet, A, Urban, Wu Magazine, Colours Japan, To Be Magazine, Wearsports, Fiercive, Vogue Accessory etc.
Roberto Covi is currently one of the most intresting photographers in Italy.
His bold ideas, his courageous techniques and his freedom of thought, all aid him in delivering new, exciting images to the viewers.
Visit robertocovi.com
How did you discover your passion for photography?
Photography became a part of my life in my early twentiies, when a friend of mine borrowed to me one of his old cameras.
I went in a park and I found out it was so natural to look through this unique kind of eye. I could imagine, lose my fantasy and follow its steps. This thing in my hands could help my imagination to become visible. In a certain way it’s all about that, my imagination. (Imagination is funny, it makes a cloudy day sunny… – Bing Crosby).
How did photography become more than a hobby? How did you manage do break into the image industry?
At the end of the University I taught in a private school, italian, german and english. I love to teach. it’s stimulating to find out a way to help people to know things. (by the way, when you teach you learn at the same time…). But that wasn’t enough for my need to do things, to express my thoughts, to let them live. Just to let you know, for my parents I still haven’t a real job, what’s that, photography… It’ not so easy how someone could think, I learned everything through real experience, through my mistakes, through my success.
And I still do…
There are things I don’t see. Those are the things I would never photograph. Following this personal world I started working, accepting or refusing jobs I didn’t own, trying to do always my best, both in the commercial and in the artistic field.
What inspires you for your editorials? How do you choose locations?
As I said before, it’s all about imagination, having a good cellar, a inner space where you put your dreams, your fantasies. You need often to put new seeds inside, to research, to keep your eyes and your mind open. I hope I’ll never stop to be curious, to be willing to learn new experiences.
Next step I want to do in the future months it’ll be to start shooting short videos, in my way. I have the feeling I’ll find another world that is mine.
How come you choose that approach for shooting the Alfa C4 prototype?
I went to Torino to shoot an editorial for Intersection UK. (Then also the italian and the french edition asked me to use my photos).
I didn’t know the location, I discovered only seeing it, that the Alfa C4 was red, I had only three/four hours to do everything. We went in only in the afternoon.
I love to know what I’ll do during my jobs, that’s why I do a lot of research, I talk a lot with my team, with my clients, with the models I’m working with.
But at the same time, I’m not a photographer by chance, I chose to be a photographer, I know what I do, and I don’t do it by case.
Often I say that I’m not a camera, I’m a photographer, and as you understand there is a clear difference.
Whatever situation can have also a secondary road to follow, even if your preparation is total.
That day in Torino I didn’t really choose. I shot my story, that’s all.
