Do you think style is important?

Answering this question is not easy. I, myself, do not follow photographic fashion or trends and photograph what makes me feel good. I know the moment I’ve done a shot that I’m happy with once I’ve pressed the remote release. Having said this, I will not deny that I look at different styles of photography, and take inspiration from what I see from other photographers.

Larches in the Snow (c) Adriana Benetti Longhini

What subjects drive the works or provide underlying themes

I’m primarily a landscape photographer, so getting out into the countryside or mountains is essential. I live in a beautiful place in northern Italy, called Asiago or best known as the Altopiano di Asiago (loosely translated as High Plateau of Asiago) I am fortunate to be surrounded with vast expanses of unspoilt countryside which includes pastures, meadows and low lying mountains. Not too far are the majestic Dolomites, which are also a constant inspiration for me to visit and photograph and where I feel very much at home.

What are common or characteristic themes depicted in your work?

I have a huge love for different atmospheric conditions, with mist being my absolute favourite. I also prefer sunrise to sunset as the light is much softer in the early hours. I also love water, so I photograph waterfalls and lakes often. Our alpine region has an abundance of spectacular lakes with crystal clear water and are often surrounded by pine and beech forests which are magnificent during the autumn months of the year.

Frozen Fence (c) Adriana Benetti Longhini

What about the creative process excites you the most?

I am a firm believer in getting the shot in camera as perfect as I can, so I thoroughly prepare any photographic outing before I leave home. However since I only photograph in RAW, I love bringing back my shots and then moving on to post production to complete my photograph. I use Lightroom for my post production.

What are your cultural influences?

I was born in Africa and have now moved to Italy to live in Asiago where my ancestors originated. I love colour, both strong and subtle and I think that my use of strong colours in most of my work comes from the light and bright conditions that Africa is so known for. The part of me that uses soft colours comes from living in Europe where light is softer and colours can be more subdued. Either way, these are my influences in my photography, however having said this I also enjoy developing certain photographs in black and white.

What are your words of wisdom for someone starting out in your field?

Read, read and read more! I eat, sleep and dream photography and have various subscriptions to photographic magazines. I also run a small photographic group and am always available to help and encourage. Look at other peoples work, don’t be afraid to ask questions and for help when you are not sure about something, and above all love what you do!

Marcesina Plains at Sunrise (c) Adriana Benetti Longhini

What else interests you?

I’m an avid gardener and a real homebody as well. This being said, I’m also a born vagabond, so travel and seeing new places where I find inspiration is important to me. Mountain conservation and the preservation of woodlands and forests is very important and the fight against pollution and litter should be treated the same way as anti smoking campaigns.

How do you want people to remember you?

This answer is a bit tongue in cheek….where I live fellow photographers and clients know me as the “lady in the mist” as I’m always around walking through the fields on misty mornings. Seriously, I’d like to be known as having shown a small bit about a relatively unknown area in the world and outside of Italy called the “Altopiano di Asiago”.

What is your favourite piece and why?

“Blue Frost” is my favourite piece because I shot this photograph on one of the most magnificent areas of the Altopiano called Marcesina. It is an unspoilt prairie like zone where dairy cattle graze in summer, meadows where an abundance of flowers grow and the most wonderful temporary residents, the cattle ranchers and their families live for about 100 days of the year.

I took this photograph very early one September morning, just before the annual cattle drive that takes place every year called Transhumance, where the cattle leave the mountains pastures and return home to warmer areas during winter. I’m proud to say that I always get involved and this year have been invited to hold an exhibition celebrating this wonderful event

10 MINUTES WITH ADRIANA BENETTI-LONGHINI