Fine art photography - The CreativeMindClass Blog

Mar 16, 2022

Custom and often hand-made top hats, masks, butterflies, crowns and paintings for backdrops. macro techniques to capture the details that are inspired by vintage noir films of the 30s and 40s. Many hours of preparations and patience goes into every fine art photograph of the gifted Italian photographer Giulia Valente.

We asked Giulia what her secret to producing her high-quality photography was. Here is her story.

"I completed my degree from Padua University in disciplines of Music, Art as well as Theatre in 2006. I have always been attracted by art: one aspect I like about living in Italy is the fact that art can be found everywhere. It's simple to get inspired.

My style can be called fine art photography: I see continuity between photography and painting. In some ways, photography is painting's younger sibling. Paintings, more than photos is my primary sources when I'm planning-to-shoot and retouch the next project."

fine art photography
Precious Dreams: year 2020. Model: Grimilde Malatesta (@grimildemalatesta). The dress and wig are: Grimilde Malatesta. Concept, photo, setting makeup and concept: Giulia Valente.

"Giovanni Gastel, the recent deceased Italian photographer, once told me that one must throw out 10000 good ideas before finding the best one. In my own way to apply this principle. In fact, I have a journal full of ideas, sketches, notes, and thoughts that are bound to be kept on paper for the rest of my life.

The primary step in creating a new idea is planning. It is crucial to take decisions to define and concentrate on the idea, then make drawings, collect objects/props... It can be a long and stressful process due to the fact that the photography that is required requires a lot of attention, even an obsession, with the fine details, the things you don't immediately notice, but that can make all the distinction."

fine art photography
The Caterpillar (from "Wonderland" series) Year 2021. Model: Ilaria Fracasso. Dress: Blue Lady Couture. Hat: Bizarre Noir. Photo, concept, styling, set, hair, makeup: Giulia Valente

What were the keys to making your caterpillar photographs?

"In the specific instance that I was working on for The Caterpillar Project, I attempted to determine the characteristics that identify the character, making him recognizable: the color blue and the hookah smokes, his wings that he reveals when he transforms into a butterfly. But also the attitude - somewhat conceited and arrogant. After that, I attempted to bring the various elements in a cohesive manner, and combine them with the overall style of the image I imagined.

On May 3, 2021 an exhibit of some of my work was inaugurated in the the Laboratorio Cardin(Padua, Italy). I am very excited and grateful because this is my first exhibition."

The artist's other fine art photographs, rooted in Italian and Flemish artworks of the XV and XVI centuries, you can view the images on Instagram and on her website..

fine art photography
Pandora The year 2020. Model: Martina Perdon (@martinaperdonn). Photo, concept, set, makeup: Giulia Valente
fine art photography
The White Rabbit (from "Wonderland" series): year 2020. Model: Rossella Perversini (@rossyglossy_mua). Hair and makeup: Rossella Perversini. Mask mask: Hysteriamachine (@hysteriamachine).
fine art photography
Mourning Peacock: Year 2021. Taxidermy Peacock, is courtesy of Alberto Michelon @animalfactorstudio. Concept, image, and setting: Giulia Valente