Riccardo Sirica: Feminine Beauty

"Put your heart in what you do, it will change everything!"

Tell us about yourself.

I'm a 48 y.o. italian guy and I live in Rome where I work as engineer.

When and how did the film journey begin for you?

My father was into this. When I was 13 y.o. he gave me a Canonet 28 (still in use!) with a roll of bw film and he told not to waste it.. I just did my shots about the killing of a pig in a village festival. But I suddenly realized that reportage was not my focus. I was so interested in people. I started shooting portraits of my friends in high school. Then I realized girls were more interesting! But I mean in many ways. I started to shoot my girlfriends, then friends.. And suddenly I got into film photography!

What Could we always find in your gear bag?

I bring my Praktica MTL 5b everywhere I go, with my favorite lens, the 35mm. My favorite film is the Kodak Tmax 400, due to its versatility. I prefer the bw cause I can develop it myself.

What camera makes you click?

Well.. When I was young I had a dream camera - the Hasselblad.. But it was soooo exepensive. Now you can buy one for 400 euro. And I bought a Hasselblad 500cm!! Now it's my favorite camera.

Who are your models?

This is the tricky part. I need to interact with people I take portraits of. That's my need. I don't shoot people I've never met. I need to spend some time with them. I photograph women, in addition to the obvious reason for a man, because I consider them to be the best of us. They are the most interesting, intelligent, strong and know males, well because they give birth us.

What inspires you most?

Mainly the work of other photographers. But of course, reading a book, watching a movie, talking with my friends, listening to good music, helps me a lot. My vision of the world could be different from that of other people: look through a camera all the time as I do, definitely makes you grasp aspects of life that others do not grasp.

Do you have any advice for film photographers out there?

Just: Shoot! Put your heart in what you do, it will change everything! Enjoy life to the full! That's all!
Perhaps it will not makes you the most famous photographer, but certainly the most satisfied of all!

You can find Riccardo Sirica here:
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