only another mechanical device
A photo journal by Stefano Mattia


Anonymous asked: “Hello I also find you like the simplicity of your blog just right and would be interested in receiving your custom html. I just joined Tumblr with your blog as inspiration. I'm sitting on 1000's of photos going back to the early 80's and need a better venue than facebook to share. However, I'm not that skilled with all this stuff. Also, what are you dev you acros with? I went through 10 rolls this summer, wasn't quite happy with the results, after seeing your work realized it's me. thanks.”

Thanks my anonymous friend. I’m glad to know you decided to join tumblr after seeing my blog, there’s a nice community and lots of people passionate about photography in here.

I created the Photographers Directory so that those who post their original work can get a little exposure and connect with other photographers on tumblr. You’re invited to join it once you set up your tumblr. As for my theme, I’d be happy to share it with you, but I need your email address where I can send it.

Fuji Acros is perhaps my favourite black and white film. I usually soup it in HC110, dilution B, for 5 minutes 30 seconds at 20ºC. Can’t get wrong with it. I tried X-Tol and Rodinal as well and they gave me even more nice results but I’m sticking with HC110 lately for its convenience and infinite shelf life.

Hope to see your photos soon!

At the Perfect Bun, Rome.

Rome, Summer 2011

Beware of the panther!

The speed of light, Rome, Via dei Fori Imperiali

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Ivo and I decided to go take some long exposure shots with our Bronicas RF645. I messed up when loading the roll, I could save only a few shots. But it was a nice experience nonetheless. Rome can be beautiful by night, everything considered.

Say hi to my new toy!

ninaly replied to your photo: I decided I want to sell my newly acquired Carl…

how do you like the sony nex?

Hey Ninaly, the Sony Nex is a fine little digital camera. It’s perfect for my needs: small body, flip-out screen, and nice and clean digital files. I use it mainly with my Leica-M lenses by using an M mount adapter. The crop factor and the minimum focus distance of the Leica lenses kind of make the whole experience less fun than expected though. I really wish I could focus closer than 0,7m. Time to get the new Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 24mm f1.8 maybe? :D

PS: I added you on Instagram :)

I decided I want to sell my newly acquired Carl Zeiss Planar ZM 50mm f2. I already own a Summicron 50mm f2. Yes, the Summicron looks pretty beaten up, the focusing action is not that smooth anymore, and it flares like hell when the sun is anywhere in the frame. But it is more than enough for me. The Planar 50mm is a fantastic lens. The build quality is astonishing and the optical rendition is nothing short of amazing. But buying it was an impulsive buy. I should learn how to control myself and save money for things I really, really need.

Btw, this is taken with the Planar and my Sony Nex.

The noodles on the foreground are my emergency dinner for those nights when I come back home, I open my fridge and stare at the emptiness for five minutes before realizing that there’s nothing to eat and that it is about time to go grocery shopping :)

Aurorafotografi, a very fine blog about the Italian young photographers scene, has just published a post about me, with some photos and an interview.

Thank you Aurora fotografi!

aurorafotografi:

STEFANO MATTIA

Looking back for the last time

A little personal life update

After a couple of months of relative inactivity I’m finally back on track!
Today I developed my first roll in two months so expect some fresh new pictures soon. Also, now that I’m fully settled down in my new apartment I can finally focus on photography again. I’ve got big plans for the future. And yes, I’ll be giving away hand made silver prints to some of you friends who have been following me all this time. 

I miss colours too! Shooting black and white exclusively these past few months has taught me a lot on how to “see” a photo. But the autumn colours in Rome strike a chord in me so I think I’m going to start shooting colour film again. I was looking at my Lomo LC-A pictures and felt in love again with that fuzzy look, the vignetting, the focus inaccuracies, the faded colours, aww, I think I’m going to buy a new one soon.

I also recently jumped on the Google+ bandwagon and found there’s a vibrant photography community on there: it’s amazing! If you want to add me to your circles, here’s a direct link to my profile. I added a +1 button on the bottom of my page too, click it if you like my blog :)

Finally, I’m having a lot of fun with Instagram and I’m continually on the look for new interesting people to follow there, so if you’re using Instagram on your iPhone add me (I can be found by my name: Stefano Mattia), I’ll add you back.

The sound of your steps

I’ll sing a song to make you sad
I’ll sing a song to make you happy
I’ll sing a song to make you feel you’re not alone

I can’t help it: I’m totally fascinated by old books. There’s something magic in those little humble second-hand bookstores, which invites me to spend my time there to look for that special book. That life-changing book.  

Like the great J. L. Borges once said: 

 Like all men of the Library, I have traveled in my youth; I have wandered in search of a book, perhaps the catalogue of catalogues; now that my eyes can hardly decipher what I write, I am preparing to die just a few leagues from the hexagon in which I was born. Once I am dead, there will be no lack of pious hands to throw me over the railing; my grave will be the fathomless air; my body will sink endlessly and decay and dissolve in the wind generated by the fall, which is infinite. I say that the Library is unending.




◄ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ►


home · about · ask · archive · cargo · prints

100% Original Content
All images are copyrighted by Stefano Mattia
Powered by Tumblr