Massimo Bassano has worked as a freelance photojournalist since 1990. His words and pictures appear regularly in such Italian publications as iO Donna, Il Venerdì, Gulliver, Gente Viaggi, Runner's World, Ciclismo, GEO Italy, GEO Germany, MAX, MAX France, Moulin Rouge, National Geographic Traveler and National Geographic on-line edition. He covers a wide variety of subjects, including social issues, international travel, fitness and health, fashion and portraiture. In 2004, he was awarded a Ph.D in journalism from the Italian Association of Journalism. His coffee-table book, The Color of Silence, is the result of a twelve week stay with the Chartusians monks in the St. Mary and St. Stephen Monastery in Calabria. Bassano was the first photographer in the world ever allowed to document the practices of this 900 year old brotherhood. The book won awards in several Italian and European book competitions and a sequel is in the works. Bassano started his career as a picture editor for the well-known agency Grazia Neri. His long association with National Geographic began when he worked as a translator/guide for photographer Bob Sacha on a two month assignment in Italy. Subsequently he worked as a “fixer” for other Geographic shooters in Italy, often for months at a time, including George Steinmetz in Milan, David Alan Harvey in Naples, William Albert Allard in Sicily, Ira Block in Tuscany, and Bob Sacha again in Rome and Parma. Massimo teaches photography at workshops in Tuscany, Italy, for National Geographic Expeditions and Santa Fe Workshops. Massimo recently had an exhibition selected by the Human Rights Watch of Canada showing at the International Film Festival of Toronto.
Digital Storytelling
Massimo Bassano, an Italian photojournalist that works for National Geographic and other international publications, Shares his secrets on how to become a part of the scene you are photographing and “touch” the life of your subjects, rather than just watching them through your lens.
Massimo teaches you how to be part of the life that you are looking at through the lens by gaining a knowledge of the locations, becoming familiar with the history and social context of the people, having an open mind and being fully open to where the story takes you. The digital approach, according with the new technology you have in your hands, include a en experience with subject/location audio recording so to develop a more interesting story that involve original and exclusive emotions to show to other through web.
This workshop is for photographers with an interest in developing editorial and/or web projects.
Massimo Bassano specializes in intimate coverage of difficult subjects. He was the first photographer ever to gain access to the cloistered Carthusian monks in their 900-year history. He spent months living among them, which he documented in his book The Colors of Silence. His in-depth coverage of the culture of kidnapping and the Mafia in southern Italy was widely published throughout Europe.
Early in his career, Bassano worked as a “fixer” for National Geographic photographers and learned the ways of the masters for gaining access to a range of subjects, from fashionistas in high society to drug users in the grips of their addiction.
A portfolio is required for admission.
Instructors
