BUENOS AIRES—In 2007 The Epoch Times organized its first International Photography Competition, in which more than 13,500 photographers from more than 61 countries took part. Among them 145 outstanding photos were finally selected to enter the final round. One of these was the “Gaucho parade,” from the Argentenian Carlo Legnazzi from Corboda Province. Gauchos are the Argentine equivalent of the American cowboy. The Epoch Times recently caught up with him to talk about his experiences. The winners for the 2007 photography competition were released in mid 2008, and an exhibition of their works will soon be organized.
Epoch Times: Congratulations for the special mention you received! Could you explain why you picked that photo to enter the competition?
Carlo: Thank you, I am very happy to receive the certificate. I wanted to send that photo to show Argentine customs, and the union that exists between the gaucho and his horse. I took it during the patronage festival of Villa Giardino in the mountains of Cordoba. It was in one of the parades in which many gaucho groups participated, with more than 1000 riders and their horses. I also picked it because I like its composition, the color, and the special attitude of the people… and the smile of the small gaucho girl is for me invaluable.
ET: In your opinion, what does it take to capture a good photo? Do you think having a good camera is important?
Carlo: According to my ideas, good photography must capture the moment of view of the person behind the camera, and transmit the contemplation of that feeling, that experience. Of course, taking into account adequate composition and good management of light; above all, a good control of light, to know how the light falls on the shot we are going to take. For me one of the secrets of a good photo resides in this, in how to use light. When it comes to which camera, I think good equipment also makes a good photographer.
Carlos has been a professional photographer for 45 years, and has edited various books on photography, including among other subjects, Venice for UNESCO; architecture in Cordoba, Argentina; photographs for a book about Jordan as a gift to Queen Noor of Jordan; and nine editions of books about Cordoba, Argentina.
In conclusion, we leave readers with the prologue for Carlos’s next book, which expresses his sentiments on photography: “For me, nature and photography are the same thing: forms of expression, forms of understanding, forms of narration. I’ve being doing photographs my whole life, trying with them to relate something. I am possessed with forms and colours, with light and reflection, with the water, clouds, earth, and rivers. I try to draw the soul of nature, its intensity, purity, its storms and calms. Through nature I feel life.”
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