I can hardly describe how I felt when I first saw Amedeo Bellini’s latest work. I felt happy, excited, and inspired, realizing that anything is possible if you really want it. As both an artist and a person, he inspires me. Amedeo is a photographer, and even though the fashion world can be tough to break into, his ambition never fades. He creates unique worlds that really stand out from what I’ve seen lately. I’m amazed by how he finds such a fresh perspective, so different from what’s common right now.
The story starts with him, a YSL fan, deciding to go to their last show during Fashion Week to see if he could take some photos. After the doors closed, he found a spot outside, took pictures, and watched the show from there, capturing a unique, almost cinematic view.
Now, I’ll let him share a bit of his story. Here’s our conversation.
If someone asked, “Who are you, really?” how would you describe yourself beyond photography?
I’d describe myself as a very simple person. I may seem a bit introverted and shy at first, but once I get comfortable, I become more outgoing. Beyond photography, I enjoy doing simple things like going for a walk at the lake, riding my bike, going to the cinema, or hanging out with my friends. When I’m with my camera, I enjoy chaotic situations with lots of people, but when I’m not taking photos, I definitely prefer much quieter environments without all that chaos.
What makes you decide, “this is the photo”?
It just clicks something into me when I see it. It can be various things like the composition, the expression, or the light. I see it, and I say, “Ok, that’s it.” I’m not really good at describing why, it’s just a feeling. If I like what I see, it’s good for me. Sometimes, as soon as I take it, I know it’s the photo, but sometimes I only see it when I rewatch the photos on the pc with calm, and when it happens, it’s always a good surprise.
What inspires your images?
When I’m shooting street style, I get inspired mostly by the subject I'm photographing and the situation surrounding it. It can also happen that I’m not inspired at all and stay without taking a picture for minutes, just watching what is going on around me. In this case, I try using my camera with different settings just to see what happens, and this thing gets me going again. So inspiration can sometimes come from using my camera in a way I’m not used to, to create something different.
Meanwhile, if I’m preparing for a personal project or a shooting planned, I’m inspired a lot by movies, music, photography books, or clothes, but the inspiration can really come from everywhere, and most of the time I get inspired when I’m not searching for anything. I’m always open to everything.
Is there a photo you captured outside the shows, like during the YSL show, that feels more personal than it seems?
I don’t know if there’s a photo more personal than the others, but if I had to pick one, I’d choose the photo from the YSL show. It’s in black and white, and the model is walking on the right, while the rest of the pictures show people watching or recording the model with their phones. It just gives me a sense of calm, and I really enjoy watching it. Also, I like the double exposures that I did while shooting the ALAÏA show. I really like double exposures, and I’m happy with how they turned out.
When you're shooting, what draws your attention first, and what makes you stay with a subject?
When I’m shooting like street style outside a show or an event, I’m attracted by the situations that I see. I don’t focus solely on the subject, but on everything that surrounds it. Obviously, if I like the subject, I take portraits too, but what I like the most is to show the context/environment that is around, so if you see the photo, you can understand what it was like being there. I like to put more things in one picture to look at it. I like to change the perspective multiple times and, at the end, see which one works better for me.
What kind of images are you tired of seeing right now?
I don’t know if there are pictures that I’m tired of seeing. I’m kind of new in this world, so I like to see everything and try to understand how they shot it, so I can do it too and learn something new. I can always learn something new from every kind of picture, and I still have a lot, a lot to learn.
What is the most unforgettable moment you've experienced while shooting outside the shows?
When I was outside the YSL show and realized I could see it and try to shoot it with my camera, I was so happy that, for an hour, I didn’t think about anything but taking pictures of everything I was seeing, from the guests arriving until the end of the runway show. I was so happy, and it’s definitely the highlight of the week.
There are other moments that stand out for sure, like when I photographed the Alaia show and took some pictures of the Stella McCartney show. Then I really enjoyed photographing the guests arriving at the Tom Ford show; I liked the vibe.
As street style, I’d say outside the Dior show, I had a really fun time, so many people and situations, I loved it. It was a memorable week overall, but the YSL show is at the top.
