Marcello is a photographer based in Rome, he is interested in travel, documentary and street photography.

“I have always taken pictures, and I do this essentially in an attempt to stop time. I like the idea of doing it even if it is only a fantasy. time alters everything: it changes your skin, your voice, your looks, your way of thinking. sometimes you change and you don’t even realize it. a photograph makes you go back in time, and you remember where you came from, who you were and what your thoughts were. through a snap-shot, you remember yourself. through mine, i’m attempting to leave a mark, no matter if it is sad or happy, it’s enough to give an emotion. my pictures are spontaneous and sincere, sometimes moody, sometimes hilarious.” [Official Website]

What’s in your camera bag?

The photographic equipment I take with me in my bag varies a lot depending on the journey I decide to embark on and the type of photography I decide to do; for example, if I decide to do street photography only, the equipment I bring is the following:
• My Fuji X100T with WCL-X100 wide conversion lens, which allows me to convert the X100 lens from 35 mm (135 mm equivalent) into 28 mm.
• 2 extra batteries.
• A Fuji BC-65N battery charger.
• A KATA LightTri-310 DL bag.
• A shower cap to protect the camera from dust or light rain.
• A small umbrella.
• My business card.
• A basic backpack.
• A cloth to clean the lens.
When the journey is longer and I decide to do documentary photography, in addition to the “street” equipment, I bring the following:
• My Canon 5d MIII with Canon EF 24-70 mm f/2.8 L USM II lens.
• 2 extra batteries.
• A Canon LC-E6E battery charger.
• Waterproof rain cover for the camera.
• A small umbrella.
• A Joby GorillaPod SLR-Zoom tripod with Ballhead.
• A Canon cloth pouch.
• A Walimex pro easyCover.
• A BlackRapid Yeti Slim.
• A Forclaz 22 Air backpack.
• My business card.
• A cloth to clean the lens.

 

What’s the most surprising thing you carry?

Without any doubt the cap that I use to protect my X100T from the drizzle… One of those plastic shower caps that you find in hotels. If this one is not surprising…

What is the one thing you couldn’t live without?

Being able to travel and practise photography. As far as I’m concerned, they are the same thing – in the sense that I can’t conceive traveling without being able to take my camera with me. At the same time it’s photography that drives me to travel, explore, discover the world and look at things in everyday life with different eyes. It helps me understand a little bit better the world in which I live.

What are some of the details that you find essential for your style of bags?

When I travel, I keep it fairly simple, in the sense that I am not particularly interested in very elaborate bags, also because my camera is hanging from my BlackRapid Yeti Slim strap most of the time; a bag with an anti-rain coat and the Canon soft cloth pouch case, which I only use during flights or when I put my Canon 5d MIII in my backpack, are therefore enough. On the other hand, when I practise street photography a small bag is essential to avoid limiting movements… Simplicity is the key!

What are the important things for protecting your camera gear?

For my Canon 5d MIII, I find the BlackRapid strap very useful, because it allows me to keep my camera just behind my right side, enabling me to protect it from any bumps and to move nimbly, without showing it off too much; I also use a Walimex pro easyCover silicone cover, which is very useful to protect my camera from small accidental blows. As for the lens, I protect it with a HOYA HD UV filter. To protect my Fuji X100T instead, as it is not very heavy or bulky, I only use a wrist strap and hold it tightly in my hand.

Can you give me the essential carry kit when traveling the globe (bags, accessories etc.)?

Generally speaking, I believe the equipment you take with you on a journey has to be as light as possible. I also believe that the equipment you bring has to be chosen depending on the type of journey you are embarking on and the type of photography you want to practise. For example, it often happens to spend weekends traveling around Europe and on such occasions street photography is very often the only photography I practise; in this case travelling light is advisable, which is why my Fuji X100T is perfect, as it is handy, light and manageable. The camera case is also important: the lighter and the handier it is, the less it will affect the rapid movements that are generally required when practising street photography. I believe the one I use is very comfortable because I can fit inside all the most important things. An accessory I believe to be very useful is the WLC-X100 wide conversion lens, which converts the 35-mm lens into a 28-mm lens, which I find particularly suitable for the type of photographs I take.
Another accessory that I consider essential when I am travelling with my Canon 5d MIII is my Blackrapid Yeti Slim, really useful for me!