Alberto’s work is somehow both soft and hard, simultaneously intimidating and inviting. I was drawn in by close-up shots of detailed surfaces and falling light, but I fell in love with the soft intimacy of his photographs, surprising for their content and nature. Here, he talked with me about his life, his work, and the creative process.
Quinna Hadley (QH): Who are you? Describe what you do in a couple of sentences.
Alberto Ceresa (AC): I’m thirty-five years old, born and raised in Italy. Photography is my preferred medium for expressing my inner world, but I feel very close to writing, too. Since I’m quite an introvert, photography is a fantastic excuse to roam around, explore, and connect with people. My photographic enquiry centers on the theme of memories as intersections between reality and imagination. My projects are personal and intimate, often drawing from my past as a source.
QH: When did you start taking photographs, and what motivates you to continue?
AC: My first encounter with photography wasn’t a memorable one – traveling, capturing random pictures of beautiful places: that was my relationship to photography for a long time. I was twenty-three when finally, after a summer course at the London Film Academy, I understood that I could use images in a more profound way. Since then, I’ve messed around a lot, starting with short-movies and painting before landing on photography, which I’ve never left.
To date, I feel that I’ve only scratched the surface of the infinite possibilities offered by photography as a language – that for me acts as a catalyst for motivation.
QH: What does the word sagrada (sacred) bring to mind for you?
AC: The word sacred brings to mind a lot of images, spanning from religious artifacts to more ethereal sensations. In my life, the sacred is something I am always searching for – sometimes I have a glimpse of it, but it vanishes rapidly.
QH: What inspires you?
AC: Inspiration comes from a melting pot of what I read, what I see, memories, mundane things. What is important for me is to keep my eyes open, to live in the present moment; questioning myself about how I feel about a topic, or a situation. Sometimes a good question can work as a creative trigger.
QH: How would you describe your work – what do you seek to capture in your photographs?
AC: Recently, during a conversation with a photographer, I was asked the same question. I replied without thinking too much: I do gentle photography. We both laughed, because it sounded kind of naïve – but that’s more or less what I do. I try to approach a topic, a person, or even a location with empathy and respect. In practical terms, I prefer to work slowly, in order to feel more rooted in the situation, instead of being a passing visitor. In my photographs, I seek to capture small moments of wonder that, pieced together, can create a story.
QH: What do you love most in this world, and what is bringing you joy?
AC: My wife and my daughter; to feel the love and affection of my family and friends in as difficult of times as the ones we are all experiencing.
QH: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
AC: A ninja, a cowboy, an astronaut, depending on the day. I’ve always had a fervid imagination.
QH: What is your favorite book?
AC: To be honest, I don’t have a single favorite book – I’ve loved a lot of books in my lifetime. Usually, I get fond of a writer and read a number of their books compulsively. That happened with Haruki Murakami, Tiziano Terzani, Raymond Carver, and David Foster Wallace, among others – the list would be long. I also read essays, but I feel most at home when I read narrative books.
QH: What are your creative and/or professional goals?
AC: Right now, my main goal is to complete a long-term project about sleep. It will take time, and a lot of effort. I prefer to focus on small steps, instead of big goals.
QH: Is there a piece of wisdom or advice you’ve received in your life that you’d like to share with others?
AC: Recently, a photographer that I admire told me, “Chaos is your friend”. This is something that I bear in mind each time that I try and control the creative process too much. Sometimes It’s important to make space for improvisation – to follow the flow without thinking too much about the final outcome.
Alberto Ceresa, Instagram: @alberto.ceresa, www.albertoceresa.com
