How Massimo Leardini pays homage to the natural Scandinavian light

Norwegian-based Italian photographer Massimo Leardini plays with the unique Nordic light and its lengthened shadows in his photography. We ask Leardini to describe his ideal portrait session, early inspirations, and why his portfolio is strictly black and white.

WORDS: ERIK SEDIN, PHOTOGRAPHY: MASSIMO LEARDINI

Why did you want to create art and why did you choose photography as your medium?

“It probably started like with everyone else, a fascination for the camera itself — learning how you could use it, finding a way to express yourself and then realising that you’re obsessed. I really never thought about studying photography, for me photography was something that happened naturally, like a “go for it” attitude. Already after a few years working with photography commercially for designers et cetera, I felt the need to express myself and start working with my own projects, and to start planning books and exhibitions. Books, especially, have been a great thing to me. The intimacy of showing a project in a small format with a special edited selection, where you can move back and forward in the selection… I love the creative process about it. Since my first Scandinavian-themed book in 2006, I have put out eight more. My latest one, Elv, was published by Stanley/Barker in 2020.”

You’ve mentioned being inspired by big masters in photography like Avedon, Newton, and Penn. Have you been inspired by any Nordic artists throughout your life?

“The inspiration comes from these great image makers because they have managed to capture iconic moments, and still give us a great feeling of beauty. The reason is, I think, that they have been working very intensely with their photography, building their strong language from the start. I have learned a lot from trying to practice and photograph as often as I could. In this way you can build your own language, and find what you have to photograph.”

How do you take the unique Nordic light into consideration when photographing there? How do shadows come into play?

“I always use natural light in my photographs, and the long summer days in Scandinavia are my preferred light. In the beginning of my career I loved using cloudy skies, with light or no shadows. This gave a very painterly feeling to my photographs and portraits, but in the last ten years I have discovered the sun’s fantastic opportunity to create photographs with shadows, because of the sun being so low on the horizon, for such a long time. So at that moment my work has become more graphic and sometimes even abstract, both with nature and then with body and face shots.”

“I am not sure why it started, but what I am sure of is that I am not interested in colour, it’s too real...”

How come most of your photographs are black and white?

“I’m not sure why it started, but what I am sure of is that I’m not interested in colour, it’s too real… It’s all about the shape, structure, and light — plus I absolutely adore grey skies and grey grass.” What do you look for in a person when shooting your portraits? How do you connect with them? “We see people through our eyes, so this is what I am interested in first when understanding a person. I need first to get inspired and interested in the depth of the eyes. It’s something very spontaneous, just a feeling, a connection for a portrait. Then the body, not too feminine, not too masculin — just a person, a human being. When I shoot I do not speak much. I prepare the person I photograph in advance and try to explain my vision. Then I just observe and try to see what’s happening and patiently wait for the magic. It could be the light, a body movement, or an expression — something unexpected. I believe good work is the result of patience.”

What would your dream photo sessions look like? What person, what place, what setting, what time?

“Oh, I love that you’ve asked me this, because I have thought about it from time to time. It should definitely happen on a long summer day in Scandinavia, with the long shadows and great light. I would have taken a young Liv Ullman (a Norwegian actress and movie director, Ed’s note) on a trip to my favourite lakes in the Nordmarka forest region outside of Oslo.”

“It should definitely happen on a long summer day in Scandinavia, with the long shadows and great light."