Kindergarten Hands_Prato_2020 Photograph - Limited Edition of 15

Hello, I'm Stefano Germi, and I'm a photographer. I was born in Prato in 1969, and my passion for photography started when I was 9 years old, thanks to my father who put his Olympus Om-1 camera in my hands. From that moment on, I began to explore the world of photography and experiment with different techniques. I started my photographic education with my father, who taught me the basics since he himself was an excellent photographer. Later on, I continued as a self-taught photographer until I began attending courses at the TPW (Tuscany Photographic Workshop). During the various workshops, I had the opportunity to study with renowned photographers such as Willie Osterman for Zone System, James Megargee for basic and advanced darkroom techniques, and Andrea Modica for nude photography. These experiences enriched my knowledge and improved my photographic vision. Following the workshop with Andrea Modica, I decided to use large format photography, particularly 8×10", and later even an 8×20" camera for contact printing. This path led me to teach photography, especially printing, in various photography clubs. After visiting exhibitions by Edward Weston and Paul Strand, I decided to fully dedicate myself to large format photography and contact printing. This new direction brought me into contact with Michael A. Smith and Paula Chamlee, two great masters of contact printing, during their workshop "Vision and Technique." Michael and Paula were impressed by my work on murals and proposed publishing a book with their publishing house.