A JOURNEY INTO PHOTOGRAPHY

Anthony Mazza

Since my first steps in photography, I have spent years exploring techniques, mastering composition rules, and learning how to make my images visually captivating. However, with time and experience, two essential insights have reshaped the way I approach and practice this art. First, after battling with composition rules for years in my work, I realized that they are just a foundation, guiding principles, to help us better understand the essence of photography. While these rules are important, they should not be rigid constraints. In fact, I discovered that breaking them can sometimes unlock unexpected creativity. Take landscape or wildlife photography, for example: two photographers might share the same subject and apply similar principles, but their vision, interpretation, and the final result can be completely different. In reality, photography has no limits, except those we place on ourselves. Creativity is the true driving force behind an image.

The second realization I had is about the immense power of an image when it tells a compelling story. Creating a beautiful image is satisfying, but infusing it with deep emotion, capturing a moment that resonates with the viewer’s soul, brings an entirely different dimension to it. Conveying a feeling, awakening a sense—this is what gives real strength and impact to the photographs we create. Each photographer, through their unique vision and sensitivity, shares a distinct interpretation of the world. For me, creativity and emotion are the very foundations of photography—the pillars that make this art deeply human, personal, and universally relatable.

This article first appeared in PRISMA, Issue 22.