Check out with Nicola Debernardi
November 8th, 2011 by admin received Comments Off TweetIf you visit Candiesmag pages every now and then, I’m pretty sure you noticed the articles with Nicola’s pictures. We met this guy by chance and we’ve been suddenly stoked by his talent. His reports are super sick and his pictures really innovative. We could define it as a sort of vintage look on hi tech shots. Fresh stuff, in any case. He also founded Dobermani Production and we’re so damn glad to have a talk with him 
go Doberman!!
Gianosky, 180 FS grab
Hi Nicola, let’s start with some presentation, how old are you, where are you from and where are you currently living?
Hi there! I’m Nicola Debernardi, a 30-year-old physicist. I come originally from Biella (Italy) and during my studies I moved to Eindhoven in the Netherlands, where I currently live and work to obtain a PhD degree in Physics.
Can you remember what was that pushed you to shoot your very first picture? And maybe you even remember what was in it?
Mmm, no I can’t, unfortunately. I’ve always liked to take pictures during family trips, but I didn’t own a good camera and I was not really interested in more than just saving memories. In 2005 I got a good digital camera and I started to have fun and inspiration in photography.
JJ-Hamilton,180 FS Ollie over the Rail
What does photography mean to you? What kind of feelings does it give you?
A photograph is a moment recorded in time. A good photograph is also beautiful. Simple as that!
It helps to connect with people. It feels nice to photograph and even exciting when shooting actions sk8, since I like so much this sport. When I develop a picture I like, it feels realizing. But the best feeling is when you receive positive feedbacks, especially when coming from the subject of your photograph.
Are you a self-made photographer or you maybe went to schools, courses and so on? Can you explain what’s behind this approach?
Completely self-made, I grew my skills up with books and Internet. I would have really liked to do a photography school, but I simply just took another direction in my studies.
Nowadays you can find everything you want on the Internet, just need to look for it. For instance, few days ago I was looking for info on HDR photography which I never did before; I ended up with too much material I don’t even have the time to read..
Stan Postmus, Tailslide
How did you approach skateboard photography?
Two years ago two friends of mine, Gianosky and Toni, visited me in Eindhoven. One afternoon I tried to picture them during a skate session and I discovered myself having a lot of fun in doing it. I occasionally repeated the experience with them and their crew in my hometown, Biella.
About one year ago, I started to take skateboard lesson at the Area 51 skatepark in Eindhoven ( www.area51skatepark.nl ) with Daniele, another friend of mine. Wouter Bosch, who is my teacher, asked me to join the training session of the skatepark team to shoot some pictures. This is still going on and it helps a lot to gain experience, not only with photography, but also with knowing the tricks and to establish connections with the local skaters. Seriously, here in Eindhoven there are few great talents and a lot of people above average! And the skatepark is awesome!
Moreover, I have been shooting few skate contests, the Amsterdamn AM and the Air Attack in Antwerp were the most famous and exciting.
Tim Bijsterveld, Fingerflip
We’ve seen some of your videos too. Is it something you’d like to develop in the future? Why did you choose photography instead of filming?
Videos were just fun in that moment and in the future I don’t plan to produce a lot of them. I prefer photography as a form of art. A photo can say more than a 1000 words. A single photo (in skateboard particularly) can summarize an action. One single good frame communicates the same of few seconds video.
I actually quite like a lot the HD GoPro camera-like concept and I might consider getting one and develop something in the future. I like the idea of recording from my point of view, while skating/skiing/diving.
In your opinion, how much should be important Photoshop and postproduction in a good image? How much time do you usually spend editing after a photo session?
If the image is good, I would keep it as it is, but it depends on what you want to obtain. I spend a lot of time in postproduction because I am still experimenting and trying to improve my own style. I can’t really quantify it, it depends on inspiration/satisfaction and it varies a lot..
In skateboard photography I like to mix technique with an artistic touch and therefore retouch is needed. A good composition is basilar but you can say a lot, combining it with also harmonious colors. Personally I like the “vintage look” (it is nice the way you define it) applied to skate/surf pictures, which reminds of the 70s, when those sports exploded in popularity.
Job vd Linden, 180 FS grab
How do you prepare before a shooting session? Do you try to visualize new angles, or you let yourself to be inspired on place?
I am more instinctive and go for the moment. The skaters guide you in a way and are of great help: I basically just follow them.
Places usually inspire me, unless it is a known place, then I have already figured out more or less the best angles.
In your website (www.dobermaniprod.biz ) there are a lot of very good pics. Skateboarding, travels, lifestyle. What’s your favorite subject to portray, and why?
Thx! I love traveling and I’ve always a camera with me. Therefore travelling/nature photography really fits me: the best would be being paid to trip around! Oh, that would be an easy living for me…
I like portraying people as well, but I find it really difficult to capture an emotion. If it happens, I am very happy!
Lately, I focused on skateboarding photography and capturing an action is what keeps me inspired now.
Daan vd Linden, Ollie North
What’s your equipment at the moment? And your favorite lens in your bag?
I use a Nikon D300s camera. The NIKKOR 35mm F1.8 is my fav objective for low light conditions and portraits. The fisheye is the best for sk8, I use a relatively cheap SAMYANG 8mm F3.5. For travelling, in my opinion, the best one is the NIKKOR 18-200mm, so that you have a useful lens perfect in all situations you might be in.
How much is a good equipment important to create good images? In your opinion, it’s more important having a 5 thousand dollars equipment or a lot of creativity into finding new angles and so on?
The composition (so creativity) is the most important part of an image in my opinion and for that you don’t need expensive equipment. My camera is at the semi-professional level and was quite expensive. I chose that because of the high frame it achieves. A high frame rate is very important in skateboard photography. A part for the frame rate, I think the lens is more important than the camera and there is where I prefer to invest my money.
Venice Beach
You’ve been travelling a lot in Europe but also in the States, Africa and so on. The sickest photographers out there usually spend a lot of time travelling and maybe exploring new cultures. Do you think there is really a link between travelling and photography? Did being in contact with so many different places and cultures change your behavior in any way?
For me travelling and photography go together. I could not travel without a camera and when I feel like to photograph I need to visit new places.
Being in contact with multiple cultures enhance your awareness of different realities and form you as an individual. In photography your behavior changes as well depending on the subject of your picture. The relationship photographer-subject changes for different people and you need experience to relate with it. Experience that you can gain studying the culture of the people.
Lecio Batista da Silva, Rock to fakie
And in the meantime, you’re going thru your Ph.D. Are you planning to make a living out of photography, or you see it more as a hobby, or maybe you’ll quit it once enrolled in a big corp 
? In any case, what are your plans for the future, for you and for DobermaniProd?
I would seriously like to live out of photography but it is really difficult. There is a lot of competition and stock photography is undervaluing the job of photographers. I am almost at the end of my Ph.D. and I’m debating on what to do next. It is difficult to decide for me at this point. Maybe a good compromise is to look for a part time job in technology so that I still have time to go on with photography.
Definitely DobermaniProd will go on! I have so many works to put online, a lot of pictures of trips I didn’t even have the time to work on due to lack of time. Also I would like to organize some expositions; here in the Netherlands there are a lot of possibilities and places are open to expose works (in cafés, art centers or even coffeeshops). Finally, I have some projects in mind, not all related to skateboard, and I am again just waiting to have time to finalize them.
Venice Beach
I’ve never seen so many “photographers” as today. It reminds me those days when every kid was wearing Vans and the ‘Nevermind the Bollocks’ t-shirt listening to Nofx. It’s getting freakin mainstream. What’s your opinion about that? Do you think it’s good, or is it something that upsets you?
Ah ah, I remember those days too and I am not changed since then too much! (I’m a Vans, addict… I wear only Vans since more than 10 years, I just love their old school style. Seriously, they should sponsor me!)
I have nothing against that, the digital era made it easier for everybody, more and more people approached photography because of that (me included). Today with just cheap camera and a PC/MAC, you can do what once was done by a production studio. So I like this openness and simplification that technology gave to everybody.
Mimi Knoop, Rock to Fakie
Thank You Nicola, we love the Dob! Follow Nicola’s latest jobs on
Facebook ( www.facebook.com/dobermaniproduction )
Website ( www.dobermaniprod.biz )
Flickr( www.flickr.com/photos/hardcola/ , but before Dobermani Prod. times)
Thank you guys for publishing my pictures and for this interview! I really appreciate your work and CandiesMagazine.com rocks!
A special thank to Wouter Bosch and the guys from the Area51skatepark!
Pictures: (c) Nicola Debernardi
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Posted under: INTERVIEWS, PHOTOGRAPHY & VISUAL ARTS
