Milan-based photographer Giovanni Genzini describes how seeking out new experiences fuels the creation of unique images
“I was introduced to photography from a young age, thanks to my grandparents, who were both passionate amateur photographers,” recalls Giovanni Genzini, a fashion, commercial and travel photographer. “When I visited them, I would spend hours flipping through photo albums filled with images from their travels.
“They photographed everything on film and had explored the world – Iran, Laos, Myanmar, then Peru and South America, Africa and the Middle East. The texture and grain of those analogue photos stuck with me, as did the faces and colours they portrayed.”
Inspired by his family’s imaging legacy, Giovanni now travels the globe himself – and, just like his grandparents, he uses photography to keep a creative record of his experiences.
Staying present
For Giovanni, a sense of awareness is the key to his photography. “My approach is instinctive, yet driven by observation,” he describes. “I don’t like to stage my images or start from an overly defined idea – I prefer to let the context guide me and be surprised by what I encounter. But whether I’m out for a walk or in the middle of an activity, I try to stay open and present.
“I believe there’s also an element of luck in photography: every time I leave home or visit a new country, I never know what subjects or situations will unfold – and that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating.”
That natural affinity for exploring the unknown is all the motivation Giovanni needs to keep creating. “I don’t create for any specific reason, other than that I enjoy it – it relaxes me,” he explains. “In particular, reviewing my images and editing them are the parts I love most. I grew up with social media, where I found other people who shared my passion. That gave me even more reason to share and connect.
“I often ask myself how I developed a photographic style, and I don’t think I’ve found an answer yet,” Giovanni muses. “It was a natural process and, honestly, not an easy one to define. I believe every photographer has something innate within them that eventually finds its way out. Our background plays a huge role – the films I watched, the exhibitions I visited, the artists I studied as a teenager – all these influences shaped my eye, often without me even realising it.
“On top of that, I was fortunate enough to travel from a young age, which gave me countless opportunities to observe, experiment and tell stories,” he recalls. “Travel photography became a natural extension of my desire to explore and connect with different places and cultures.”
The road less travelled
With Giovanni always keeping an eye out for photographic opportunities, he often finds himself struck with more inspiration on the journey than at the destination.
“I mostly travel by road, so many of my best photos come from unexpected moments or landscapes I discover along the way – often by taking a detour or pulling over,” he explains.
“I usually plan my trips by avoiding the most touristy destinations. To truly encapsulate the essence of a place or culture, it’s essential to explore secondary roads – the ones that don’t appear in guidebooks. That’s where the most genuine encounters happen, and where you experience real daily life.
“If it’s a road trip, unpredictability becomes key. Especially when I travel alone; I always try to plan my route in a way that leaves space for spontaneous exploration. I’d rather leave an hour earlier and find I’m able to pull over and photograph a man selling fresh fruit from a cart – or take an unpaved detour and end up in a village during market day.”
In a photographic genre as expansive as travel, Giovanni recommends an attitude of flexibility.
“When I come across an interesting subject, I have two different approaches. Sometimes I make a few photos from a distance, unnoticed – using a telephoto lens. But if I feel the person seems open and welcoming, I try to have a quick chat and ask if I can make a more direct and involved portrait,” he enthuses.
“Many times, this approach has led to surprising generosity: people have invited me into their homes, shown me their shops or taken me to see their craftwork. These are moments I would never have found by just following a guide. For me, the key to travel photography is curiosity.”
Fujifilm kit for travel photography
With a vast lens line-up and a wide selection of powerful yet compact cameras, Fujifilm’s X Series is a platform that has found favour among many travel photographers – Giovanni included.
“Lately, I’ve been using the FUJIFILM X-T50 for my travels, and it’s quickly become one of my favourite cameras,” he notes. “I usually pair it with one of two lenses: the FUJINON XF56mmF1.2 R WR, which I love for portraits and details or the XF16-50mmF2.8-4.8 R LM WR, which is incredibly versatile on the road. It’s lightweight, delivers great image quality and strikes a nice balance between photo and video – perfect for travel.”
At only 438g including battery and memory card, the 40.2-megapixel X-T50 combines perfectly with the 240g XF16-50mmF2.8-4.8 R LM WR to create a portable, yet powerful travel set-up.
“I don’t rely on much additional gear,” Giovanni adds. “I like to travel as light as possible – just a camera, a couple of lenses and a few spare batteries are all I need!”
Alongside their utility, X Series cameras come packed with creative functions – like Fujifilm’s unique Film Simulations – that aid Giovanni in creating images that possess the same analogue charm as the ones that first inspired him.
“I started using Fujifilm cameras a few years ago with the FUJIFILM X100V,” he describes. “I was looking for something I could use every day – super lightweight but with professional quality. From there, I fell in love with Fujifilm’s colour science and overall rendering.
“I’m drawn to cameras that have a certain ‘soul’, and I think Fujifilm cameras have that – their timeless design and unique colour output make them really special.”
Parting advice
When it comes to photographic technique, Giovanni recommends keeping things fairly uncomplicated. “I try to keep my approach as simple as possible, and I rarely rely on overly technical methods,” he explains.
“That said, one technique I use quite often is panning, especially to isolate moving subjects in busy streets. In the past, I used to do a lot of long exposures, mainly when I was more focused on landscape work. But as I shifted toward reportage and street photography, I began to prioritise lightness and spontaneity.”
Working in a more reactive manner, Giovanni adds variety to his images through considered use of apertures.
“Something I’ve noticed recently in my photos is a contrasting use of depth-of-field: sometimes I work wide open to isolate a subject from its surroundings, other times I stop down to record the full atmosphere of a scene.”
For those looking to join Giovanni in documenting their travels with memorable photos, he encourages them to prioritise the right thing.
“My biggest piece of advice is to truly enjoy the journey – to experience it as a chance to discover a different culture, not just as an opportunity to collect photos,” he advises. “I believe that in order to grow as a travel photographer, it’s important to step away from what you find online.
“It’s common, especially when you’re starting out, to plan trips around the most famous photo spots, and end up recreating the same iconic images that millions of others have already made. I did that too, of course.
“But doing so often reduces the journey to a search for postcard-perfect locations, missing out on everything in between. To me, real travel photography is about surprise, exploration and spontaneity. It’s about stepping out of your comfort zone and letting yourself be amazed by the unexpected.
“In the end,” Giovanni notes, “the best photos are often the ones you didn’t plan for.”
