Photographer Captures Awe-Inspiring Images That Mix Earth and Sky

Italian photographer Gianluca Rubinacci transforms huge landscapes and evening skies into emotional narratives. A grasp of the panoramic composition, Rubinacci shares his journey and insights with PetaPixel.

Gianluca Rubinacci’s ardour for pictures started with a way of curiosity and a deep appreciation for artwork in all its types. Raised within the busy rhythm of a big Italian metropolis, he was surrounded by structure and motion, but at all times felt a pull towards the quiet of pure landscapes. His first actual spark got here unexpectedly when he encountered a set of images of Iceland that struck him with their magnificence and scale.

“I was born and raised in a large Italian city, accustomed to the frenetic pace of life there, but I have always been fascinated by natural places,” he recollects.

“When I saw those photos of Iceland, I asked myself, how is it possible to capture such an incredible landscape? I want to do that too. From there began my journey into photography and the discovery of pristine places far from those I had always known.”

A Style Built on Emotion

Rubinacci’s work is rooted in panorama pictures, however it’s not solely about documenting a spot; it is usually about mixing meticulous planning with a deep sense of surprise for the pure world. He approaches every scene as a storyteller, looking for to rework the bodily world into an emotional one. His objective is just not merely to point out what he sees however to speak what he feels.

“My photographic style stems from a desire to narrate landscapes not just as images, but as emotions,” he explains.

“I strive to convey what I feel when I see a place, whether it is illuminated by the warm light of dawn or immersed in the silence of a starry night. I want to express what I can see with my imagination, which often goes beyond what we can simply observe.”

This philosophy provides his work a novel perspective, the place mild and element are rigorously balanced to mirror each actuality and creativeness. For Rubinacci, probably the most rewarding a part of creating is when a deliberate imaginative and prescient turns into a dwelling picture.

“The most rewarding aspect of taking an image for me is definitely seeing an idea first planned in my mind come to fruition. Since landscape photography is so dependent on weather conditions, turning the initial idea into a real photograph is extremely difficult. When all the conditions come together and I manage to translate the idea in my mind into a tangible image, it is incredibly satisfying,” he says.

From Planning to Creation

His course of is methodical, but versatile sufficient to embrace the sudden. Rubinacci divides his workflow into three components: planning, motion, and finalization. He begins by researching landscapes by means of maps and references, selecting areas that encourage him and planning potential capturing circumstances with apps comparable to Google Earth, Photopills, or PlanitPro. Once within the area, nevertheless, nature typically has the ultimate phrase.

“Planning helps you be prepared, but it has its limits. The weather is so variable that it is impossible to predict the actual conditions months in advance. What I have learned is that if something does not go as planned, I try to look at things from another perspective. Often, that very change of perspective, that ability to adapt, turns into a creative opportunity that makes the shot unique,” Rubinacci says.

After capturing his photos, he turns to enhancing, utilizing software program comparable to Photoshop, PTgui, and PixInsight. His enhancing course of is gradual and reflective, typically taking as much as every week as he revisits the photographs at completely different instances to see them with recent eyes.

“I prefer this type of approach because it allows me to review the image at different times. This way, I can notice any defects or possible corrections that need to be made. It is a slower process, but it keeps me connected to the photograph as it evolves into its final form,” he explains.

Themes and Inspirations

Much of Rubinacci’s work revolves across the grandeur of the evening sky. The Milky Way, particularly, is a recurring theme in his pictures, typically captured in sweeping panoramas that reveal the total arc of the galaxy. He can also be drawn to the Northern Lights and to the rugged landscapes of Northern Europe, the place a lot of his journey takes him.

“In general, all my photography is based on the landscape, as unspoiled as possible,” he says.

“Sometimes I include human subjects in my photos because I like to show how small we are compared to nature. The Milky Way is certainly the subject I return to most often, because it is only visible at certain times of the year, and it challenges me to plan carefully to capture it at its best.”

Tools of the Trade

Although Rubinacci emphasizes that gear doesn’t outline a photographer, he acknowledges its significance in enabling artistic targets. His package contains two Sony cameras, one in all which has been astromodified to develop its sensitivity to mild. Wide-angle lenses are central to his work, significantly the Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM, Sony 12–24mm f/4 G, and Samyang 12mm f/2.8. He additionally often incorporates aerial views with a DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone.

“I think gear does not define a photographer, but it certainly helps them realize their projects. For me, it is about having the right tools for the image I want to create, whether that is a wide-angle lens for the Milky Way or a drone to capture the landscape from above,” Rubinacci notes.

Challenges and Triumphs

Landscape pictures is filled with obstacles, from unpredictable climate to the lengthy waits for excellent mild. Yet for Rubinacci, these challenges are a part of what makes the artwork so significant. He recollects one specific {photograph} that continues to be deeply important: a panoramic picture of the Milky Way captured in Tenerife’s Teide National Park, proven under.

“It took over 250 photos to create. It was the first panoramic shot of the Milky Way I had ever taken using the mosaic plus stacking technique, and I added H-alpha data to capture more detail in the nebulae. Honestly, before leaving, I did not know if I would be able to get all the shots I needed, but in the end, I returned home with the result I wanted. It was incredibly challenging to edit, but the hard work was worth it. Even today, every time I see this photo, I have a vivid memory of the emotion I felt the first time I managed to achieve it,” he says.

Looking Ahead

Currently, Rubinacci sells prints and hosts bespoke one-on-one workshops and collaborations, but his ambitions proceed to develop, with goals of photographing the landscapes of South America and a want to refine his inventive voice. His imaginative and prescient of pictures is much less about particular person photos and extra about creating a long-lasting identification.

“My greatest aspiration is to continue deepening my photographic vision,” he displays.

“I would like my photos to have an increasingly distinct identity of their own, and for people looking at them to be able to relate them to me. I believe photography is an art form, just like painting, and just as we can identify a painter by their work, I want my images to carry my voice in the same way.”

For Gianluca Rubinacci, pictures is just not solely a craft however a lifelong dialogue with the earth and the sky. Each body is an try to translate awe into type, to carry onto a fleeting second of sunshine and protect it as one thing lasting. His photos ask us not simply to see however to really feel, to do not forget that the world is a lot bigger than us, timeless, and at all times able to surprise.

In this manner, his work turns into much less in regards to the locations themselves and extra in regards to the feelings they awaken, providing viewers a reminder of how creativeness, perseverance, and endurance can create shifting artwork.

Image credit: Gianluca Rubinacci