Milan Goes to London

Meet Silvia Longhi. Young, beautiful, smart, talented, and, mostly, happy. She is Milan-ese currently living slash working in one of my favorite cities in the world, London. She is an amateur photographer but you wouldn’t know it by her work. It is her kind of “escapism.” With music in tow, she walks around taking photos of people and the city around her. When photographing people, in particular though, she finds intimacy with total strangers, if only for a moment. Quicker then you can say EV, she gets a slight glimpse into someone else’s life. And it no longer is about one’s self.

This is what I like most about Longhi though. Upon meeting so many folks with expensive cameras hung around their necks who claim they are passionate about photography, when prompted with inquires of who their favorite photographers are, the usual answer is a Scooby Scooby Doo, where are you, question mark above crown, head tilt.

Longhi immediately has a few in mind. She is most infatuated with social commentator, ordinary people photographer, Theo Frey, is inspired by reportage photographers Steve McCurry and Helmet Newton, and is in love with the optimistic and carefree stylings of the uninhibited Felix Larher, fashion photographer.

About fashion and living in London? She says she could go outside wearing flip flops, but hasn’t had the courage to do so just yet. Such a difference in cultures, from my casual, west coast, pacific beach upbringing where sandals are a staple. My husband use to go to elementary school in bare feet and didn’t wear shoes till university, when he moved to the east coast. But I think I like that about Europe. Come on America! No more of those cargo pants matched with that old free T-shirt…the one with the hole in the armpit. You know which one I’m talking about. (My father-in-law is not going to be happy with that comment.) I actually like that Longhi is waiting for that courageous day to wear flip flops outside. And I am very sure she will have that camera with her when it happens.

All in all, I would say her aperture seems very bright.

Additionals:

Longhi is a graphic designer by trade.
Steven McCurry’s most famous photo
The significance of Theo Frey
The “widely imitated” Helmut Newton
Fashion photographer, Felix Larher