Italian sports photographer Alessandro Trovati has a talent for creating bold, imaginative and evocative sports imagery that has caught the attention of clients in both news and advertising for almost 30 years.

Canon Ambassador Alessandro grew up with a camera in his hands. His father, the late Armando Trovati, was a long-time Associated Press photographer who covered professional skiing and founded the Pentaphoto agency. "My father was, and still is, my inspiration," Alessandro reveals. "I use my photography to try to excite and attract as many people as possible to the world of sport. I love sport in all its forms, dimensions and disciplines. I'm attracted to the new challenges and technologies sports photography brings. Above all, I love working with the great champions of sport."

In addition to sports journalism, Alessandro has conquered the advertising sphere, creating dynamic and innovative campaigns for prestigious international brands such as Samsung, Gatorade, Kappa, Audi, Nordica and many more.

"My favourite campaign to shoot so far was for Arena, a top swimsuit brand, because I got to shoot underwater," he says. "Scuba photography is amazing and I really love it! It's funny, because when Arena first asked if I was able to shoot underwater I told them, 'yes', without actually having had any training or experience. So I trained every day for a whole month."

Alessandro's talent has been recognised at both ends of the market, resulting in an array of awards, including the Best Sports Campaign at the Grand Prix della Pubblicità 2008, and the Ussi [Italian Sports Press Union] award for Best Sporting Photo of the Year in 2012 and 2014.

"Two particular highlights stand out for me when I think back over my career," he says. "Coming first in the Grand Prix for my sports campaign, something which helped to cement my name in this industry; and in 2005, when I landed my first Sports Illustrated cover, which showed Lance Armstrong during the Tour de France."

How do you decide where to stand?

"I have a clear idea of what I want my shots to look like before I decide where to stand: I like the background to be clean and neutral; I have the light coming from the side and back; and I like to compose the image holding the subjects on the left or the right."



Do you ever retouch your shots?

"I do very little post; one, because when I shoot for AP I use live technology to send my images straight from the camera to the photo editor, and two if you expose and shoot correctly you don't need to."



In your experience, what's the trickiest sport to shoot?

"Skiing, because you work in extremes: it's cold and icy, on a slope, the subjects move very fast and you have only one chance to take the perfect shot. My advice is to know the sport, position yourself in a spot where you have a perfect backdrop, and use a long lens."



What items could you not do your job without?

"My cameras, the appropriate lenses, remotes, warm and waterproof clothing, and extra batteries because the cold can drain them fast."

"Professional photography in all sectors has become very difficult to enter, so you need to get experience, make good contacts, never be discouraged, and have bags of passion and creativity. Don't imitate another professional photographer's images; it's the result of years of work and research, and probably taken with gear you don't have. Rather, try to use the gear you do have and experiment with it. It's a myth that sports photography is only shot using long lenses – try using a wide angle! But the number one rule of sports photography is to know the sport you want to photograph, and know it incredibly well."

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Instagram:@alessandrotrovati