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Michele Brunetti

In search for order in the everyday chaos that surrounds me, and that moment of clarity comes only when review the photograph later. The act of capturing isn’t the moment of understanding—the camera is a notebook, a quiet companion that records fragments of life.  

Years ago, I heard Paolo Gioli’s idea: “I use the camera as a notebook.” That simple thought has guided my work ever since. Every time I raise my camera, I am drawn to something elusive—a detail that confuses, captivates, or even frightens me. I capture that moment without fully understanding it.  

Later, when I develop the images, a new reality emerges. I no longer see the scene as I experienced it, but as the camera, the lens, and the film captured it. The result feels like a shared creation—a collective work between me and my tools. The camera has its own way of seeing, its own intelligence, with the curious ability to reveal order from chaos.  

I shoot in the midst of disorder, but in development, I discover a hidden structure.  

I’ve never been interested in the idea of the photographer as a mere ‘eye’ or in chasing the ‘perfect composition.’ In fact, those ideas bore me. Instead, I’m drawn to uncertainty—the feeling that something out there isn’t quite right.  

There’s an unease about what’s considered normal, and I often wonder: is it really normal?  

Eggleston elevated the ordinary, turning boredom into something beautiful. But for me, the question is different: why does something is boring? And can that boredom be captured? It’s a difficult outcome to achieve because, when I develop the photo, something unexpected often emerges—and that chaos, where does it go?  

This is why I speak of chaos and order. I shoot amid the confusion of everyday life, and through the process of developing, my camera works against that chaos, quietly transforming it into something structured—a shared creation between me, the camera, and the film.  

Some of my thoughts 

Palermo: Rough Beauty

July 18, 2024 No Comments

Nestled on the northern coast of Sicily, Palermo is a city that wears its history and struggles proudly on its sleeve. With its labyrinthine streets steeped in centuries-old stories of conquests and resilience, Palermo presents a paradoxical allure—a place where romantic beauty coexists with stark realism. Life in Palermo is characterized by its rough edges and undeniable challenges. From economic hardships to social complexities, the city pulses with a rawness that can be both overwhelming and intriguing. The daily hustle in its bustling markets, the vibrant chaos of its festivals, and the tenacity of its people navigating life amidst historical relics and modern complexities paint a vivid portrait of resilience against a backdrop of adversity. Yet, amidst its gritty exterior, Palermo exudes a romantic beauty that is hard to resist. The play of sunlight on Baroque facades, the aroma of freshly baked sfincione wafting through narrow alleys, and the echo of church bells mingling with the voices of passionate locals—all contribute to an atmosphere that feels like a living, breathing ode to a bygone era. To truly understand Palermo is to embrace its contradictions—to see beyond the surface and delve into its rich tapestry of culture, art, and everyday life.

Palermo: The Enigmatic Beauty

July 18, 2024 No Comments

In Palermo, there are buildings that possess an unexpected beauty. They are neither old nor ancient, they seem to emerge from another era, crafted for different forms of humanity. As you explore these streets, you can feel the echoes of countless cultures that have passed through, leaving their indelible marks. It’s a city where you can be nowhere and everywhere at once. As the Sicilian playwright Luigi Pirandello once mused, “To see Sicily is to see nothing that has been seen before; to hear Sicily is to hear no one else speak.” This sentiment resonates deeply in Palermo, where each corner tells a story of resilience and adaptation. Echoes of the past mingle with the present, creating a vibrant tapestry that defies easy categorization. In the words of the poet Salvatore Quasimodo, a native of Sicily, “In every corner of Sicily, there is history. In every memory of its people, there is pride.” This pride is palpable in the architecture of Palermo, where Gothic, Baroque, and Arab-Norman styles converge in harmonious discordance. Walking through Palermo’s streets, you may encounter the words of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, author of “The Leopard,” who wrote, “If we want things to stay as they

The Theatre of Everyday Life: at MAXXI in Rome

July 17, 2024 No Comments

Last year, I lived in Rome and spent a lot of time at the MAXXI museum. While the museum is famous for its big, impressive architecture and modern art, what really caught my attention were the small, everyday moments happening around me. I’ve never been interested in grand scenes or famous people. Instead, I look at the little, often unnoticed moments that felt like watching a quiet play unfold. Balzac called it “la comédie humaine” or the human comedy. That’s how I see my Walking. I’m interested in the simple, daily gestures that show the beauty of our lives. You won’t find celebrities or dramatic events here. Just regular people, like you and me, living their lives. Walking through the halls of MAXXI, I used my camera to catch these humble moments. A person deep in thought in front of a painting, a smile shared between strangers, somebody try to fit in an art piece —these are the scenes that fascinate me. They are small, everyday actions that, to me, are truly beautiful. I know these moments might not be exciting for everyone. They don’t grab headlines or demand attention. But I believe they are important. They show us who

2025 © Michele Brunetti
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