FREEDIVING PHOTOGRAPHER

Paolo Zanoni

Class of 65, born in Lodi and grew up as a competitive river canoeist, an activity which allowed him to travel and to gravitate naturally towards photography. His first shots, self-taught, in fact captured his teammates in action during competitions held in the awesome scenery which hosted the races. Water revealed itself immediately and unequivocally as his natural element even beyond his days as a competitor. From the riverbeds to the open sea, fascinated by its depth, he decided to dedicate himself to to ‘apnea’ freediving and so attended courses of specialisation. Always with camera in hand, this is a friend from whom he neither desires nor knows how to live apart. From that moment freediving and photography melded into symbiosis … an inseparable oneness in which he identifies whole-heartedly. Among his pictures there are portraits, including world freediving champions such as Chiara Obino and Umberto Pelizzari. His photos appear in specialised freediving books, articles on sports and tourism and have featured in curated fine-photography exhibitions.