Born in 1961 in Basel, I grew up in Italy ,lived in Zürich, Basel and moved to Ticino in 1994.
I am an amateur wildlife photographer, and my dream is to dedicate myself completely to my passion once I will retire.
I have been passionate about photography since the age of 10 and bought my first SLR camera with my savings at 14.
At 20, I transformed my mother's laundry room into a darkroom to develop black and white photographs, causing her quite a bit of distress with acid splashes in the room.
I continued my studies at ETHZ, where I earned a Ph.D. in chemistry. My numerous business and pleasure trips have always seen me accompanied by my camera. In 1993, together with my wife, I discovered the parks of Africa, a love that led me to return as soon as possible.
In 2004, I switched to my first digital Nikon and have remained loyal to the brand ever since, up to my latest purchase of a mirrorless camera.
I have taken several courses with specialist photographers for both night photography in Norway to capture the Northern Lights and African nature in Zimbabwe.
My inspiration for black and white photography is Nick Brandt.
In 2022, I founded a tour operator company specialized in custom safaris in Tanzania, in collaboration with a local partner friend I met in 2016. This gives me an excuse to return to Tanzania at least once every two years.
In 2024, I will be exhibiting a series of sepia black and white elephant photographs in Ascona, with the sale of the photographs benefiting a school in Kenya (atkye.africa-photography.ch).
