Chianti Classico – editorial photoshoot
Our Goal
Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico hired our team to deliver an ambitious photography project that’s articulated over a range of criteria including the featuring of Olio DOP Chianti Classico. Although structured on many levels, the project is pretty well defined in its main goal of providing a photographic interpretation of the unique relationship between the world famous Chianti wine and the Chianti Classico region in Tuscany, Italy.
The characteristics of the climate, terrains and altitudes, which are unfavorable for most crops, have made Chianti Classico a region that excels in the production of premium wines.
Rows of vines alternating with olive orchards are a characteristic feature of the Chianti landscape. About 7,200 hectares (17,290 acres) of vineyards entered on the DOCG Register for the production of Chianti Classico make this appellation one of the most important in Italy.
Our approach
In production terms, our work started with an extensive briefing with Caterina Mori who offered an unparalleled asset in counseling us for the photoshoot while representing our client. After the thorough briefing on the project goals and multiple destinations, Caterina’s impeccable expertise has revealed to be truly essential to all phases up to the retouch and final image processing. She offered a valuable and extremely competent feedback allowing to quickly make the right choices on set as well as in preparation therefore assuring the best interpretation of very critical details in terms of high-end wine making aspects.
production assets and strategies
The shooting has been organized and executed based on a methodical approach that covered all the Chianti Classico territories across the region. A flexible technical set up has been paired with a bullet proof plan-of-action that included alternative options and flexible routes to better match if not purposely encounter different weather and light conditions. A whole set of side factors well orchestrated by some experience has led us to provide the client with a quite considerable amount of work organized into a selection of some 300 photographs mostly shot on Hasselblad digital medium format. In other words the project has successfully provided the client with an incredibly wide range of options suitable for very different publications and occasions. It looks like we have proven to ourselves one more time that quality can be harmonized with quantity when the job is properly managed and planned.
Style and Lighting
In terms of visual language, our project is designed to line up distinctive elements of the landscape with selected vineyards views, constantly looking for a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere emphasized by natural light. This pre-determined style has been pursued throughout the whole body of work constantly exploring this visual concept and matching it with careful composition and accurate control of image contrast. Technically, image style has been supported by a knowledgeable use of natural light that has been sometimes mixed with artificial light. Shooting the harvesting action scene for example, a calibrated use of artificial light has been key to tackle the huge contrast of the scene, making it possible to key-light on the natural backlight without compromising on the dynamic range of the image.
The Outcome
We’re definitely happy to see how the outcome does match with project’s goals and client expectations. We created a wide range of assets for our client’s photo repository. Last but not least, we are happy with the outcome living up to the hype of such a well known and worldwide famous wine like Chianti Classico and offering to its maker our best handcrafted photography.
credits:
Client: Consorzio Chianti Classico
Production: digitalmovie.it
Project designer: Andrea Mescalchin
Consultant: Caterina Mori – consorzio del vino Chianti Classico
Photography: Matteo Mescalchin
2nd Photographer : Giovanni Santon
Location: Zona del Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy