Thomas Biasotto: «For me, every single day of the year is a Mountain Day.»

On the occasion of International Mountain Day, we talked to photographer Thomas Biasotto about the significance of the day and his personal connection to the mountains. What inspires and motivates him in photography and his other projects, he told us in this interview.

Hello Thomas! Next Sunday 11.12. is the International Mountain Day - did you know that?

Great! Yes, of course I did! We had a big campaign with Mammut last year and that's why I know this date. But honestly, if you had asked me this question 2 years ago, I wouldn't have known ;-)

This day was created by the UN General Assembly to draw public attention to the special importance of mountain areas for life on earth and their sustainable development. What do you think?

For me, every single day of the year is a Mountain Day. I don't really think much of such newly created days. Because I think that every day you should remember or take care of what you love. That's why I save water every day, try as much as I can to reduce waste or save electricity, and so on. I also prefer to give gifts during the year and not "only" on birthdays or Christmas, because that's how it's done.

Where does your personal connection to the mountains come from and what do mountains mean to you personally?

Mountains are THE primal rocks. Before everything that has ever existed, our mountains were already there. They are as old as our planet. I learned to walk in the mountains and I love being in the mountains.

Alpstein

With MASSIV you brought out an alpine bestseller. Why now THE ALPINE and not MASSIVE2.0?

The Alpstein is my home. I love the Alpstein. Even when I was a little goof, we went to Alpstein every week with my mother. This book is a declaration of love and a long-awaited wish to publish this project. I have been working on it for almost a decade. My mother is from Appenzell and spent her entire youth during the holidays on various alpine farms in the Alpstein. I also always feel a "coming home" when I am in Alpstein. Yes, and we are also coming home, because we, my small family, will be moving into my mother's parents' house in Teufen in 2023. For me, this is an even bigger "coming home". MASSIV 2.0 will exist and the work on it is already in full swing. You see, I love making books.

Why?

I love holding something physical in my hands that you have worked hard on. For example, when I was studying music at the ZHdK in Zurich, I much preferred composing and writing arrangements on paper to practising for hours on end. When I was working on a sheet of music, after days or weeks of work I had a stack of notes in my hands and knew that I had worked on that.

Thomas Biasotto

You are actually a trained musician, have your own band and compose film music. How did you get into photography?

At my confirmation I was given a camera (which I still own today). From that moment on, I was captivated by photography. For a long time I did it quietly, just for myself, because I studied music at the Zurich Conservatory and my focus was entirely on my instruments. After a long detour into the private sector, I decided to go back to school in 2014. So I studied again for 3 years full time at the teacher training college in Zug. I then had to think about how I could earn my money as a student and decided to commercialise photography. So I got a job as a course instructor for photography, which worked out perfectly with my studies. Today I practice these 3 passions professionally. Photography, music and teaching. Not easy in many cases either, because I often can't distinguish whether I'm working on my own project or on an assignment, since I get to practise 3 dream jobs.

In your landscape photographs, light often plays a very important role - if not the main role. How do you approach such shots, are they random or planned? What is your inspiration?

Beautifully paraphrased! In landscape and mountain photography, I often look for great contrasts and lighting moods. You can often plan these to a certain extent, but Mother Nature always has the final word here and there are always many surprises and turnarounds. I never go on tours without a plan, but prepare them meticulously. I always try to go when I know that the moods I have in mind could arise and that the conditions are right. With the tools we all have today, it is very helpful to prepare, but as I said, nature sets the pace and this can always change during a tour or expedition. My sources of inspiration are different. For one thing, I study a lot of books by photographers. I love the medium of books more than anything (I own hundreds of illustrated books and collect them). But often new ideas also arise very spontaneously. Some of them are very crazy ideas, and so I just stay on the ball every day and always give creativity as free a rein as possible. Another source of inspiration for me is music, where I often get ideas while composing, which I develop and implement whenever possible.

Nepal

You have a unique style in your image editing. Do you have any tips for Bookfactory customers on how they can get more out of their photos? Which image editing programme do you use?

There are hundreds of tips and I think that if I were to go into detail on this question, it would go beyond the scope here. On the platform GRIDON there are many and very exciting tips and tricks that anyone can use for free. Best of all, they are constantly being expanded. So it's worth visiting the WiKiGRID on Gridon every now and then. I mainly work with the image editing programme Lightroom. I know almost every trick in the book. I also use various plug-ins for certain details (for example from Skylum or DxO). For astrophotography, I work with Photoshop, although I have to say that my knowledge of this programme is rather limited.

And, of course, this question must also be asked: Why do you like working with Bubu as well as Bookfactory and what distinguishes them from other providers?

The innovation, the execution, the technology and above all (!!!) the people behind it. I know most of them personally and for me it's much more than a bookbindery, it's a family. And I am so proud to be a small part of it too!!!!

Book DER ALPSTEIN 

Finally, last week we had the pleasure of attending the opening of INK in the middle of the village of Appenzell on the occasion of the vernissage of your Alpstein book. Can you share the idea of this concept and cultural space with us?

Since we have known for a long time that we were going to move to Appenzell, I was looking for a studio. One day Sibylle Bichsel, a very close friend and pewter caster at the Appenzell Guild House, of which I am also a member, told me that there was an industrial hall for rent in the middle of the village. I did some research and without further ado contacted the CEO of the Appenzell printing works and made enquiries. I didn't have to think long and immediately agreed. Together with partners, we will now operate a gallery (mainly for photography) and 3 studios in the pressroom. Among other things, a coffee roastery, the first and only one in the canton of Appenzell Innerhoden, will also move in. In this way we are creating a new centre for art, design and handicrafts, where all this will be shown and also operated, in the middle of the village of Appenzell. The official opening of INK was on 24 November, together with the vernissage of the Book DER ALPSTEIN.

Thank you very much for your time Thomas!