ALTPICK.COM

Looking at Marco Prozzo's work, one wonders if it's a photograph or painting. This elegant style often seen in his photographs is achieved most often without post-production. "If you don't get the lighting right in the first place, you are not likely going to make it much more effective in post," Prozzo states.

Born the son of artists, Marco started taking pictures in high school

and later followed his passion to New York City where he worked as an assistant. Elle Décor magazine gave him his big break and from then on the worked poured in steadily. As the years passed, Prozzo felt increasingly stifled creatively and longed to bring the style of his highly praised gallery work into his commercial work. Prozzo recalls, "I was doing commercial work and I was making a living, but I had this tremendous yearning to create on a bigger level and it didn't

Series of images for Ikea

seem like it was possible and I wanted to quit. I had reached a point where I realized I could be a lot happier in my lifestyle. One day I picked up and moved to Seattle, without knowing anyone." It was around this time that he considered becoming a cop. "I had this illusion that it would be a job that would help people," Prozzo says. He spent a shift with an officer and realized it was not the job for him.

The move to Seattle gave Marco the opportunity to do more creative work, starting with a brochure for The Seattle Symphony. These days his clients include the likes of Microsoft, Bloomberg, Deutsch, and Ikea. Marco spoke to altpick.com about life, photography, and perseverance in following your dream.

Your work looks like a cross between a photograph and a painting. How do you create that?
Part of it is lighting, part of it is in the way you prop and style things. It's a whole combination of things, not just the photography, film, choice, background.

Are you a painter as well?
No, no I would love to be that skilled. I left many disappointed painting and drawing teachers when I chose photography. I was always frustrated with my efforts since I'm such a perfectionist!

Do you prefer the control of the studio to location work?
Not necessarily, I've done both. I've done big productions, location work. The thing I enjoy most about the bigger productions is the collaboration with other talented people. You can get a whole lot more out of the image when there is creative input coming from other directions. Things you wouldn't think of come from collaboration and I love that.

What do you do for inspiration?
I just saw the Magritte show in San Francisco. I think I get inspiration from all sorts of things; everything from riding my motorcycle, to seeing art in various forms, dance, movies, music, seeing friends and having great conversations.

What advice would you give to someone starting out?
Follow your heart. No doubt about it. Joseph Campbell said, "Follow your heart and doors will open in places where you never thought there was a door." I had an abstract picture of what I wanted to do back in New York, but I would never have pictured myself here, doing the kind of work I've been doing. It's just the perseverance.

- Contributed by Mary Beth Holland