Quiet confidence – an endearing quality and one that photographer Massimo Rumi has in abundance. And, as a compelling visual storyteller, that quiet, knowing presence is one of the many traits that allows Massimo to capture life’s most beautiful and emotional images with an unobtrusive eye. There’s a special place in my soul for people who follow their hearts, not blindly, but bravely. Massimo Rumi is one such man.
From a high-powered corporate career – and the lifestyle that goes with it – Massimo turned his lens inwards and has embarked on a courageous journey far, far removed from the cold and shallow world of finance. Massimo’s journey takes him to the far-flung corners of the globe to capture the beauty, love and harmony of the world. His camera is directly connected to his heart and while he freezes rare moments in time, the emotions he evokes through his imagery live on with a single, purist intention – to make us feel.
Here, we explore the powerful visuals of Massimo Rumi and the story behind the storyteller – a man who abandoned creature comforts and continuity in search of something more, in search of himself. The result? Well, it’s not over yet…the journey continues and we’re fortunate enough to take you along for the ride through the lens of this touchingly brilliant photographer.
Pushkar, India 2014.
Paro, Bhutan 2015.
In an age obsessed with digital manipulation, where the simple beauty of Mother Nature is filtered, retouched and adjusted to suit our ever-unsatisfied eye, it’s refreshing to come across a purist like Massimo. His style is quite simply, not to have a style. He’s led by his heart, his surrounds, his experiences and the way he feels and his style flows along for the ride. “My photography is about responding to what surrounds me. I follow my instinct, my feelings. Sometimes I see in black and white, sometimes in colour. Sometimes I’m a minimalist, sometimes I like complexity”, he says. There’s no Photoshop involved, just a wealth of technique, experience and a unique way of interpreting any situation.
Jodhpur, India 2014.
Cartagena, Colombia 2015.
Massimo recalls some of the most memorable moments that have resulted in some of his most vivid and powerful photographs. As he tells the story behind the story, it’s obvious that Massimo intrinsically possesses a rare ingredient that many photographers lack. Often the storyteller is but a conduit for the story, and Massimo’s lens is one such conduit. There’s a patience and a knowing in the way he interacts with the world. Not only does he have the skill to capture life’s precious moments, he also has the humility to melt into his surroundings armed with a small, unobtrusive camera, and the patience to wait, quietly, for that split second in time that he yearns to immortalise. Yes, in a ‘quick and dirty’ world where instant gratification, short-cuts, impatience and ego are rife, Massimo’s work is a potent reminder of the beauty, emotion and power that surrounds us – everyday – and more importantly, what’s possible if we just slow down, get present, watch and wait.
Read The Art Of Seeing here.
Sydney 2015.
Hanoi, Vietnam 2015.
Like any artist with their art, Massimo lives and breathes photography. His financial success in the corporate world, self-admittedly, has allowed him to pursue this transformative journey into photography without the constraints of ‘needing’ to make money from his work. His nomadic world travels are 100 per cent self-funded and some would say this is a luxury many artists can’t afford. I say, experience Massimo’s work and any ‘fortunate’ judgment melts away as you’re transported to that place and time, and that emotion. And, when you feel that, you recognize that this is a man on his life path – and that how he got there is also part of the journey and part of what makes him a unique, compassionate, intelligent and emotive storyteller.
Jaipur, India 2015.
Colombo, Sri Lanka 2015.
So, from Sri Lankan monasteries to rural life in Rajasthan; from the sacred lake in Pushkar to the entrancing canals of Venice; from a moment of motherhood in Chiang Mai, Thailand to family fun in Cartagena, Colombia; from Hanoi’s full moon festival to the daily life of monks in Bhutan; from city skylines in Shanghai to snow blindness in Japan…Join us on a magical visual journey that takes you not into the make-believe world of fiction, but reminds you of the magical world of reality through the feeling eye of Massimo Rumi.
Follow Massimo’s journey on TheCarousel.com as he continues his travels to India for the Kumbh Mela, to Mongolia for the Eagles Festival, to Ethiopia and finally to the ethereal Antarctica.
Follow Massimo on www.massimorumi.com on Instagram here and Facebook here
What did you feel when looking through Massimo Rumi’s images? Tell us your experience below…
