Ljubljana, 15. 11. 2015, @sanya_lt

Chiara was one of the first foreign Instagramers that I came across while searching through photos tagged #igslovenia. I was totally surprised by her love for Slovenia, her wish to learn Slovenian and her knowledge about Slovenia. So it only seemed right that I do my first Instagram interview with her. So … here we go:)

Can you present yourself? Who are you, where do you come from and what do you do?

I am Chiara Morini, 39 years old, and I come from Porto San Giorgio, a city in the central Italy, in the Marche region. I am a local web journalist and I update the social media channels of my municipality with photos and information about the events  in my city. This is my work & I love it!

Are you a professional or amateur photographer? What equipment do you use?

 I am an amateur photographer, but sometimes I have to be a photographer  for my work, so – you can call me ‘half-professional’:) I started working in the field of communication as web journalist and then slowly photography came into the picture, to illustrate my articles.

 After that I started working with social media and I got engaged with the world of photography. I bought a Canon EOS digital 1100D with a standard lens systems (18-55 mm). Then I bought a 55-250 mm  and a 10-18 mm. I also use my Iphone to take photos  and a Samsung Galaxy EK GC-100 camera.

What does photography mean to you? Can you describe us your photography style?

Well, if you ask me this two questions are connected.  Photography is … quite everything! I love taking  photos. I decided to become a journalists because I love to tell stories, to narrate what I see in the world. If I can tell something to someone with my keyboard, I can also make that with my camera.

No words, but images, like reportage. I try to make this when I take a photo: I narrate the reality, the life, I try to let the people live what I lived, to see what I saw, to make them feel what I felt while observing what I captured on my photo.  If am tired but I have to take photos in the theatre or at the concert for my work, I obviously go. And I come back relaxed! I love taking photos as well as I love writing. Personally I prefer some photography genres like macro photography, food & wine photography, animals, flowers & plants and monuments.

Let’s talk about Instagram … How did you end up on Instagram?

At first I checked it  just out of curiosity. I quickly realised it is good for me, it is what i like and also – I started to think that I can use Instagram for my work. Beside that, Instagram is really great for meeting people from all over the world.

I post on Instagram when there is something beautiful to show. I love to interact with other people, with you in Slovenia (I can keep in touch with your beautiful country and I see places I do not know yet!), but also here in Italy. Let me give the people my personal advice: Use hashtags on Instagram – to find best accounts that you will enjoy following and to show your photos to the Instagram world.

Do you also use Instagram in other (not only personal) projects? What about other social media?

I try to promote the use of Instagram also in my municipality. I created two profiles for my city; @psgculturaeculture (cultural events) & @portosangiorgiomeet (for tourism). 

I also use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, G+, tumit (that is an Italian social network for events). Occasionally I post on Flickr and Pinterest too. I am going to have my own web site and I’m just starting a new blog project.

It is not a social network but one photo-project I undertake for my city is “Virtour” (80% of the photos and texts are mine), a virtual tour in our city. 

Slovenia? How & when did you decide to visit? Why? What are your favourite places here? What would you say to a first time visitor – what is ‘a must see’ place in Slovenia?

The first time I came to Slovenia was 20 years ago! I had just finished my high school graduation exams (it was the first week of July) and I came to Kranjska Gora for a group tour. I was in a hotel in Gozd Martuljek and I saw many green and beautiful views.

However, the thing that really amazed me was your language: So few vowels, such beautiful sound. That is why I decided to try to learn it; I found a grammar and a dictionary and I started. It is not easy to do it on your own and it is not enough to spend just 10, 15 days a year in Slovenia. But, it was a start. During last year and thanks to Instagram,  – I made some progresses!

 I always come to the mountain region of Gorenjska: it is beautiful and there, I feel like being at home. From there I go to Ljubljana. It is so lovely, so beautiful, so… “Mine”! Your capital is one of my favourite places to take photos and to visit, but Kranjska Gora (and lake Jasna), Mojstrana, (I do not remember if I ever visited Dovje), Triglav, Bled, Brezje, Radovljca, Škofja Loka, Jesenice and the other  places are amazing too!

While staying in Slovenia I feel like home. And I do return every year! I will be back but until then;  Un saluto dall’Italia / Pozdrave iz Italije! / Greetings from Italy!