My name is Vittorio Silvestri and I have been a keen amateur photographer since my early teens.
My earliest memories were using a Kodak Instamatic 126 format camera then an Agfamatic 110 format before moving to Pentax 1000 Spotmatic 35mm film camera given to me by my dad. I had 3 lenses, the standard 50mm, a 28-80 zoom and a 110mm telephoto. After several years I bought a new Pentax SFXn 35mm film camera which I used for many years before switching to Canon.
My first Canon was an EOS10 35mm film camera which came with a 28-80 zoom lens. I then bought a 100-300 zoom, followed shortly by a second EOS10 and then an EOS50, one for each medium in the days of film. I also owned a Mamiya RB67 medium format camera.
My love from those early days was Black & White, which continues to this day.
My first encounter with digital was in 2002 through scanned slides and negatives on a Nikon LS2000 scanner. I eventually realised that I was getting better scans from slides, from which I could print colour or B&W and still have a slide. I continued capturing mostly slides on Kodachrome 25 until 2004 when I bought an EOS 300D with an 18-55mm lens. I suppose I stuck with Canon as I had at this stage accumulated quiet a few Canon lenses.
I sold the EOS300D in 2007 and bought an EOS5D full frame sensor digital camera. In 2009 I bought the 17-40mm F4 L series Canon lens, followed by the 24-105mm F4 L series Canon lens in 2010. I joined the CPA camera club in 1988 with the idea of meeting like-minded people. I quickly realised that this was a place I where I could further my knowledge of photography while having the opportunity to enter competitions to have my work positively critiqued on a regular bases.
I am still a member of the CPA and have held several offices during my years as a member. In 2016 I was honoured when the club committee made me President of the club. All camera clubs in Northern Ireland can request to join the Northern Ireland Photographic Association (NIPA)
My earliest memories were using a Kodak Instamatic 126 format camera then an Agfamatic 110 format before moving to Pentax 1000 Spotmatic 35mm film camera given to me by my dad. I had 3 lenses, the standard 50mm, a 28-80 zoom and a 110mm telephoto. After several years I bought a new Pentax SFXn 35mm film camera which I used for many years before switching to Canon.
My first Canon was an EOS10 35mm film camera which came with a 28-80 zoom lens. I then bought a 100-300 zoom, followed shortly by a second EOS10 and then an EOS50, one for each medium in the days of film. I also owned a Mamiya RB67 medium format camera.
My love from those early days was Black & White, which continues to this day.
My first encounter with digital was in 2002 through scanned slides and negatives on a Nikon LS2000 scanner. I eventually realised that I was getting better scans from slides, from which I could print colour or B&W and still have a slide. I continued capturing mostly slides on Kodachrome 25 until 2004 when I bought an EOS 300D with an 18-55mm lens. I suppose I stuck with Canon as I had at this stage accumulated quiet a few Canon lenses.
I sold the EOS300D in 2007 and bought an EOS5D full frame sensor digital camera. In 2009 I bought the 17-40mm F4 L series Canon lens, followed by the 24-105mm F4 L series Canon lens in 2010. I joined the CPA camera club in 1988 with the idea of meeting like-minded people. I quickly realised that this was a place I where I could further my knowledge of photography while having the opportunity to enter competitions to have my work positively critiqued on a regular bases.
I am still a member of the CPA and have held several offices during my years as a member. In 2016 I was honoured when the club committee made me President of the club. All camera clubs in Northern Ireland can request to join the Northern Ireland Photographic Association (NIPA)
NIPA was established in 1967 and in 2017 celebrated its 50th anniversary. During the years of 2016-2019 I held the office of President of the Association, a very memorable and enjoyable 3 years.
I work as a Ophthalmic Research Photographer for the Belfast Trust and consider myself fortunate as I get to us the latest state of the art ophthalmic imaging equipment.