Marco Secchi 📷
@marcosecchi.com
📸 Photojournalist @GettyImages | Educator
Venice | Budapest | Transylvania
Street & B&W Photography | Leica enthusiast
Learn, shoot & explore ↓
https://marcosecchi.substack.com/
Venice | Budapest | Transylvania
Street & B&W Photography | Leica enthusiast
Learn, shoot & explore ↓
https://marcosecchi.substack.com/
We are drowning in a sea of "perfect" AI garbage.
AI can simulate a rainy London street, but it wasn't there. It has no pulse. In 2026, your "mistakes"—the grain, the motion blur, the messy composition—are your only true Certificates of Authenticity.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/anti-ai-st...
AI can simulate a rainy London street, but it wasn't there. It has no pulse. In 2026, your "mistakes"—the grain, the motion blur, the messy composition—are your only true Certificates of Authenticity.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/anti-ai-st...
The Soul is in the Flaw: An Anti-AI Manifesto for the Street
In a world of synthetic perfection, your “imperfect” photos are the only ones that still matter.
marcosecchi.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:58 PM
We are drowning in a sea of "perfect" AI garbage.
AI can simulate a rainy London street, but it wasn't there. It has no pulse. In 2026, your "mistakes"—the grain, the motion blur, the messy composition—are your only true Certificates of Authenticity.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/anti-ai-st...
AI can simulate a rainy London street, but it wasn't there. It has no pulse. In 2026, your "mistakes"—the grain, the motion blur, the messy composition—are your only true Certificates of Authenticity.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/anti-ai-st...
The Rule of Thirds is the most overused "rule" in photography. If you want your work to stand out, you need to understand geometry and visual weight instead.
Lesson 5 is up: Composition. Stop placing subjects on a grid and start building a frame.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/compositio...
Lesson 5 is up: Composition. Stop placing subjects on a grid and start building a frame.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/compositio...
STARTING PHOTOGRAPHY, PROPERLY Lesson 5: Composition (Beyond the Rule of Thirds)
Why your photos are “balanced” (but everyone finds them boring)
marcosecchi.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:20 PM
The Rule of Thirds is the most overused "rule" in photography. If you want your work to stand out, you need to understand geometry and visual weight instead.
Lesson 5 is up: Composition. Stop placing subjects on a grid and start building a frame.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/compositio...
Lesson 5 is up: Composition. Stop placing subjects on a grid and start building a frame.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/compositio...
First workshop. Carnival 2026
Venice did that thing it does when you arrive early enough, blue hour still holding on, the arcades glowing, water turning the whole square into a mirror. No crowds yet, no rush, just masks, reflections, and that quiet agreement that this is worth waking up for.
Venice did that thing it does when you arrive early enough, blue hour still holding on, the arcades glowing, water turning the whole square into a mirror. No crowds yet, no rush, just masks, reflections, and that quiet agreement that this is worth waking up for.
February 9, 2026 at 12:22 PM
First workshop. Carnival 2026
Venice did that thing it does when you arrive early enough, blue hour still holding on, the arcades glowing, water turning the whole square into a mirror. No crowds yet, no rush, just masks, reflections, and that quiet agreement that this is worth waking up for.
Venice did that thing it does when you arrive early enough, blue hour still holding on, the arcades glowing, water turning the whole square into a mirror. No crowds yet, no rush, just masks, reflections, and that quiet agreement that this is worth waking up for.
I’m heading back to Venice tomorrow for a week of Carnival. Before things get loud, I left a quiet Note about one of my long-standing fascinations: crows. Why they remember faces, hold grudges, and sometimes leave small gifts.
If you’re curious, it’s here ⬇️
substack.com/profile/2330...
If you’re curious, it’s here ⬇️
substack.com/profile/2330...
Marco Secchi (@marcosecchi)
Tomorrow I’ll be travelling back to Venice for a slightly mad week of Carnival, workshops, long days, short nights, and the kind of chaos I secretly enjoy. I probably won’t be posting much, so I thoug...
substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:50 PM
I’m heading back to Venice tomorrow for a week of Carnival. Before things get loud, I left a quiet Note about one of my long-standing fascinations: crows. Why they remember faces, hold grudges, and sometimes leave small gifts.
If you’re curious, it’s here ⬇️
substack.com/profile/2330...
If you’re curious, it’s here ⬇️
substack.com/profile/2330...
I didn’t start this to build an audience.
I started it to think in public.
The audience came later.
marcosecchi.substack.com
I started it to think in public.
The audience came later.
marcosecchi.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:23 PM
I didn’t start this to build an audience.
I started it to think in public.
The audience came later.
marcosecchi.substack.com
I started it to think in public.
The audience came later.
marcosecchi.substack.com
The "30-Second Rule" was just the start.
Most photographers are hunters, but the pros are architects. Stop looking for the person and start building the Stage.
I’m deconstructing the "Empty Theatre" technique todayand how I set the trap
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/street-pho...
Most photographers are hunters, but the pros are architects. Stop looking for the person and start building the Stage.
I’m deconstructing the "Empty Theatre" technique todayand how I set the trap
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/street-pho...
Stop Chasing Subjects. Start Building Stages.
The '30-second rule' was just the beginning. Here is how to stop taking snapshots and start composing moments with intent.
marcosecchi.substack.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:03 PM
The "30-Second Rule" was just the start.
Most photographers are hunters, but the pros are architects. Stop looking for the person and start building the Stage.
I’m deconstructing the "Empty Theatre" technique todayand how I set the trap
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/street-pho...
Most photographers are hunters, but the pros are architects. Stop looking for the person and start building the Stage.
I’m deconstructing the "Empty Theatre" technique todayand how I set the trap
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/street-pho...
Is there anything more frustrating than seeing someone miss a great street moment because they were too "scared" of digital noise to raise their ISO?
Grain is texture. Blur is a technical fail. Let’s stop chasing zeros and start chasing the shot.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
Grain is texture. Blur is a technical fail. Let’s stop chasing zeros and start chasing the shot.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
STARTING PHOTOGRAPHY, PROPERLY Lesson 4: ISO (Governing Sensitivity)
Why your photos are sharp (but everyone says they are "ruined")
marcosecchi.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Is there anything more frustrating than seeing someone miss a great street moment because they were too "scared" of digital noise to raise their ISO?
Grain is texture. Blur is a technical fail. Let’s stop chasing zeros and start chasing the shot.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
Grain is texture. Blur is a technical fail. Let’s stop chasing zeros and start chasing the shot.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
Manufacturers are selling us "six-zero" ISO ranges, yet most photographers are still terrified of a little grain.
In 60 minutes, Lesson 4 of Starting Photography Properly drops on the hub at Substack!
We’re killing the ISO myth and finding your sensor's real breaking point.
In 60 minutes, Lesson 4 of Starting Photography Properly drops on the hub at Substack!
We’re killing the ISO myth and finding your sensor's real breaking point.
February 3, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Manufacturers are selling us "six-zero" ISO ranges, yet most photographers are still terrified of a little grain.
In 60 minutes, Lesson 4 of Starting Photography Properly drops on the hub at Substack!
We’re killing the ISO myth and finding your sensor's real breaking point.
In 60 minutes, Lesson 4 of Starting Photography Properly drops on the hub at Substack!
We’re killing the ISO myth and finding your sensor's real breaking point.
I’ve created a new page on the site for Compagnia delle Apparizioni.
It’s not a project in the usual sense, more a container for images, figures, and temporary presences.
It begins quietly.
www.msecchi.com/blogmarco/co...
It’s not a project in the usual sense, more a container for images, figures, and temporary presences.
It begins quietly.
www.msecchi.com/blogmarco/co...
Compagnia delle Apparizioni, a new visual and artistic project
A quiet beginning in the middle of winter. Compagnia delle Apparizioni is a container for images, figures, costumes, and temporary presences, starting against the logic of the season.
www.msecchi.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:57 PM
I’ve created a new page on the site for Compagnia delle Apparizioni.
It’s not a project in the usual sense, more a container for images, figures, and temporary presences.
It begins quietly.
www.msecchi.com/blogmarco/co...
It’s not a project in the usual sense, more a container for images, figures, and temporary presences.
It begins quietly.
www.msecchi.com/blogmarco/co...
Venice, after hours.
Lost toys, working boat, Rialto doing its thing.
Nothing staged.
Everything real.
Lost toys, working boat, Rialto doing its thing.
Nothing staged.
Everything real.
January 30, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Venice, after hours.
Lost toys, working boat, Rialto doing its thing.
Nothing staged.
Everything real.
Lost toys, working boat, Rialto doing its thing.
Nothing staged.
Everything real.
Photography doesn’t need more tips. It needs structure. This is why I organised my writing this way.
www.marcosecchi.com/blog/photogr...
www.marcosecchi.com/blog/photogr...
Why Most Photography Advice Feels Useful, and Still Gets You Nowhere - Through the Lens Blog - Marco Secchi | Photography - Photography Needs Structure, Not More Advice
Why most photography advice feels useful but leads nowhere, and how structuring learning around craft, thinking, and sustainability changes everything.
www.marcosecchi.com
January 29, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Photography doesn’t need more tips. It needs structure. This is why I organised my writing this way.
www.marcosecchi.com/blog/photogr...
www.marcosecchi.com/blog/photogr...
When you can't zoom, you have to move. You have to engage.
I rely on just three focal lengths (The Prime Trio) to handle 90% of my work. Here is why I ditched the "versatility" of zooms for the discipline of primes.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/the-prime-...
I rely on just three focal lengths (The Prime Trio) to handle 90% of my work. Here is why I ditched the "versatility" of zooms for the discipline of primes.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/the-prime-...
Three Focal Lengths, a Lifetime of Images
Lessons from 28mm, 35mm, and 50mm after decades behind the lens
marcosecchi.substack.com
January 28, 2026 at 4:50 PM
When you can't zoom, you have to move. You have to engage.
I rely on just three focal lengths (The Prime Trio) to handle 90% of my work. Here is why I ditched the "versatility" of zooms for the discipline of primes.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/the-prime-...
I rely on just three focal lengths (The Prime Trio) to handle 90% of my work. Here is why I ditched the "versatility" of zooms for the discipline of primes.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/the-prime-...
Most photographers don’t struggle with vision.
They struggle with editing their own work honestly.
They struggle with editing their own work honestly.
January 28, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Most photographers don’t struggle with vision.
They struggle with editing their own work honestly.
They struggle with editing their own work honestly.
Too many photographers use f/1.8 to hide the fact that they don't know how to compose a background. If you blur it out, you don't have to deal with it.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
STARTING PHOTOGRAPHY, PROPERLY Lesson 3: Aperture (Controlling Depth)
Why your photos look flat (and why shooting at f/1.8 is a crutch).
marcosecchi.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Too many photographers use f/1.8 to hide the fact that they don't know how to compose a background. If you blur it out, you don't have to deal with it.
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
Venice Carnival 2027 workshops are open.
Two small groups (max 6): 1–2–3 Feb or 4–5–6 Feb.
Street + documentary storytelling, not staged portraits. Early Bird €750.
www.msecchi.com/venice-carni...
Two small groups (max 6): 1–2–3 Feb or 4–5–6 Feb.
Street + documentary storytelling, not staged portraits. Early Bird €750.
www.msecchi.com/venice-carni...
Venice Carnival Photography Workshop 2027 (Small Group, Max 6)
Venice Carnival Photography Workshop 2027 in Venice. Small group (max 6), split across the best shooting windows. Street, documentary, atmosphere and portraits. Early bird €750, prices rise closer to ...
www.msecchi.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Venice Carnival 2027 workshops are open.
Two small groups (max 6): 1–2–3 Feb or 4–5–6 Feb.
Street + documentary storytelling, not staged portraits. Early Bird €750.
www.msecchi.com/venice-carni...
Two small groups (max 6): 1–2–3 Feb or 4–5–6 Feb.
Street + documentary storytelling, not staged portraits. Early Bird €750.
www.msecchi.com/venice-carni...
2,004. That’s a lot of photographers.
The newsletter grew by 27% in the last 30 days. No algorithms, just word of mouth.
If you aren’t on the list yet, you’re missing the weekly deep dives.
Check it here: marcosecchi.substack.com
The newsletter grew by 27% in the last 30 days. No algorithms, just word of mouth.
If you aren’t on the list yet, you’re missing the weekly deep dives.
Check it here: marcosecchi.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:25 AM
2,004. That’s a lot of photographers.
The newsletter grew by 27% in the last 30 days. No algorithms, just word of mouth.
If you aren’t on the list yet, you’re missing the weekly deep dives.
Check it here: marcosecchi.substack.com
The newsletter grew by 27% in the last 30 days. No algorithms, just word of mouth.
If you aren’t on the list yet, you’re missing the weekly deep dives.
Check it here: marcosecchi.substack.com
Stop treating Shutter Speed like a volume dial for light.
ISO handles the light. Shutter Speed handles the Energy.
If your photos are sharp but feel "dead," or if they are "almost" sharp but messy, this is the fix.
Lesson 2 is live: marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
ISO handles the light. Shutter Speed handles the Energy.
If your photos are sharp but feel "dead," or if they are "almost" sharp but messy, this is the fix.
Lesson 2 is live: marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
STARTING PHOTOGRAPHY, PROPERLY Lesson 2: Shutter Speed (Controlling Time)
Why your photos are blurry (even when focus is perfect)
marcosecchi.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Stop treating Shutter Speed like a volume dial for light.
ISO handles the light. Shutter Speed handles the Energy.
If your photos are sharp but feel "dead," or if they are "almost" sharp but messy, this is the fix.
Lesson 2 is live: marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
ISO handles the light. Shutter Speed handles the Energy.
If your photos are sharp but feel "dead," or if they are "almost" sharp but messy, this is the fix.
Lesson 2 is live: marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
Venice Carnival is theatre, not a programme.
If you shoot it like a checklist, you’ll get postcard photos.
If you shoot it like a story, you’ll get something timeless.
Guide: www.msecchi.com/journal/veni...
If you shoot it like a checklist, you’ll get postcard photos.
If you shoot it like a story, you’ll get something timeless.
Guide: www.msecchi.com/journal/veni...
Venice Carnival Photography Guide: Tips, Locations & Best Light
A practical guide to photographing Venice Carnival, where to shoot, how to avoid crowds, find the best light, and create stronger images beyond basic mask portraits.
www.msecchi.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Venice Carnival is theatre, not a programme.
If you shoot it like a checklist, you’ll get postcard photos.
If you shoot it like a story, you’ll get something timeless.
Guide: www.msecchi.com/journal/veni...
If you shoot it like a checklist, you’ll get postcard photos.
If you shoot it like a story, you’ll get something timeless.
Guide: www.msecchi.com/journal/veni...
Stop trusting your autofocus. It doesn't know what your subject is. It just knows what has the most contrast.
If you want sharp photos, stop letting the camera guess.
Lesson 1 on doing it properly: marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
If you want sharp photos, stop letting the camera guess.
Lesson 1 on doing it properly: marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
STARTING PHOTOGRAPHY, PROPERLY Lesson 1: Getting Sharp Photos (Focus)
Why your photos are soft (and why it’s probably not your lens).
marcosecchi.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Stop trusting your autofocus. It doesn't know what your subject is. It just knows what has the most contrast.
If you want sharp photos, stop letting the camera guess.
Lesson 1 on doing it properly: marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
If you want sharp photos, stop letting the camera guess.
Lesson 1 on doing it properly: marcosecchi.substack.com/p/starting-p...
The kind of evening where everything slows down.
A church tower, a snow-covered street, and the sun disappearing like it has somewhere better to be.
Southern Hungary, under 100km from Budapest, suddenly feels like a postcard you can actually step into. 🕯️❄️
#leica #gettyimages
A church tower, a snow-covered street, and the sun disappearing like it has somewhere better to be.
Southern Hungary, under 100km from Budapest, suddenly feels like a postcard you can actually step into. 🕯️❄️
#leica #gettyimages
January 19, 2026 at 6:45 PM
The kind of evening where everything slows down.
A church tower, a snow-covered street, and the sun disappearing like it has somewhere better to be.
Southern Hungary, under 100km from Budapest, suddenly feels like a postcard you can actually step into. 🕯️❄️
#leica #gettyimages
A church tower, a snow-covered street, and the sun disappearing like it has somewhere better to be.
Southern Hungary, under 100km from Budapest, suddenly feels like a postcard you can actually step into. 🕯️❄️
#leica #gettyimages
Getty isn’t magic, and it’s not a lottery ticket.
It’s a system.
And once you understand the system, you stop guessing.
I wrote a straight, insider explanation here:
👉 marcosecchi.substack.com/p/getty-imag...
It’s a system.
And once you understand the system, you stop guessing.
I wrote a straight, insider explanation here:
👉 marcosecchi.substack.com/p/getty-imag...
Getty Images Contributor Guide, How to Join and Succeed
Insights from 20+ years inside the world’s most powerful photo agency — and what it takes to survive today
marcosecchi.substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Getty isn’t magic, and it’s not a lottery ticket.
It’s a system.
And once you understand the system, you stop guessing.
I wrote a straight, insider explanation here:
👉 marcosecchi.substack.com/p/getty-imag...
It’s a system.
And once you understand the system, you stop guessing.
I wrote a straight, insider explanation here:
👉 marcosecchi.substack.com/p/getty-imag...
Reposted by Marco Secchi 📷
January 17, 2026 at 8:51 PM
I have a Substack going live at 6pm and I still have to write it.
Professionalism is a myth. 😂
Professionalism is a myth. 😂
January 16, 2026 at 8:00 AM
I have a Substack going live at 6pm and I still have to write it.
Professionalism is a myth. 😂
Professionalism is a myth. 😂
Travel photography tip that hurts:
If your photos look like everyone else’s, it’s because you’re standing where everyone else stands.
Move 20 metres.
Wait 2 minutes.
Shoot 1 frame.
If your photos look like everyone else’s, it’s because you’re standing where everyone else stands.
Move 20 metres.
Wait 2 minutes.
Shoot 1 frame.
January 15, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Travel photography tip that hurts:
If your photos look like everyone else’s, it’s because you’re standing where everyone else stands.
Move 20 metres.
Wait 2 minutes.
Shoot 1 frame.
If your photos look like everyone else’s, it’s because you’re standing where everyone else stands.
Move 20 metres.
Wait 2 minutes.
Shoot 1 frame.
The problem isn’t that travel photography is “overdone”.
It’s that most people photograph the same idea.
Here’s how to escape it:
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/why-most-t...
It’s that most people photograph the same idea.
Here’s how to escape it:
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/why-most-t...
Why Most Travel Photography Looks the Same
(And How to Break Free)
marcosecchi.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:18 AM
The problem isn’t that travel photography is “overdone”.
It’s that most people photograph the same idea.
Here’s how to escape it:
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/why-most-t...
It’s that most people photograph the same idea.
Here’s how to escape it:
marcosecchi.substack.com/p/why-most-t...