I was born in 1964 in Scala (SA), a charming little village on the Amalfi Coast. My family has been interested in photography ever since 1918, obviously initially, only in an amateurish kind of way. Then in the forties my grandfather, Egidio, set up a small photography shop in Ravello (SA). Ever since that modest start the professional activity of photographer has been passed on from father to son right down to our days. In fact, in the fifties my father, Luigi, succeeded my granddad in the shop and carried out many developments and improvements in the activity. I still remember the day when I was only eight years old, my father gave me, as a present, my first camera. It was a Kodak istamatic 126 and I certainly was very exited clicking my very first photographs. Perhaps because relations and friends praised me then for the results of my attempts that I later developed a real passion for photography. In time, thanks to the loving teaching and advices of my father I too became a professional photographer in the footsteps of my dad and my granddad. Obviously I have endeavoured to keep up with the latest technological development in the field of photography and today I have one of the most modern photography activity on the Amalfi Coast. Pictures of the most important events which have taken place on the Amalfi Coast in general and particularly in Ravello are jealously kept in my archive. Often people with interest in photography, in local scenery or in local history ask me for prints of them. The photographs I take are the expression of my ability and my passion; a passion which has always inspired me to value and to capture unique moments of light, shade and colours interacting to convey the beauty of Nature. After more than twenty years I still remember vividly the deep emotion and pride I felt when I was only sixteen years old and my father asked me to take the photographs of a wedding ceremony. The religious part took place in the Ravello Cathedral and the reception in one of the most fashionable hotels in Ravello. I overheard people whisper that I was so young and so clever. Obviously my father supervised me all through the event advising and encouraging me as necessary, but the congratulations were all for me when the newly-wed collected their photographs. It is also with pride that I recall the words of an English photography critic who said: "Mauro's photographs have a special rendering together with a singular chromatic effect which harmonizes people and scenery. His unique ability derives from his innate artistic disposition". For me these words have the flavour of poetry.
Mauro Maniglia