Paolo Roversi (1947-) Italy

Paolo Roversi is an Italian fashion and portrait photographer, and his photos have appeared in the world’s top fashion magazines for nearly 40 years. Roversi takes a personal approach to fashion, and his images are often surrounded by a mystical aura that dwells somewhere between dream and reality. Roversi became interested in photography after a trip to Spain with his family in 1964. At home in Ravenna, he built a darkroom and then opened a portrait studio, where he photographed local celebrities and their families. His breakthrough came after he did an ad campaign for Christian Dior. Roversi prefers to work with ambient lighting and a slow shutter speed, often several seconds long.