Marcos Alberti Shows that Photography Doesn’t Need to be So Serious

A few years ago, we featured Marcos Alberti and his incredibly fun Wine Project along with the sexually liberating O project. It’s a curious study that shows how someone changes after getting a few drinks in them. And this time around, he’s back. But this time, he chose his subjects to be wine sommeliers and NYC chefs. The concept: photograph the subject before they drink any wine, and then once for each glass they drink for three glasses. The expressions get goofier and goofier — and they’re an inspiration for anyone who hosts photo booths and photographs at parties.

All images used with permission by Marcos Alberti. Please follow him at @marcos_alberti or his website

To do this shoot, Marcos used a Canon 5D Mk IV and a 24-70mm L lens. “In other projects, I used a Hasselblad H4X with Phase One P65+ digital back, but its weight and the slowness of this camera hindered me during the photo shoot,” Marcos tells the Phoblographer. “Regarding the lens, I like to have versatility quickly. When I’m about to photograph these moments, everything happens very quickly, so having a zoom lens is essential.”

“I think this is the most important thing for all of humanity, to connect with others.”

Marcos Alberti

The photographs are all done in a photo booth style with consistent lighting and a person in front of a backdrop. But mostly, they’re a reminder to sometimes just set loose and have some fun. Not everything needs to be a super serious, majorly conceptual photography project or even need to try to change the world. At times, we need to see the good amidst all the bad that we’re bombarded with on social media and in the news. This project is a bit of a reminder about this. Sure, it shows that alcohol can help us sometimes forget our problems, too, if we’re in a comfortable position.

Of course, we also had to ask Marcos about AI imagery and his thoughts on it. “Well, I believe that photos made by AI are a passing thing, like other waves we had in the past, like 3D, for example, at the time many people questioned whether photography would survive, and this wave has passed,” he tells us. “I think we are all still amazed by the capabilities of AI, but I think it is unlikely that anything will replace the human effect. When I see a portrait, I don’t want to look at a person who doesn’t exist, I want to look at a real human being.” He continued to state that he want to feel and connect with this person through their photo — which is seemingly something he alludes to that he doesn’t get through AI imagery.