NXT 
Giovanni Corabi emailed us recently and included a roll of film he shot in California, which you’ll find below. Thats’ all he did. But it turns out the photos are really good. Just beautiful photos. Check em out. And remember this could be you. Hit us up, blow our mind. And now meet Giovanni.
WHAT YOUTH: Who are you?
GIOVANNI CORABI: My name is Giovanni Corabi. I’m a 21 years old Italian photographer currently based in London, UK.
What were you doing in California this summer?
I was there on holiday with my girlfriend. She is from Orange County so we went back together for a month.
Have you been shooting photos for a while? Any formal schooling or training or is it just a hobby?
I have been taking pictures on and off for a long time. I am studying Graphic Design at Central Saint Martins – in London – specializing in Moving Image. Basically, film and photography. Alongside my studies I work as a fashion and portrait photographer, but really I take pictures of everything around me that I find cool or inspiring. Like California, for example.
Was this your first trip to California?
It was my second trip actually, but I stayed for longer. I took the time to experience the place as a local. Embracing the people, the culture, everything that came my way. I think what I liked the most was feeling inspired by the place. Photographing it came as a response. I am a fashion photographer partly because I live in London. I love doing it, I enjoy every aspect of it, but my photography is highly influenced by where I am at the moment. When I’m here, I see a lot of young creatives around me. A lot of energy coming from the fashion world, it excites me and I dive into it. There, I felt inspired by the atmosphere, the scenarios, the people, the cars… Everything is so picturesque that I dove into that. It felt like being in a movie. Everything was familiar but new at the same time.
Who are some other photographers you are drawn to right now?
I obviously look up to the great photographers of our times. Peter Lindbergh, Mario Testino, Albert Watson and so on. But I also like to see what young people do. I quite like the vibe that some photographers from the OC area have right now. The 676plustax Instagram account for example, shot by Taylor Cardinio, is very cool. I think it has a lot of personality and it makes me feel something.
What are 5 websites you check regularly?
Apart from What Youth? There are a lot of different sites I like to look at. From Hypebeast to Dazed Digital. I don’t really have fixed ones though. I like to stay open to whatever is around me. There might be a month that I am really into some photographer/website/designer and then the following month I am into someone else. I think you should know what you like but stay open. Flexible.
What camera set up/film did you use to shoot this one-roll?
I used and old Pentax K1000 bought in a thrift shop here in England and some Kodak Portra 400 film.
And any plans on coming back to CA?
I’ll definitely be back next summer, and the one after, and the one after that one and so on. If it was for me I’d move there in a minute!
And best piece of advice you could give to an aspiring photographer.
I feel like I’m too young to give out any career advice. Only thing I can say is to keep an open mind. Look around you. Be critical. Stay focused and work hard.
Check out more of Giovanni’s work here.
