Roberto Paglianti was born in Viareggio (Lucca) on March 19th 1946 and from a very early age he challenged himself with arts approaching painting, and not yet 18 years old he presents himself to art criticism with a personal exhibition in his own city achieving considerable success.
He approaches to local journalism and he is literally struck by the passion for photojournalism. He leaves out painting and throws himself into photojournalism. He borrows his father’s Zeiss Icarex which at the time was the top, especially for a beginner. He starts shooting and to his great satisfaction sees his photographs published in newspapers. It was 1969 and the beginning of his career coincide with a very dramatic event: the Lavorini’s case. The very first kidnapping case in Italy. An eleven years old boy disappears and not only the Italian press but the International press as well, handled the case and Paglianti’s photos were published on every Italian newspapers and magazines and Internationals ones.
Due to this event he was able to work with newspapers and magazines continuously proposing his work, being the Versilia the top location for night life and celebrity shows in those years: from the Bussola, owned by Mr Bernardini of whom he was a great friend, to the Franceschi Capannina of Forte dei Marmi. He was photographing all the major Artists passing through this famous part of the Country in the 60’s, from Celentano to Mina, from Tom Jones to Charles Aznavour, from Ray Charles to Dee Dee Bridgewater and everyone that came to the Versilia “palcoscienico” in the last 40 years.
His photojournalistic agency is still very active and cooperates with many newspapers, working and having the contribute of many excellent photographers.
Besides providing newspapers with photographs they request, he chooses the topics which he then proposes to them.
Of a great importance it has been the experience made in Camargue (France) at Les Saintes Marie de la mer where he photographed the European Gypsies gathering which they organize every year to honor the black Madonna Santa Sara, their patron. He achieved all of this by living with them for a few days and photographed their way of being from every angle. Lately those same photographs were exposed at Forte dei Marmi’s Leopoldino Fortino achieving considerable success.
As for the present time, Roberto Paglianti is always looking for the most unique landscapes both in Italy and other parts of the world, obtaining very artistic shots.
In 2009, with his Nikon, he documented the “Strage di Viareggio” a great tragedy caused by the explosion of a train gas tank which cost the life of 32 people and many severely wounded. He always claimed that he took those photographs with tears in his eyes, living those terrifying moments that hit his own loved town and its people. For this special press report he won the Tremonte photojournalistic prize in 2010 which is held in Catania. Some of his photographs became part of the city’s Museum.
As for the future, he plans the organization of exhibitions and photographs publication which will highlight his photographic work.