Don Bosco/Don Bosco, Bolzano/Bozen, Bolzano/Bozen and environs
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What to do when your employer makes you redundant? You take the first step (ironic, considering he worked in a shoe factory before) towards the right decision: in Gino Gatti’s case that meant making his passion for photography into his daily breadwinner. All this happened in 1960 – but this wasn’t Gino’s first rodeo. He’d nurtured his passion for taking snapshots for years and he’d already turned it into a money-making activity. To round off his family’s income, he used to photograph events during his spare time. The jump from side hustle to main business was immediate, and he soon opened his own shop. His son Stefano was also a passionate photographer, and so learnt the tricks and tips of being behind the shutter as a child. Both father and son would take pictures during their work breaks, when hiking in the mountains, and when out and about surrounded by nature. When all the other kids soaked up the sunshine during the summer holidays, Stefano could be found working in the shop and spending time in the darkroom. His regular apprenticeship started at the age of 16 and, in 1996, he took over the business when Gino retired.
