The pride and the passion. The colour and the culture.
Italian football has it all in glorious abundance, captured and perfectly preserved by photographer Danny Last his stylish compilation on Italian football grounds and culture, Campo da Calcio.
Meaning “Football Pitch” in English, even the Italian translation somehow adds still more authenticity, and flavour, to Last’s memorable set of pictures.
Campo da Calcio is a photographic series by Danny Last on contemporary Italian football culture. The limited edition A5 zine contains 32 beautifully shot colour photographs splashed across 28 pages.
Campo da Calcio | Danny Last
Campo da Calcio is a photographic series on contemporary Italian football culture.
A limited edition A5 zine containing 32 beautifully shot colour photographs across 28 pages.
You can feel the atmosphere, almost taste the tension, in every frame as Last takes in games from Serie A to C.
Inspired by what he witnessed watching Channel 4’s Football Italia, presented by the “magnificent’ James Richardson, Last decided to see first hand what all the fuss was about.
Inter v Napoli around the year 2000 began it all, and, Last says, that triggered an addiction to all aspects of Italian football as well as the country and its culture.
“There was carnage outside,” he said. “Fans breaking into the stadium, an exchange of flares and missiles, noise inside the ground that I’d never experienced before and some post-match fisticuffs.
“I’ve been hooked ever since.”
This set of pictures, taken over five years from 2018-2023, feature the likes of Roma, AC Milan, Napoli and Genoa, with the best atmosphere, Last says, to be found down south at Foggia and Bari. “Loud and proud,” he says.
One particular favourite shot came at the San Siro.
“I was in the right place at the right time for the match with Fiorentina to capture their tifo display,” he said.
“And when you’re in Naples you can take a snap every ten yards and not get bored. It’s a tap-in for good photos there.”
Napoli x Danny Last Postcards
A collection of Napoli postcards that capture the colour and passion of the city, from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona to graffiti and street murals. Avaliable as packs of 10 or 20. Full spec below.
“I like propping up the bar in a cafe, having a coffee for €1 whilst pretending the read the sports papers. The connections between the cities on the train networks are fast and cheap and I like people watching there. I like the way locals constantly sweep up outside their front doors, their washing hanging across the streets and balconies. I like their friendliness. I like their passion and on and on…”
EXCLUSIVE DANNY LAST FOOTBALL ITALIA PRINTS PRINTS
-
Campo da Calcio – Naples£50.00 – £75.00 -
San Nicola Sunset£50.00 – £100.00 -
AC Milan Tifo – San Siro£50.00 – £100.00
Last’s pictures bring it all to life. Rich in colour and immersed in raw emotion, there is a genuine connection between him, his photography and his appreciation of the country that has become a second home. It’s the passion that grips him, he says.
“Three years ago I gave up alcohol and decided to up my food game instead of ‘lorrying’ back pints on European football weekends, and when it comes to food you can’t go too far wrong in Italy.”
Certainly not wrong, Last has a developed a real appetite for so much of what Italy offers the modern football fan.
“Most stadiums there haven’t had so much as a lick of paint since Italia 90 and I love that old school feel. It will all have to change if they want to progress. So enjoy it while you can.”
Whatever the future holds, Last’s pictures will keep the memory alive.
Don’t miss out on Lower Block’s latest news and features. Subscribe to our newsletter below and give us a follow on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
You may also like…