Bio

Curriculum Vitae GIANNI MAITAN was born in Malo (VI) on 20 April 1951, is resident in Trissino (VI) - ITALY and works as CEO of GEMATA SPA. He began photographing, developing and darkroom printing B&W in 1975 and since 1980 nature photography has become his main hobby. After having photographed in Italy and in many European countries, in 1982 during a trip to Kenya he fell in love with Africa. After that first trip many others followed. His love for Africa was so great that he decided to buy a villa in Malindi (Kenya) and turn it into a boutique hotel. His strong interest in nature and photography, other Kenya, has taken him to Russia, Japan, China, Tibet, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Malawi, Mali, Botswana, Uganda, Ethiopia, Senegal, Gabon, Ecuador, Galapagos, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, India, Canada, Svalbard, US South and Alaska. His photos have been published in many books, calendars, guides, postcards, Panini stickers and in the most titled specialized Italian and foreign magazines. Since 1992, his photos have served to promote the image of the Gemata company and since 1996, every year the "Gemata Calendar", with his photos of animals, has been distributed throughout the world in thousands of copies. He has presented his works in numerous public screenings and has held courses in nature photography at photographic circles and associations. He has exhibited in numerous collective photographic exhibitions in Italy and abroad, and in personal exhibitions at Palazzo Toaldi Capra in Schio (VI), in Marostica (VI), Sandrigo (VI), Grantorto (PD), at Villa Caldogno in Caldogno ( VI), twice at Villa Lates VICENZA, at the University of LEON (Mexico), at Villamagna FLORENCE, and with blow-ups of 2 meters per side: at the Sheraton Hotel in Rome on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the independence of the Democratic Republic of Kenya, at Palazzo Bonaguro in Bassano del Grappa (VI), at the Rocca di Cento (FE), at the Galleria Civica G.B. Bosio in Desenzano del Garda (BS), in the Sala Civica in Dalmine (BG), in Chiaverano (TO) and in Montecchio Maggiore (VI). With the Editorial Giorgio Mondadori in December 2004 he published the book "African Parks", he was co-author of the "Guide to travel: Kenya" published in October 2005 by the Polaris Publishing House, with Sassi Editore in April 2009 he published "Wonderful Parks Africans” and in 2015 with Gemata. S.p.A. the MOVING book with black and white photos of moving animals. He has achieved thousands of admissions and numerous prizes in prestigious national and international photographic competitions. With the Italian FIAF Natura team he achieved 9 World Cups at the FIAP Natura Biennials and an individual second and third place. He has been a member of the jury in national and international competitions. In May 2008 he was awarded the AFI honor, in May 2016 the IFI honor and in 2022 the EFIAF and AFIAP honors.