Today we’d like to introduce you to Dante Ruscitti and Julia Cardoso.
Hi Dante and Julia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Dante: Growing up, I was always drawn to art and creative outlets when I wasn’t busy spending my time at the ice rink. Enamored with cinema, my little brother and I would be constantly creating skits and movies on a cheap little camcorder (we loved Indiana Jones and created our own version called “California Jack,” for example). Throughout high school and college in Boulder, CO, I was always creating something, whether it dealt with skateboarding videos, logo animations, graphic design, etc. Video was always my primary focal point, and the editing side of things in After Effects kept me excited for hours on end. I teamed up with a buddy and started doing video work for local companies in Colorado, which eventually led us to some product photography. I had never really given photography much thought, oddly. We worked with athletic stores, a fly fishing company, a local college, construction companies, etc.
Sometime in 2018, I took a trip out to Portland, OR and couldn’t bring any of my equipment with me- my buddy needed to use it that weekend. So, my brother lended me his film camera. I knew absolutely nothing about it, but after that trip, I ordered myself a Canon AE-1 and was absolutely hooked on photography and more specifically, film. I basically ditched all my digital gear and reshifted my focus and priorities. Film helped me to recapture a bit of passion I hadn’t realized was even lost. And as I continued shooting, I eventually moved on to medium format, now primarily shooting with a Mamiya RB67 and Hasselblad 501C/M. When I met Jules, she encouraged me to start putting more of my work out onto social media and the internet, and that’s when things got really interesting for me. Thinking it would be a one-time deal, I created a 50-something page zine called Y35 Mag and included several writing pieces to accompany two or three years’ worth of my film photographs. The zine got way more attention than I had anticipated, and it evolved into a monthly magazine featuring articles, interviews, and artists from all over the world. We now put out quarterly issues and aim to celebrate film, highlighting both small hobbyists and big-time professionals (y35mag.com). Moving to Los Angeles with Jules has been an absolute game changer as we experience new things, meet new people, and evolve.
Jules: Growing up as a kid, my dad was a photographer who mostly shot family portraits and weddings. When I was bored, I would rummage through my parent’s things and ended up finding these bright yellow containers filled with slide photos. Later, I would realize they were the OG Kodak film slides. Those little things were so fascinating to me. He didn’t engage in much studio photography for long, but in my late teens, I “inherited” his old velvet backdrops and poles, which I still have today.
I was always a creative kid- the artsy one in all the choir classes. I always loved taking pictures but never really got seriously into it until after high school. Even though I was part of photography club, I usually skipped it, but I still have all my papers from that class! It taught me a lot about framing. I moved around a lot, and when I transferred high schools from Boston to Florida, I didn’t take my new photography teacher any seriously, which really seemed to piss her off. I would make jokes a lot but I still took okay pictures. I didn’t really take myself seriously until I went back to Boston on my own accord the summer after high school ended. I was staying at my friend Sarah’s house and borrowed her camera to go shoot downtown Boston, something I always begged my parents to let me do but they were always busy. My Instagram feed became this gallery of very cool-toned architecture shots and I had the absolute time of my life editing them and “curating” my new feed. It’s funny looking back at that because I used to hate warm tones so much.
A couple of years later, my dad gifted me my first digital camera, a Canon EOS T5, and I started shooting my friends and every concert I went to in Orlando. Soon, small bands started reaching out to me asking me to come out and shoot and I fell in love with show photography. I brought my trusty Canon to the two very last Warper Tour shows in Orlando and West Palm Beach and just had an absolute blast shooting crowd surfers and timing hair-flippings perfectly (RIP Warped). Unfortunately, these pictures are all on my iMac, which sadly got fried. Take it from me folks, back up your files to a hard drive please!!! I was also extremely immersed into car culture in Florida and really wanted to be able to shoot cool ass cars one day.
For my 23rd birthday, my sister asked me what I wanted. I told her: a film camera! She gifted me my first Minolta and funnny enough, I ended up randomly moving to Colorado in 2020 and didn’t bring it (or any of my things in fact). After a few months settling into Denver, I messaged this really hot guy online about meeting up to go shoot and thankfully, he was super down. This guy lent me one of his film cameras and I shot film for the very first time on our first date in the mountains. He and I were both pleasantly surprised with how well they came out and from that point, its history. A few months after that, we moved in together and shot through many, many rolls of film. I really have Dante to thank for my journey into shooting film. I wouldn’t be the same without him! And honestly, he has me to thank for where his film account is now. I told him to do that. Just saying.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Dante: It most definitely has not always been a smooth road, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In the end, I’ve always been able to look back at those times and learn from them in ways that fuel new creative pursuits or change up my processes. Some notable struggles include difficult and ever-changing client demands, burnout, and self-doubt. But with each of those things, as I said, I now look back at those experiences or periods of time and can see how they’ve helped shape me into being a better artist and person to work with.
Jules: Oh yeah, for sure. Dante was well ahead in knowing how to frame and meter shots and I’ve definitely learned a lot along the way. My photography is a million times better than it was two years ago. With film, it’s a bit more of a heartbreaking process. I’ve accidentally ruined some rolls here and there but I’m sure lots of film photographers can relate. The most heartbreaking moment for me is when I accidentally threw away a black and white roll I shot driving through some really snowy mountain peaks. I had it stored in the fridge and when I was moving out of my apartment, I tossed it in a trash bag while cleaning all the food out. I didn’t notice until months later and I still think back on that roll all the time- especially since I’m not sure when I’ll make it back to those mountains.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Dante: I’ve been absolutely infatuated with neon and old signage for a while now. Everything Americana in nature, really. I’ve spent so much time scouting areas and making long drives over short weekends exploring lost and forgotten towns, hunting for bits of nostalgia and history. On social media at least, I think I’m definitely known for capturing this sort of thing. But I like to dabble a little bit in every realm of photography- landscapes, snapshots, lifestyle, portraits, etc. I’m most proud of the Y35 Magazine. Being able to connect with and interview other creatives from all over the world, with different skill sets and areas of focus, has been incredibly gratifying for me. And the design process is something else. I mean, it can be a bit stressful managing everything and getting it put together, but I’m so unbelievably stoked once each issue is wrapped up. I find joy in helping to promote others, giving them a voice, and providing some sources of inspiration through the magazine. And through this, I’ve also been able to devote some energy to writing, a hobby I’ve always had but never really concentrated too much on. So in that sense, I would suppose I’m an editor, writer, designer, and photographer.
Jules: I’d say I definitely “specialize” in car photography, but nature shots have always held a special place in my heart. There’s an element of patience required with it, and immersing yourself as a part of nature as well. Moving to California has been as excellent inspiration for both aspects. We’ve dabbled in studio sets here and there, and that’s definitely something I want to focus more on this year. We’ve moved into a bigger apartment and I have so many props and lighting equipment I’m excited to use!
Dante and I have recently started doing couple of shoots, starting with his brother’s engagement. We shot these two lovebirds on the Laguna coast and everything was just to die for. I love capturing romance! We’ve also shot Casey and Jesse’s engagement, who you’ve interviewed and featured as well. Theirs was more of an editorial yet iconic shoot with a vintage car. That was super cool to shoot. Casey is just such a star. You can expect to see more shoots like that for sure!
We also both love shooting old, rundown scenes that look like they’re from an old western set or something from the ’50s. I mean, what could look better on film? It’s pretty funny how we call dibs on things we find driving around. Neither of us respects the rules of dibs.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Dante: Well, luck is responsible for so much, honestly. But at the same time, luck isn’t worth much if it comes around and you’re not ready for it. I’m lucky to have met Jules, which has shaped my creative pursuits and journey. I’m lucky to have made connections that led me to interviewing people like Douglas Kirkland and featuring him in my magazine, for example. And I’m lucky and to have met the people I now get to call my friends. Without them, my drive to get out and create would just be gassed. Having a solid support group around you to pump your tires every now and then helps keep you confident. But yeah, without some of the good fortune I’ve been afforded, it’s hard to imagine where I’d be right now, or if I’d even be on a similar life path.
Jules: Luck is a funny thing. I think it’s more of just opening yourself up to synchronicities from the universe. As a film photographer, it’s pretty important. I usually let my intuition guide me and it leads me to some pretty cool scenes. I’m so lucky to have met Dante and created so much with him. We’re both so lucky to have been given the opportunity to move to California and just being outside is so magical. We’ve met some incredible people here and it’s opened the doors to some incredible shots and scenes for sure. Luck is really just keeping your hands open to receive. A closed mouth doesn’t get fed!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://y35mag.com/dante-ruscitti
- Instagram: @yung35mm and @cowgirlbones
- Other: https://y35mag.com/
Image Credits
Photo of us taken by Joseph Anzaldo
