A Journey from Southern Italy to Scotland's Ancient Woodlands: Fortunato Gatto’s Dialogue with Nature
In the gossamer light of Scotland’s primeval forests, where tendrils of mist embrace the verdant understory, Italian-born photographer Fortunato Gatto has discovered not merely subject matter, but communion. His transcendent image, Old Man of the Glen—a masterful portrait of an ancient birch adorned with diaphanous strands of lichen—has secured him the coveted 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year accolade in the Plants and Fungi category. Yet to reduce Gatto’s œuvre to technical virtuosity would be to misapprehend its essence entirely.
Roots in Rural Italy
Born in a remote corner of southern Italy, Gatto formed his earliest connection with nature through his grandparents—farmers who, despite being largely illiterate, possessed an extraordinary ability to read the land. “Their connection to it was visceral, an unbreakable bond,” he reminisces. “In this region, drought defined several months of the year. The first rains marked a rebirth of the land, an epiphany of immeasurable value.”
As a child, Gatto would observe roadside puddles after rainfall, mesmerized by tadpoles transforming into frogs. “Perhaps this was my first true exploration—where nature began to teach me that observation is essential to discovering the universe around us, a universe reflected in something as small as a puddle of water. These are concepts I later encountered in works like The Little Prince, where the essential and the invisible form a fundamental truth.”
The Artistic Journey
“I am like a researcher, exploring nature in search of sensory well-being,” he explains. “The camera is merely a tool—one that allows me to share a powerful message of beauty and introspection. It was the need to return to my roots, to feel connected to nature once more.”
This connection transcends mere artistic preference. “Exploring nature holds a dual meaning: it is both a return to origins—like being in the womb—and a journey of self-discovery. There is no real distinction between humans and nature, because we are nature.”
The Award-Winning Moment
The genesis of Old Man of the Glen emerges from Glen Affric’s mist-shrouded highlands, where Scotland’s primordial Caledonian forest still whispers secrets of ecological memory. Here, among windswept valleys and crystalline lochs, Gatto discovered the singular birch that would catalyze his recognition on the global stage.
“This photograph represents an odyssey that has cultivated within me a profound kinship with these sylvan sanctuaries,” Gatto reflects. “Amidst these ancient woodlands, I rediscover life’s quintessential verities and experience a sublime reintegration with the universal whole. They embody for me what Walden Pond manifested for Thoreau—a transcendental return to nature’s fundamental rhythms.”
The Art of Merging Science and Emotion
What distinguishes Gatto’s approach is his alchemical ability to transmute the quotidian into the extraordinary. “To manifest a truly remarkable nature photograph, one must orchestrate a delicate synthesis between two realms: the scientific, which furnishes an intimate understanding of ecological systems, and the spiritual, which engenders empathic resonance with one’s surroundings. The harmonious convergence of these dimensions births narratives of authenticity and emotional gravitas.”
Old Man of the Glen itself highlights a positive environmental indicator. “This photograph showcases an environment with minimal pollution,” he notes. “Glen Affric is significant because it is home to the highest concentration of native trees in the UK, making it a vital ecosystem. It is crucial to keep these areas less trafficked, without expanding roads and parking lots, to preserve the concept of wilderness.”
Artistic Philosophy
Gatto’s work serves as both elegy and invocation—a visual testament to what remains and what stands to be lost. His photographs do not merely document; they advocate through aesthetic revelation.
“I like to define what I do as a true mission,” he asserts. “My role is to share a story of beauty in a creative way, along with the sensory well-being that comes from the symbiosis with Nature. We live in a society where media covers mostly crimes and bad news. We are constantly missing the daily good news. The beauty of nature combined with art is the most powerful message we can share to raise awareness. The message must be clear: our planet is still full of beauty.”
This philosophy manifests in his creative process through deep empathy. “When I observe a landscape, the first thing that happens is a process of deep empathy with it. Then, a form of decontextualization begins—I start to see its shapes, lines, and colors in a different way. In reality, I don’t simply capture the landscape itself, but rather the sensations and emotions it conveys to me. It’s as if I become an emotional projector, translating those feelings into a photographic frame.”
The challenges of remote landscapes and unpredictable weather inform rather than impede his work. “The weather is an extraordinary universe in which I find myself deeply connected. It is the force that sculpts the landscape, reshaping and redefining its contours. Much of my creative vision and inspiration is driven by meteorological conditions. I have a deep love for tumultuous weather (not by chance, I live in Scotland!), the powerful winds, the snowfall, and the ever-changing skies. Wind is a remarkable artist—it brings forests to life, making them dynamic and profoundly poetic.”
Teaching and Advocacy
Beyond his photography, Gatto conducts workshops that transcend technical instruction. “With my workshops I try to go beyond conventional technical instruction—it is more about sharing values and providing artistic keys to unlock everyone’s creativity. I believe it is essential to move beyond conventional approaches to explore new horizons, ones that would otherwise remain dormant beneath the weight of everyday life.”
He sees photography as an endless journey. “Photography is an open book where we project images that describe both nature and ourselves. Through our photographs, we unconsciously write our own biography, leaving behind a lasting legacy. My purpose is to pass on the beauty of our world. I encourage my students to explore their inner landscape, to follow their own path, and to never be afraid of authenticity. In fact, now more than ever, we need real stories and genuine people.”
Gatto believes deeply in photography’s power to reconnect humanity with the natural world. “I like to think of my images as portals—gateways that invite the viewer to step through and begin their own personal journey,” he shares. His work inherently functions as a bridge between people and wilderness, fostering the very connection he himself has cultivated through years of patient observation.
To aspiring nature photographers, his advice is simple yet profound: “Embark on your own personal journey and never be afraid to be authentic. Pour yourself fully into your work. Seek inspiration in every direction, not just within the realm of photography. Every conversation, every detail of daily life, a melody, a positive or negative event—each holds the potential to spark an idea. Nature is the perfect metaphor for self-expression, a canvas on which to project yourself and share the imaginative power that defines us.”
A Lasting Impression
In Fortunato Gatto’s journey from southern Italy to Scotland’s ancient woodlands, we witness the evolution of a visual philosopher whose lens transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. His award-winning work reminds us that true artistry lies in illuminating overlooked beauty—revealing what has always been present but seldom seen. As our world grapples with environmental challenges, Gatto’s images stand as both testament and invitation: a reminder of what remains wild and worthy of protection, and a call to rediscover our essential connection to the natural world.