Twenty-year-old Tommaso Montenesi’s photography career launched on the back of his father’s motor scooter, running away from “midnight monsters” in Milan, Italy. After a close encounter in a black market, Montenesi realized this style of photography was dangerous and decided to focus his attention on his family. His style has since evolved into a series of self-portraits, which document “death at work.” We speak to Montenesi on midnight monsters, his struggles as a photographer and how death affects his work.

I love the term midnight monsters. Can you explain that?
I gave them this term because during that time, I was starting to read seriously. And, one of the first books I read was Dracula by Bram Stoker. So, the midnight monsters to me, are very close to the character Dracula. A man dressed in black that goes out to suck blood from his victims. The midnight monsters basically do the same thing; they go out to seek parties, drugs, etc. I was so scared of them. I would take the picture and tell my dad to run away on the scooter as fast as he could.

Why were you afraid of them?
As a youngster, I was scared because I would associate them with the creatures and stories I would read in books. And, the fact that after the camera flashed they would disappear again into the night… It was scary to me. But, as I grew older, I started to recognize that I could take a different accroach with people. So, in early 2015-2016, I started to dabble in to street photography. Watching projects like Bruce Gilden would make, I remember seeing one of his pictures and thinking to myself, “This guy is so courageous. If he can do it, I can do it.” So, I started to see them [people] different, knowing that I could see the monsters even in the morning, when the sun is in the sky.

What’s your biggest struggle as an artist/photographer?
Well, one of my biggest struggles is that sometimes, I have to beg others to be my subjects. Like, even in my sister’s project, sometimes I had to pay her because she wouldn’t pose for the photos. But, in another way, this thing can make the project even more interesting. It highlights the strange relationship I have with my sister.

I notice a few self-portraits on your page. What do those represent?
Well, that started when I came across a quote by Jean Cocteau. “Every time in the mirror, I watch death at work.” And, my entire life, even at an early age, I was quite obsessed with the end of life. My family created quite a different upbringing for me. Every Sunday, when I was 7 or 8 years old, I would go for walks in the cemetery with my father.

You usually aim for intimate moments with your subjects, correct?
Yes. And I learned one thing with these types of photos. I cannot “make” a good picture if I don’t love that subject. The photo would not be good if I photograph someone that I don’t love.