Pucci - The family behind Costa Rica’s iconic photography
It's not unusual that the children of a successful businessman go to work for the family business. But it's highly unusual when that business arose from a hobby — and when everyone in the family exhibits worldclass talents in a field that requires a high level of creativity, artistry and technical skill.
The Pucci family's photography has come to define Costa Rican nature and culture to the outside world. The iconic publishing company evolved from the boyhood bonding of two brothers, Giancarlo and Sergio, enjoying outdoor adventures with their father, Juan José. Together, they have produced the most celebrated coffee-table photo books in the country, including the best-selling “Costa Rica From the Air.”
Giancarlo Pucci, 41, remembers going on camping trips in the Costa Rican wilderness his entire childhood with his father and his brother.
“My dad always had a camera, and there were tripods everywhere, film in the fridge,” Giancarlo said. They would return to San José and gather groups of friends to look at Dad's new pictures, projected on a wall. “I remember being amazed by the things that an eye can catch through a camera.”
Sergio Pucci, 39, remembers these outings well, saying his father “had a group of friends that was very adventurous,” and adding that in those days, it “was very rare” for people to visit exotic places all over Costa Rica.
“I remember my dad, being a heart surgeon, he was always working a lot and with a lot of things on his mind,” Sergio said. “And on the weekend when we went on these adventures, his mood would really change. He was the happiest I saw him when he was in nature.”
Juan José and Sergio have been named photographer of the year by the Costa Rican Photography Club, and have been recognized