ABOUT ME
Since I was a child, encouraged by my grandfather, I have focused my attention on far away countries and their peculiarities, geography, people’s cultural differences and literature. I was blown away by the pictures I would come across on books. While still a child, I started following my father on his many travels across Europe, that’s when I discovered my passion for photography and started taking my first pictures. My first camera was a Nikon F, a gift from my mother.
I was born and raised in Rome. Over the years, my passion for travel became a real modus vivendi, hand in hand with my two greatest loves: reading and writing. I couldn’t live without a notebook, my backpack sporting the national flags of all the countries I have visited so far, my camera, and the road: my faithful travel companion.
I started traveling in 1997, I moved to New York in 1999 to undertake classes at the International Center of Photography (ICP) where i studied photojournalism. I have visited more than 90 countries, with a particular preference for Asia and South America. I have worked as a freelance photojournalist and writer, following socio-historical and political events and focusing on issues such as gender violence (to which I'm working on since 12 years), war aftermaths, minorities, human rights, migration, the tragic story of landmines (to which I have dedicated years of work) and genocide, which I reported on from eight different countries. I continued studying photography in Rome, and pursued a Master in contemporary journalism.
My works have also been exhibited have also been exhibited in USA, England, Russia, Australia, India, Japan, Italy, Spain, Greece, Canada, Switzerland and in many important international festivals, earning me several awards in many prestigious competitions.
I started traveling in 1997, I moved to New York in 1999 to undertake classes at the International Center of Photography (ICP) where i studied photojournalism. I have visited more than 90 countries, with a particular preference for Asia and South America. I have worked as a freelance photojournalist and writer, following socio-historical and political events and focusing on issues such as gender violence (to which I'm working on since 12 years), war aftermaths, minorities, human rights, migration, the tragic story of landmines (to which I have dedicated years of work) and genocide, which I reported on from eight different countries. I continued studying photography in Rome, and pursued a Master in contemporary journalism.
My works have also been exhibited have also been exhibited in USA, England, Russia, Australia, India, Japan, Italy, Spain, Greece, Canada, Switzerland and in many important international festivals, earning me several awards in many prestigious competitions.
My longterm work NI UNA MENOS about the feminicide and the violence against women has been shortlisted of the Sony World Photography Award 2017, won the third prize at the XXI International Humanitarian Photography Award Luis Valtueña, the second prize at the Days Japan International Photojournalism Award 2018, was finalist at the Gomma Grant 2017 and at Lugano Photo Days 2017 and won the second prize at the Kolga Awards 2017. I was selected as one of the Emerging European Talents by the online magazine LensCulture and was one of the finalists at Portfolio Italia 2014-Fiaf. My stories have been featured in some of the most prominent magazines and newspapers from all over the world and i regularly collaborate with International NGOs and international magazines and newspapers such as Newsweek, Stern Magazin, Der Spiegel, Marie Claire, Vanity Fair, CNN, Internazionale, El pais, El Mundo, NZZ am Sonntag, Io Donna, Woz, Doc! Photo Magazine, il Venerdi, La Repubblica and many others. In 2015 I published my first photographic book ITALIANSKIJ, about the Italian community in Crimea persecuted during the Stalinian Purges.
Since January 2014 I have collaborated with the agency Echo Photojournalism, and in 2015 i have been appointed staff photographer.
Since January 2014 I have collaborated with the agency Echo Photojournalism, and in 2015 i have been appointed staff photographer.
I'm currently freelance and i'm working on violence against women extending my long term project Ni una Menos to the other Latin American countries where the situation is alarming. At the same time i'm working on an other long term La Linea Invisible about life in the suburbs of South America through the eyes of the yungsters and together with my colleague Gianmarco Maraviglia we are documenting the unrecognized countries through the stories of people born after independence in the long term project Blooming Generation.
One of my favorite writers, Ryszard Kapuscinski said:
"Our world, seemingly global, after all, is not that a planet of thousands and thousands of various provinces that never meet. Turn the world means moving from one province to another, each of which is a lone star that shines on their own. For most of the people who live there, the real world ends up on the doorstep, the edge of the village, at most, on the border of the valley. The world beyond is unreal, insignificant and even useless, and what they have on hand and under the eyes rises to the size of a large casino obscuring everything else. Often the inhabitants of a place and those who come from far away have difficulty finding a common language, as each of them looks the place from a different perspective:
Those coming from outside using a wide angle, which reduces the image but broadens the horizon ... While the person's place has always used the Tele, if not the telescope, which magnifies the smallest details".
CLIENTS
WORKED IN FOLLOWING COUNTRIES
Albania / Argentina / Armenia / Belgium / Brazil / Bolivia / Cambodia / Canada / Chile / China / Colombia / Costa Rica / Croatia / Cuba / Cyprus / Czech Republic / Egypt / Estonia / Germany / Greece / Guatemala / Ethiopia / England / Finland / France / Holland / Honduras / Hungary / India / Indonesia / Ireland / Italy / Ivory Coast / Kazakhstan / Kenya / Kosovo / Laos / Latvia / Lithuania / Montenegro / Macedonia / Malaysia / Mexico / Moldova / Panama / Pakistan / Paraguay / Perù / Philippines / Poland / Qatar / Thailand / Turkey / Scotland / Senegal / Serbia / Singapore / Slovenia / Spain / Sweden / Switzerland / Ukraine / United States / Venezuela / Vietnam
PHOTO EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS:
International Center of Photography (ICP) New York (USA) 2000 | collective exhibition
Visual Arts Gallery New Delhi (India) 2009 | solo exhibition 'Postcards from India'
Teatro Eliseo Rome (Italy) 2011 | solo exhibition 'Postcards from India'
Officine Fotografiche Roma Rome (Italy) Mar 2013 | solo exhibition 'Ind' introduced by Laura Garofalo (TG2) and Emilio D'Itri (OF Roma)
Perugia Social Photo Fest Perugia (Italy) Jun 2014 | shortlisted for 'Ghosts from the past'
Fotoleggendo Festival Rome (Italy) Jun 2014 | solo exhibition 'Ipse Dixit' curated by Adriana Vicario Chavez
8° Festival Una Penisola di Luce Sestri Levante Jun 2014 | winner second prize "Portfolio al Mare" for 'Italianskij'
Lens Culture Emerging European Talents Oct 2014 | selected
Photolux Leica 2014 Award Nov 2014 | Finalist
Portfolio Italia 2014 - FIAF Nov 2014 | Finalist for 'Italianksij'
Centro Italiano per la Fotografia d'Autore (CIFA) Bibbiena (AR, Italy) 11. 29. 2014 - 3 . 15. 2015 | solo exhibition 'Italianskij'
Teatro Eliseo Rome (Italy) 2011 | solo exhibition 'Postcards from India'
Officine Fotografiche Roma Rome (Italy) Mar 2013 | solo exhibition 'Ind' introduced by Laura Garofalo (TG2) and Emilio D'Itri (OF Roma)
Perugia Social Photo Fest Perugia (Italy) Jun 2014 | shortlisted for 'Ghosts from the past'
Fotoleggendo Festival Rome (Italy) Jun 2014 | solo exhibition 'Ipse Dixit' curated by Adriana Vicario Chavez
8° Festival Una Penisola di Luce Sestri Levante Jun 2014 | winner second prize "Portfolio al Mare" for 'Italianskij'
Lens Culture Emerging European Talents Oct 2014 | selected
Photolux Leica 2014 Award Nov 2014 | Finalist
Portfolio Italia 2014 - FIAF Nov 2014 | Finalist for 'Italianksij'
Centro Italiano per la Fotografia d'Autore (CIFA) Bibbiena (AR, Italy) 11. 29. 2014 - 3 . 15. 2015 | solo exhibition 'Italianskij'
curated by Massimo Mazzoli
Phmuseum Feb 2015 | Photographer of the month
Wsp Rome (Italy) 3.28.2015 - 5.7.2015 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past' curated by Mavi Caracuta
Head On Photo Festival Sidney (Australia) 5.1.2015 - 5.31.2015 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past' curated by Lauran Vohmann & John Slaytor
Athens Photofestival Jun 2015 | shortlisted for 'Ghosts from the past'
Instagram photographic contest #shotastory Jun 2015 | winner
Fotoleggendo Festival | Instagram collective Exhibition "#Shotastory" Rome (Italy) Jun 2015
8° Festival Una Penisola di Luce Sestri Levante (GE, Italy) Jul 2015 | solo exhibition 'Italianskij' curated by Barbara Armani
Benaki Museum Athens (Greece) Jul 2015 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past'
Make your Festival | Eutropia Città dell'Altra Economia | Rome (Italy) Sep 2015 | Screening 'Indochine 2.0 - The underground revolution'
IPA 2015 - International Photographic Awards Sep 2015 | Honorable Mention in Deeper Perspective's category for 'The Group'
IPA 2015 - International Photographic Awards Sep 2015 | Honorable Mention in People: Portrait's category for "Ghosts from the past"
Lugano Photo Days 2015 Oct 2015 | finalist for 'The Group'
MIFA 2015 - Moscow International Foto Awards Oct 2015 | winner 3rd prize in Politic's category for 'The Group'
MIFA 2015 - Moscow International Foto Awards Oct 2015 | Honorable mention in Photo essay's category for 'The Group'
MIFA 2015 - Moscow International Foto Awards Oct 2015 | Honorable mention in Conflict's category for 'Once we were soldiers'
International festival of Photography PHOTOVISA | Krasnodar State Institute of Culture Krasnodar (Russia) 10.15.2015 - 11.15.2015 |
Phmuseum Feb 2015 | Photographer of the month
Wsp Rome (Italy) 3.28.2015 - 5.7.2015 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past' curated by Mavi Caracuta
Head On Photo Festival Sidney (Australia) 5.1.2015 - 5.31.2015 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past' curated by Lauran Vohmann & John Slaytor
Athens Photofestival Jun 2015 | shortlisted for 'Ghosts from the past'
Instagram photographic contest #shotastory Jun 2015 | winner
Fotoleggendo Festival | Instagram collective Exhibition "#Shotastory" Rome (Italy) Jun 2015
8° Festival Una Penisola di Luce Sestri Levante (GE, Italy) Jul 2015 | solo exhibition 'Italianskij' curated by Barbara Armani
Benaki Museum Athens (Greece) Jul 2015 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past'
Make your Festival | Eutropia Città dell'Altra Economia | Rome (Italy) Sep 2015 | Screening 'Indochine 2.0 - The underground revolution'
IPA 2015 - International Photographic Awards Sep 2015 | Honorable Mention in Deeper Perspective's category for 'The Group'
IPA 2015 - International Photographic Awards Sep 2015 | Honorable Mention in People: Portrait's category for "Ghosts from the past"
Lugano Photo Days 2015 Oct 2015 | finalist for 'The Group'
MIFA 2015 - Moscow International Foto Awards Oct 2015 | winner 3rd prize in Politic's category for 'The Group'
MIFA 2015 - Moscow International Foto Awards Oct 2015 | Honorable mention in Photo essay's category for 'The Group'
MIFA 2015 - Moscow International Foto Awards Oct 2015 | Honorable mention in Conflict's category for 'Once we were soldiers'
International festival of Photography PHOTOVISA | Krasnodar State Institute of Culture Krasnodar (Russia) 10.15.2015 - 11.15.2015 |
solo exhibition 'Once we were soldiers'
Perugia Social Festival | Museo Civico Palazzo Penna Perugia (Italy) 3.11.2016 - 3.28.2016 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past'
Perugia Social Festival | Museo Civico Palazzo Penna Perugia (Italy) 3.11.2016 - 3.28.2016 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past'
curated by Mavi Caracuta
Auditorium San Fedele Milano (Italy) 5.5.2016 - 6.10.2016 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past' curated by Gigliola Foschi and Mavi Caracuta
ANI prize at Visa Pour l'Image in Perpignan Sep 2016 | shortlisted for 'Blooming in the Black Garden'
Indian Photo Festival | State Art Gallery of Madhapur | Hyderabad (India) 9.29.2016 - 10.09.2016 | Screening 'The Group'
Auditorium San Fedele Milano (Italy) 5.5.2016 - 6.10.2016 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past' curated by Gigliola Foschi and Mavi Caracuta
ANI prize at Visa Pour l'Image in Perpignan Sep 2016 | shortlisted for 'Blooming in the Black Garden'
Indian Photo Festival | State Art Gallery of Madhapur | Hyderabad (India) 9.29.2016 - 10.09.2016 | Screening 'The Group'
Indian Photo Festival | State Art Gallery of Madhapur | Hyderabad (India) 9.29.2016 - 10.09.2016 |
Screening 'Summer is fading winter is coming'
IPA 2016 - International Photographic Awards Oct 2016 | Honorable Mention in Editorial: Other's category for 'Women of Artsakh'
IPA 2016 - International Photographic Awards Oct 2016 | Honorable Mention in People: Other's category for 'Women of Artsakh'
Foiano Fotografia Festival Foiano della Chiana (SI) 11.4.2016 - 11.27.2016 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past'
IPA 2016 - International Photographic Awards Oct 2016 | Honorable Mention in Editorial: Other's category for 'Women of Artsakh'
IPA 2016 - International Photographic Awards Oct 2016 | Honorable Mention in People: Other's category for 'Women of Artsakh'
Foiano Fotografia Festival Foiano della Chiana (SI) 11.4.2016 - 11.27.2016 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past'
curated by Chiara Oggioni Tiepolo and Mavi Caracuta
TIFA 2016 - Tokyo International Foto Awards Dec 2016 | winner 2nd prize in Editorial: Politic's category for 'The Group'
TIFA 2016 - Tokyo International Foto Awards Dec 2016 | Honorable mention in Photo essay's category for 'The Group'
TIFA 2016 - Tokyo International Foto Awards Dec 2016 | winner 2nd prize in Editorial: Politic's category for 'The Group'
TIFA 2016 - Tokyo International Foto Awards Dec 2016 | Honorable mention in Photo essay's category for 'The Group'
IPOTY 2016 - International Photography of the Year Feb 2017 | Honorable mention in Editorial: Photo essay/Story for 'The Group'
Owada Gallery | Shibuya Cultural Center Tokyo (Japan) 2.25.2017 - 2.28.2017 | TIFA winners, solo exhibition for 'The Group'
Owada Gallery | Shibuya Cultural Center Tokyo (Japan) 2.25.2017 - 2.28.2017 | TIFA winners, solo exhibition for 'The Group'
Sony World Photography Awards 2017 Feb 2017 | Shortlisted for 'Ni Una Menos' in the Current Affairs & News category
Kolga Award 2017 May 2017 | 2nd prize for 'Ni Una Menos' in the Documentary category
Kolga Award 2017 May 2017 | Shortlisted for 'Women of Artsakh' in the Reportage category
Sony World Photography Awards 2017 | Somerset House London (UK) 4.28.2017 - 5.7.2017 | SWPA winners & finalists exhibition 'Ni Una Menos'
Kolga Award 2017 Tblisi (Georgia) May 2017 | Winner & Finalists exhibition 'Ni Una Menos' and 'Women of Artsakh'
Festival il Viaggialibro 2017 | Palazzo dei Consoli Gubbio (Italy) Jun 2017 - Jul 2017 | solo exhibition 'Ghosts from the past'
ANI prize at Visa Pour l'Image in Perpignan Sep 2017 | shortlisted for 'Ni Una Menos'
Sony World Photography Awards 2017 | Villa Reale Monza (Italy) Sep 2017 | SWPA winners & finalists exhibition 'Ni Una Menos'
PhotoghVphy Magazine Grant Oct 2017 | shortlisted for 'Ni Una Menos'
Lugano Photo Days 2017 Oct 2017 | finalist for 'Ni Una Menos'
Perugia Social Festival 2018 Dec 2017 | honorable mention for 'Ni Una Menos'
XXI International Humanitarian Photography Award Luis Valtueña Dec 2017 | winner 3rd prize for 'Ni Una Menos'
Gomma Grant 2017 Jan 2017 | shortlisted for 'Ni Una Menos'
XXI International Humanitarian Photography Award Luis Valtueña | Palacio de Cibeles Madrid (Spain) 24.1.2018 - 11.3.2018 | Winners solo exhibitions 'Ni Una Menos'
6th annual New York portfolio review Feb 2018 | selected
Days Japan International Photojournalism Award 2018 Mar 2018 | winner 2nd prize for 'Ni Una Menos'
XXI International Humanitarian Photography Award Luis Valtueña | Centro Joaquin Roncal Zaragoza (Spain) 16.3.2018 - 07.4.2018 | Winners solo exhibitions 'Ni Una Menos'
TIFA 2016 - Tokyo International Foto Awards Apr 2018 | winner 1rst prize in Editorial/General News category for 'Ni Una Menos'
Head On Photo Photo Awards 2018 Sidney (Australia) Apr 2018 | finalist for 'Ni Una Menos'
Kolga Award 2018 May 2018 | 1rst prize for 'Amores Perros' in the Documentary category
Kolga Award 2018 May 2018 | Shortlisted for 'Fuego, Tierra y Viento' in the Reportage category
Kolga Award 2018 May 2018 | Shortlisted for 'Ni Una Menos' in the One Shot category
Kolga Award 2018 May 2018 | 1rst prize for 'Amores Perros' in the Documentary category
Kolga Award 2018 May 2018 | Shortlisted for 'Fuego, Tierra y Viento' in the Reportage category
Kolga Award 2018 May 2018 | Shortlisted for 'Ni Una Menos' in the One Shot category
Kolga Award 2018 Tblisi (Georgia) 5.4.2018 - 5.11.2018 | Winner & Finalists exhibition 'Amores Perros' and 'Fuego, Tierra y Viento'
Days Japan International Photojournalism Award 2018 Mar 2018 | Carrot Tower 5.19.2018 - 6.10.2018 Tokyo (Japan) Winners exhibition 'Ni Una Menos'
GEO ART Galerie Berlin (Germany) 6.1.2018 | Kolga Award 2018 Winners solo exhibitions 'Amores Perros''
GEO ART Galerie Berlin (Germany) 6.1.2018 | Kolga Award 2018 Winners solo exhibitions 'Amores Perros''
PUBLISHED BOOKS
ITALIANSKIJ (2015) Ginevra Bentivoglio Editoria
HIP HOP STYLOGRAPHY (2016) - Cover and Photos - by Arianna Piazza ed.Il Sole 24 Ore