Rising Photographers / I

Women fleeing homes that have become traps, holding their children by the hand, carrying only a few belongings and one certainty: they can no longer stay where they are. In those moments when darkness seems to prevail, Fondazione Asilo Mariuccia Onlus is there to provide support. Since 1902, this foundation has been a point of reference for the protection of women and minors who are victims of violence. Founded in the early 1900s, it is now one of the most active organizations in the field of protection and social inclusion.

This series of monochromatic portraits, titled "Portrait of a Poet – A Journey Through Layers", explores the multifaceted persona of Manka Menga, a Tanzanian poet whose work challenges societal norms and serves as a form of self-expression and therapy. It's an intimate journey into the poet's singular world, yet a reflection of the universal human experience, where we all seek to commune with ourselves. Highlighting the paradox of human experience – the unique and the universal intertwined.

I started learning photography when I began my career in journalism in my home country of Chile. I worked as a photojournalist for a human rights organization and for several news agencies, documenting protests and conflicts in Chile under the Pinochet regime.

This photo project presents a series of photographs about provincial Russia, executed in the style of classical realism. It reveals the everyday life of ordinary people living in small towns and villages.

Living on a semi-rural, heavily forested island, I experience each season intimately without the filter of modern urban life. Every day is a unit of time measured in the changing character of light, reminding me it is good to be alive. Winter is full of mysteries tucked away in the woods —places that inspire the telling of fairy tales.

Wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas has unveiled the results of his year-long camera trap project deep in the Congo rainforest, revealing some of the region’s most elusive species in breathtaking detail. Over 12 months, remotely operated cameras recorded secretive rainforest inhabitants, including golden cats, red river hogs, water chevrotains, and a spectacular male leopard—one of the most challenging predators to photograph in dense jungle environments.

Once the shantytown on the hills was bulldozed, an apartment complex bearing the name of a prosperous town took its place. Driven by the fear of losing out on an opportunity, and despite the premium attached to being close to a flashy neighborhood across the river, I ended up purchasing a unit. While this numbered, rectangular space—built in the air—legally belongs to me, I can’t shake the anxiety. Even though I’ve just bought it, the thought of selling it already gives me a headache.

As a woman in my seventies, I've witnessed the rapid growth of an anti-ageing culture that constantly encourages women like me to be ashamed of our ageing bodies. This culture, heavily promoted in women's magazines and on social media, has escalated over the years, making it increasingly difficult for women to ignore as they age. By encouraging anti-ageing and a youth-focused culture, sexism and ageism against older women become more powerful.

I'd like to share a series of images that I began capturing in the winter of 2020 during the pandemic. With the unexpected free time brought on by the coronavirus, I started taking long walks along the Mississippi River. I was captivated by the ice formations along the riverbanks. Soon my camera joined me on these cold walks.