logo

The Long Way Home

A solitary figure against the blue, the puffin’s descent is neither rushed nor uncertain. It’s the end of a journey traced through vast oceans and cloud-washed horizons. Feet pointed downward, wings lifted in reverence — this is the sacred pause before home welcomes him back.

Awards

Color Photography Contest

2025

Nominee

Wildlife

Non Professional

The Long Way Home

A solitary figure against the blue, the puffin’s descent is neither rushed nor uncertain. It’s the end of a journey traced through vast oceans and cloud-washed horizons. Feet pointed downward, wings lifted in reverence — this is the sacred pause before home welcomes him back.

About Artist

Maria Ciampini

My photographic practice is rooted in presence rather than pursuit. I work slowly with the camera, not to extract images, but to enter into a relationship with the land, light, and the often-overlooked forms of life that surround us. Attentiveness, patience, and care shape both my process and the images that emerge from it. I am drawn to quiet encounters: the still gaze of an animal, subtle movements within landscape, and the textures of growth, decay, and renewal. These moments resist spectacle. Rather than documenting place, my photographs emphasize restraint and contemplation, inviting sustained looking and emotional resonance. Meaning unfolds through what is held back as much as what is revealed. My work is informed by a lifelong practice of listening. I hold a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Toronto, an M.Ed. in Adult Education from Brock University, and an Honours BA in Early Childhood Education. For decades, my professional life centered on close observation of human experience, where transformation arises through trust, deep attention, and respect for what is already present. This ethic now guides my photographic practice. As I once observed a child discovering their place in the world, I now observe the land revealing itself quietly and on its own terms. My camera functions as a mediator of that relationship. Each image is an invitation to pause, to look more closely, and to encounter the natural world not as backdrop, but as presence.

Maria Ciampini

Photographic Areas of Focus

Abstract, Fine Art, Landscapes, Nature, Wildlife

Location

Canada

Explore Other Winners

View All
Honorable Mention
Nominee
Rachel Moore

Rachel Moore

Underwater

Nominee
Linda Clews

Linda Clews

Wildlife

Bronze
Honorable Mention +1
Nominee
Linda Clews

Linda Clews

Fine Art

Nominee
Dennis Moncla

Dennis Moncla

Wildlife

logo

Contests

Info

FAQ & RulesTerms of UsePrivacy Policy

Links

Facebook

Instagram

Contact Us

© Creative Resource Collective, LLC 2026. All Rights Reserved.

reFocus Awards is managed by Creative Resource Collective, LLC.

Learn More

Creative Resource Collective, LLC.