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Roberta Vagliani
Roberta Vagliani

August 19 : 2024

Roberta Vagliani

Roberta Vagliani's arresting showstopper of an image, "THE RIGHT TO KNOW," is a prime example of the enduring power of a single, black and white image to reveal much more than words alone ever could.

by Lily Fierman

“THE RIGHT TO KNOW”

Q:

Can you please tell us more about the circumstances behind creating your winning image, “THE RIGHT TO KNOW”?

A:

I was in a school in Zanzibar where these children were intent on listening to the lesson. I sat in the last row and waited for someone to turn and look at me. Children are curious, so it had to happen, and after a few minutes, it did. 

Q:

You’ve made it feel like you’re an invisible part of the scene, with the exception of the one child making eye contact with you. How did you go about making this happen?

A:

Children are curious, and everyone looks at you at the beginning because you are a new, different person with a camera in your hand, which is maybe something they've never seen before. So, at the beginning, everyone was looking at it. Then the teacher drew my attention back to the lesson, and I positioned myself in the back without making any noise but just waiting for someone to turn and look at me. And so it happened.

Q:

Tell us more about the type of images you seek.

A:

I look for images that tell a story or excite, which excite me. I look for images where I am an integrated but hidden part of a scene. Where my emotions come out together with the image.

I look for images where I am an integrated but hidden part of a scene.

Q:

Who are some of your favorite artists that you look to for inspiration?

A:

My favorite artist is Steve McCurry in everything he does I consider poetry. Then there are Bresson and Fabio Bucciarelli. I like the beauty and elegance of Henri Cartier Bresson's Black and White. Fabio Bucciarelli's ability to enter war scenes and tell the story in a superlative way.

Q:

What are you photographing next?

A:

I'm starting to photograph a project that concerns the history of my country. I'd like to tell how a country with few inhabitants has people with qualities that perhaps few people know.

Q:

What is your dream photography subject?

A:

I don't have a dream photographic subject; my photographic subject is people. People's eyes tell stories, so having a past and a future and telling it through photography is certainly a privilege. I'd really like to enter humanitarian structures and tell the stories of suffering and hope, maybe offering a little smile with my images.

ARTIST

Roberta Vagliani

Roberta Vagliani

Location:

Italy

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Dec 3rd - Jan 23rd

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Jan 23rd - Feb 13th

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Feb 13th - Mar 14th

The Black & White Photo Contest by reFocus Awards welcomes both individual image and series submissions that honor and explore black and white photography.

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