Honorable Mention / 2021 / Fine Art / People

CLOSER TO HEAVEN

Ethiopia's 'church in the sky' is arguably the most inaccessible place of worship on earth, perched on top of a vertical spire of rock and 200m drops on all sides. The monolithic church, located in northern Ethiopia in the Tigray region, is 2.600m high and must be climbed on a vertical rock with bare feet to reach it, making you wonder how families grit it out to visit the church for Sunday services.

Born and raised in a little village in the Italian Alps, now based in Barcelona, Mauro already felt from young age the desire to tell. He discovered that the camera was the right tool for him, the eye through which he could speak to the world. An instrument that began to walk by his side towards a long journey of discovery.

“Although it is difficult to express, I think that the photograph represents my way of speaking and what I try to do through my language is to capture the sense of what I breathe and touch with my hands".

Awards 2nd prize in 'PEOPLE' category of IPOTY - International Photographer of the Year 2017

5 Honorable Mentions on 17th INTERNATIONAL CHROMATIC PHOTO AWARDS 2017

Jurors Picks LensCulture Portrait Awards 2018

2nd prize 2017 Tokyo International Foto Awards

Finalist American Photo Awards 2018

2nd Winner National Geographic Award (Italian) 2017

1st Category Winner FIIPA Award 2018

3rd place ND AWARDS 2017

1st category Winner Urbanphotoawards 2017

1st Winner National Geographic Award (Italian) 2018