honorable mention
Claudio Beffa italy
title
Inside the abbey of San Galgano
Approaching to it makes you realize that, instead of a common christian place of worship, what reveals itself to your eyes is an imposing ruin.
The foundations of the abbey of San Galgano have been laid during the Middle Age, in 1218, in the name of Galgano Guidotti, a noble knight who refused the violence and the depravation of that time, to embrace the hermitage and to pursue the peace. The abbey gained great importance and has been protected and funded by the Holy Roman Emperors and the Pope; the Cistercian monks became more and more influent, to the point of representing a special economic and logistic ally of the Republic of Siena.
Then, from the 14th century, a series of tragic events led the abbey to ruin: a severe famine has been followed by the Black Death of the 1348, that exterminated almost all the Cistercians monks (as well as about 100 millions of people all around Europe). To make matters worse, in the following years the abbey has been plundered more than once by mercenaries and soldiers of fortune. So, a long period of decadence begun: for some centuries the abbey remained almost abandoned and, when the roof has been even dismantled to be sold as building material, the downfall reduced the structure as we can see today.
Being a self-taught photographer, Claudio is driven by a creative curiosity which leads him to constantly experiment disparate techniques, both in the shooting and in the post processing stage: as a result, depending on the subject and the meaning that he aims to convey, he produces panoramas, vertoramas, long exposures, high dynamic range captures that are subsequently digitally developed with the utmost attention to details, using the most advanced retouching methods.
Claudio's approach to photography is a perseverant and passionate search of the beauty in its most meaningful form and a constant honing the methods to improve the artistry needed to accomplish it.
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entry description
In the heart of Tuscany, at a certain distance from the most touristic and photographed places, there is a valley between the towns of Chiusdino and Monticiano where a majestic construction stands from many centuries.Approaching to it makes you realize that, instead of a common christian place of worship, what reveals itself to your eyes is an imposing ruin.
The foundations of the abbey of San Galgano have been laid during the Middle Age, in 1218, in the name of Galgano Guidotti, a noble knight who refused the violence and the depravation of that time, to embrace the hermitage and to pursue the peace. The abbey gained great importance and has been protected and funded by the Holy Roman Emperors and the Pope; the Cistercian monks became more and more influent, to the point of representing a special economic and logistic ally of the Republic of Siena.
Then, from the 14th century, a series of tragic events led the abbey to ruin: a severe famine has been followed by the Black Death of the 1348, that exterminated almost all the Cistercians monks (as well as about 100 millions of people all around Europe). To make matters worse, in the following years the abbey has been plundered more than once by mercenaries and soldiers of fortune. So, a long period of decadence begun: for some centuries the abbey remained almost abandoned and, when the roof has been even dismantled to be sold as building material, the downfall reduced the structure as we can see today.
about the photographer
Italian designer and photographer for passion, Claudio Beffa's works are focused on the search of the beauty and soul of the destinations of his travels. Interested particularly in Japan and Italy, his photographs encompass the elements which make a place unique and deeply bond with the local culture and history. His body of works covers a vast variety of subjects, from pristine forests and mountains to lively cities, including some ancient and sacred places which, most of the times, are quite distant from the touristic routes. The portfolio includes also traditional celebrations and historical ceremonies and competitions, as well as glimpses of everyday life, which deepen the journey into a land and its culture.Being a self-taught photographer, Claudio is driven by a creative curiosity which leads him to constantly experiment disparate techniques, both in the shooting and in the post processing stage: as a result, depending on the subject and the meaning that he aims to convey, he produces panoramas, vertoramas, long exposures, high dynamic range captures that are subsequently digitally developed with the utmost attention to details, using the most advanced retouching methods.
Claudio's approach to photography is a perseverant and passionate search of the beauty in its most meaningful form and a constant honing the methods to improve the artistry needed to accomplish it.
back to gallery