Bio
Davide (Messina, 1991) is a Milan-based documentary photographer and cinematographer, recognized among the 30 best emerging photographers worldwide by PDN Magazine in 2021.
He graduated in photography from IED Milan in 2016, where he now teaches photojournalism, and in 2022, he was selected for the prestigious Eddie Adams Workshop XXXV in New York. In 2023, he co-founded Aquarela Studio, an independent creative studio dedicated to producing artistic content for film, brands, and organizations.
His photography explores human adaptation to changes in the contemporary world, with a particular focus on globalization, minorities, and the environment. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Davide documented the “new normal,” shooting one of the 10 iconic photos of that period, according to National Geographic Magazine.
Notable awards include a 2019 nomination for the 6×6 World Press Photo Global Talent Program and a 2021 Newcomer nomination for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award. In 2020 he won the Canon Giovani Fotografi, establishing himself as one of the best emerging talents in Italy.
His images have been published in prestigious publications such as National Geographic Magazine, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Newsweek Japan, Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin, D-La Repubblica, de Volkskrant, Newsweek China, MIND, Vanity Fair, Vogue Italia, I-D Italia, Internazionale, FQ MillenniuM, PH Museum, Il Reportage, Corriere della Sera, L’Oeil de la photographie, Artribune. He has made a cover for National Geographic Magazine and two front pages for The Washington Post.
His work has won national and international awards and has been exhibited at festivals around the world.
Click here and find a short recap of his whole career with selected interviews and publications.
Covers and Front Pages
Awards
2024
Hamburg Portfolio Review – Selected
Kolga Tiblisi Photo Award – Mobile Photo One Shot
Kolga Tiblisi Photo Award – Shortlist One Shot
Kolga Tiblisi Photo Award – Shortlist Reportage
Kolga Tiblisi Photo Award – Shortlist Documentary Series
World Water Day Photo Contest – Finalist
2023
LensCulture World Emerging Talent – Selected
Gomma Photography Grant – Finalist
2022
POY 79-Pictures Of the Year 79th – Award of Excellence
Eddie Adams Workshop XXXV – Selected
Lugano Photo Days Award– Finalist Documentary
Lugano Photo Days Award– Finalist IBSA foundation
World Report Award – Finalist, Short Story Award
World Report Award – Finalist, Single Shot
LiquidaGrant – SelfSelf Books winner
2021
Selected among the best travel photos of the year by National Geographic – link
LensCulture HOME International Photography Award – 2nd Place winner
Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2021 Newcomer – Nominee
The 30: New and Emerging photographers to watch by PDN – Nominee
Meitar Award for Excellence in Photography – Finalist
PX3 (Prix de la Photographie Paris) – Silver
PX3 (Prix de la Photographie Paris) – Honorable mention
World Report Award ONG – Shortlist
Lucie Foundation The guardian Project – Finalist
Portrait of Humanity – Shortlist with two photos
Kolga Tiblisi Photo Award – Shortlist
2020
Selected among the 10 iconic photos of the year by National Geographic – link
Canon Giovani Fotografi – 15th Edition – 1st Place Winner
Premio Ponchielli – Finalist
PX3 State of the World – Curatorial Selection
World Report Award – Finalist, Single Shot
Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards – Finalist
Italian Sustainability Photo Award – Finalist
Siena International Photo Awards – Finalist
World Water Day Photo Contest – Finalist
World Water Day Photo Contest – Shortlist single shot
Verzasca Foto Festival Awards – Shortlist
Head On Photo Awards – Shortlist
International Photo Awards – Honorable mention project
Moscow International Foto Awards – Honorable Mention project in “Science-Environment” category
2019
6×6 World Press Photo Global Talent Program – Nominee
ITALY PHOTO AWARD/Premio Voglino|Lodi – 1st Place Young Talent
Budapest International Foto Awards – Gold Medal project in “Science-environment” category
Moscow International Foto Awards – Bronze Medal single image
Tokyo International Foto Awards – Honorable Mention project in “Science-Environment” category
Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards – Finalist
Kolga Tiblisi Photo Award – Shortlist
Les Coups de coeur de l’ANI at Visa Pour l’Image – Shortlist
Aspa (Alghero Street Photography Awards) – Honorable mention single image
Aspa (Alghero Street Photography Awards) – Semifinalist project
Tokyo International Foto Awards – Silver Medal single image
2018
Tokyo International Foto Awards – Bronze Medal project in “Life style” category
Tokyo International Foto Awards – Bronze Medal project in “Photo Essay” category
PX3 (Prix de la Photographie Paris) – Honorable mention
International Photo Awards – Honorable mention project
International Photo Awards – Honorable mention single image
Aspa (Alghero Street Photography Awards) – Honorable mention
ITALY PHOTO AWARD/Premio Voglino – Finalist
Photoghvphy Magazine Grant – Nominee
Umbria World Fest – Finalist
Lugano Photo Days Award– Finalist emerging
Cortona On The Move New Visions – Selection Gallery
2017
Umbria World Fest – Finalist emerging
Concorso National Geographic Italia – Shortlist
Reporter Day – Finalist
2015
International Photography Award of British Journal – Shortlist
2014
Photolux Leica Award – Shortlist
Nikon Talents – Nominated among the 10 best Under-25 Italian talents
Screenings & Exhibitions
2024
2023
2022
Flashback – Torino, Italy
Terra di tutti film Festival – Bologna, Italy
Pingyao International Photography Festival – Ping Yao, China
Festival della Fotografia Etica – Lodi, Italy
SelfSelf Live Festival – Milano, Italy
WeWorld Festival – Milano, Italy
2021
Photo IS:RAEL – Tel Aviv, Israel
Sorbonne Nouvelle – Paris, France
Officine Fotografiche – Roma, Italy
Paratissima – Torino, Italy
Head On Photo Festival – Sydney, Australia
DongGang International Photo Festival – Seoul, Korea
Kolga Photo Festival – Tblisi, Georgia
2020
Cortona On The Move – Cortona, Italy
PX3 State Of The World – Paris, France
Festival della Fotografia Etica – Lodi, Italy
THIS IS US – Roma, Italy
International Photography Festival – Suwon, South Corea
LHAM Gallery – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Yakushima Photo Festival – Yakushima, Japan
Auckland Festival of Photography – Auckland, Australia
Fotofestiwal – Lodz, Poland
Il mondo non si è fermato mai un momento by Other Size Gallery – Milano, Italy
Head On Photo Festival – Sydney, Australia
2019
Paris Photo Off, Galerie Joseph – Paris, France
MT. ROKKO INTERNATIONAL PHOTO FESTIVAL – Kobe, Japan
International Photography Festival – Suwon, South Korea
Yakushima Photo Festival – Yakushima, Japan
Auckland Festival of Photography – Auckland, Australia
Photolux Festival – Lucca, Italy
LHAM Gallery – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kolga Photo Festival – Tblisi, Georgia
2017
Fotofestival e PHOTOWEEK – Milano, Italy
2016
Monte di Pietà – Messina, Italy