Naturalistic landscapes are sacred and pure, until invaded by modern civilization and technology. To connect with the ocean and land is to feel the powerful urges of the ebb and flow. People are organically connected and grown through natural forces, though when sitting too closely it is easy to lose perspective. Therefore, humans who embrace the natural environment are unrestricted. There’s resplendence in the places untouched by industrial civilization, as Raffaele Ferrari conveys through his work.
“Gokarna, a small village on the west coast, where the life of the land has not yet been invaded by new forms of technology and mass tourism. I find it interesting to reveal and document some images that hold collective memories. A visual storytelling set on an ocean beach which contains fragments of the Hindu lifestyle and traditional behavior. As a result, strong and powerful essential gestures emerge that lead back to a sense of timelessness where the horizon extends to infinity, now reduced to a single backdrop. Oftentimes, places lose the harmony between nature and culture. My creative journey has been very long, due to a slow assimilation; stemming from an overwhelming abundance of India’s rich traditions and cultures. Despite having a very effective and intellectual approach, I aim to be silent and apparently simple.
The Calima is a phenomenon that consists of particles of dust, ash, and sand in suspension which are carried by the strong African winds. This powerful natural phenomenon has held the entire island hostage, producing a resemblance to the post-apocalyptic world depicted in many science fiction texts. I reveal empty landscapes characterized by a warm and veiled light in which human beings look like solitary figures, mannequins on an imaginary set made of sand. These photographs show us our dependence on nature, and how much we are only a part of our environment. For me, this works like reflective mirrors of our time, landscapes that are clearly not vistas of a sustainable world. Having been born on the Mediterranean coast, I believe that the sea is part of my history, of my youth. Surely as a child I played on the beach and as a teenager I loitered there. Surely it affects me and in response I start looking at it, observing it from a slightly distant position. In fact, this is the most fascinating for me, the one that allows me to stay at the edge of the water.” - Raffaele Ferrari

Raffaele Feffari received his degree in Psychology from the University of Florence, he then moved to Barcelona to pursue a career as a psychologist. During this time he developed a passion for photography; he started working with film, documentary, and landscape photography. Since 2010, Raffaele organizes and teaches photography workshop tours in Europe and South East Asia. His recent projects focus on sea coast life, exploring the oceans and the Mediterranean Sea.
Raffaele has featured his photographic series’ in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Italy, throughout Europe, and the United States. He has accepted awards for titles such as ND Golden Star Award category people 2018, was a finalist for the Barcelona International Photography Award, and more.
Raffaele lives and works in Tuscany when he is not traveling.