Gianluca Colonnese is a freelance photojournalist and videomaker based in Milan. 

After graduating from UNICAL (University of Calabria) and attending DAMS – a special four-year university course that deals precisely with Disciplines of the Arts, Music and Entertainment – he had the opportunity to include courses in Documentary Cinematography and Anthropology in his training. This has allowed him to deepen his innate inclination to narrate social, historical and environmental issues, creating works that not only capture attention but also invite reflection. He has explored many countries with his camera, particularly cultivating a passion for South America and Africa. His work has been published in renowned magazines such as National Geographic, Vanity Fair and L’Espresso. 

Colonnese has received numerous awards both nationally and internationally and his works have been exhibited at various festivals and events, testifying to his commitment to documenting the beauty and challenges of our planet. In addition to his reportage activities, he is constantly engaged in the dissemination of the language of photography, from the creation of a story to editing in order to create a portfolio. These activities take place through workshops, ‘One to One’ lessons, teaching in schools and evenings in Italian photography clubs.

Selection Awards

2024

Word Report Award Single Shot Award

Prix De La Photographie Paris  Category: Press/Environmental: Silver

Athens Photo Festival short list

Urban Photo Awards – Zine Award – Finalist

Urban Photo Awards – People – Short List

Urban Photo Awards – Project and Portfolio – Short List

Lettura Portfolio Concorso Nazionale Antonio Grassi.

previous years:

LuganoPhotoDays 2022 Finalist Environment Category

Fotografia Etica Lodi  Winner  No-profit  Category

International Photography Awards Category: Editorial / Press-Environmental Honorable Mention 

Portfolio Italia Finalist 2020

Corigliano Photo Festival Secondo posto Lettura portfolio Portfolio Italia 2020

Tokyo International Foto Awards Environment Silver

Budapest Foto Awards People Category Honorable Mention

Moscow International Photo Awards  People Category Honorable Mention 

Moscow International Photo Awards People Category  Gold

WORLD.REPORT AWARD | DOCUMENTING HUMANITY 2019, Category One Shot

Moscow International Photo awards Environment Category Silver

International Photography Awards 2019 – Honorable Mention: Street Photography 

Siena Photo Fest 2019 – Short List

7th International Photo Contest “The Human Rights” 2019 – Two  Honorable Mention 

Italian Street Photo Festival 2019 – Short List 

Siena Photo Fest 2018 Short List

Umbria Word Fest 2018 Finalist

Premio Vogliono 2018 Finalist

Moscow International Photo Awards Bronze 2018

First Price – Sirene 2017  First Price

Nikon Photographer Day First Price 2014

Selection Exibitions

2024 Festival della Fotografia Etica – Esposizione Single Shot Award

2023 Sala Espositiva Coop di Rogoredo (MI) – Amina la Donna che insegna a Volare

2022 Sala Espositiva Coop di Rogoredo (MI) – La morte dei  Patriarchi

2022 Festival della Fotografia Etica – Museo Paolo Gerini ( Lodi )

2021 Ancona Foto Festival 2021 “FRAME” –  La morte dei Partriarchi

2021 presso CIFA Centro Italiano della Fotografia d’Autore – Bibbiena – La morte dei  Patriarchi

2020 in esposizione presso Villa Arconati Sesto San Giovanni (MI) – Sol de Mayo

2019 Milano Photo Week: Sol de Mayo – El gaucho y la ganaderia

2019 Esposizione dei finalisti Italian Street Photo Festival 2019

2019 Libera Accademia di Pittura Vittorio Viviani – Nova Milanese:  Sol de Mayo 

2019 in esposizione a Lodi durante il Festival della fotografia Etica nella categoria One Shot

2019 –  Lodi per il circuito OFF:  Sol de Mayo – El  gaucho y la ganaderia

2018/2019 MAiO – Cassina De’ Pecchi (MI): Raggi di luce

2018  Urban Center Milano, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Milano: Giorgio – Ray of light

2017  Presso Spazio Tadini: PHOTO POCKET EXHIBIT DAL 8 AL 12 MARZO 2017

2017  Centro Italiano della Fotografia d’autore – Bibbiena:  Cleanup the world

2015  Ma.Co.F – centro della fotografia Italiana, Brescia, (collettiva) foto in polaroid:  Il piccolo Principe

2014  Villa Visconti D’Aragona – Sesto San Giovanni MI : Arkadi

2014  Teatro Villa Visconti D’Aragona – Sesto San Giovanni MI, mostra (collettiva): Mi in the Rain 

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