The Eleventh Edition of the Trieste Photo Days – International Festival of Photography ended with great success, taking place in a circuit of prestigious exhibition venues in the city and, starting from August 2024, in the region. The Festival which was held from 24 to 27 October and 2 and 3 November, offered the public a program full of new exhibitions, meetings with renowned international photographers, workshops, masterclasses, and in-depth studies with authors and scientific consultants, editorial initiatives.
A success confirmed by continuously growing numbers and by the many appreciations of photography enthusiasts who had the opportunity to admire a variety of unpublished and important photographic works of art, and participate in events of the highest artistic and cultural level.
Trieste is also confirmed as the capital of photography in 2024 thanks to the ability of the organizing associations dotART and Exhibit Around APS to involve, as special guests, international photographers of undisputed importance and host them at the Festival, offering the public unique opportunities for discussion, such as Harry Gruyaert (Magnum Photos), Adam Pretty (Getty Images), Paul Gadd , Manca Juvan, Martin Miklas, Max Cavallari, Mauro Zorer and many others.
Harry Gruyaert, member of the prestigious Magnum Photos Agency, announced and awarded Sanchayan Chowdhury as the overall winner of the 15th edition of the contest on Saturday 26 October at the Revoltella Museum international URBAN Photo Awards.
Adam Pretty, super guest of the Play! let the Game begin presented the large collective photographic exhibition dedicated to sports in all its forms which hosts some works by Adam Pretty himself. The exhibition explores the relationship between mankind and sport, together with all the activities related to it: sporting events, competitions and matches, its effects on society, moments of aggregation and in general all those aspects that make the immense world unique of Sport.
Enrico Medda presented Mythography vol. IV: Vulcano e Urano. Medda is a Professor of Greek Literature at the University of Pisa and curator of the volume of the same name, presenting the collective exhibition which also sees his works freely inspired by Greek/Roman mythology. The exhibition is located in the Mercato Coperto and can be visited until 23 November.
On Saturday 28 October Harry Gruyaert, Adam Pretty, Paul Gadd, Federica Berzioli and Giorgio Celiberti attended as jurors the URBAN Photo Awards 2024 awards ceremony in the auditorium of the Revoltella Museum. Sanchayan Chowdhury has won as Photographer of the Year of the 15th edition of the international contest, selected and awarded by Harry Gruyaert .
The two talks held on Sunday 27 October by Adam Pretty and Harry Gruyaert were particularly evocative and profound. Adam Pretty shared the stories behind his shots, offering insights into inspiration, timing, and practical applications of composition and storytelling. Harry Gruyaert, famous for his use of color in street and documentary photography, discussed his techniques and approach to visual photography.
As has already been the case for several years, there was also space for collaboration with the Photo Library of the Civic Museums of History and Art of Trieste, in which contemporary photography dialogues with historical photography and the oriental art collections exhibited in the museum, which this year brought to life at the Instanbul: “Faces of freedom” exhibition in which the contemporary shots by documentary photographer Manca Juvan dialogue with the photographic fund preserved at the Photo Library.
Growing attention is also paid to young people under 35 with the first edition of the SPAZIO TALENT (Talent Space) at the “Arturo Fittke” Hall designed to discover and celebrate emerging voices in the world of photography, bringing new ideas and perspectives to the exciting photographic panorama of Trieste. Supported by the Pietro Pittini Foundation in collaboration with the Department of Education and Family Policies through the PAG – Youth Area Project of the Municipality of Trieste, it offers young talents the opportunity to exhibit their latest works, share their experiences in a talk or masterclass.
In parallel with the project presentation events, Saturday 26 October was dedicated to training events. In fact, three photography masterclasses with exceptional teachers were held at Palazzo Gopcevich: Harry Gruyaert, Martin Miklas and Max Cavallari. A unique opportunity to glean secrets, teachings and anecdotes from three great photography professionals.
Adam Pretty, Paull Gad and Manca Juvan also held three workshops, respectively on the practical application and on composition, on the bleaching prints and on documentary photography.
The main weekend of the Festival, which was held from 25 to 27 October, saw almost 2000 photos on display and over 700 photographers from all over the world exhibited between the 10 institutional locations in the center of Trieste and the 21 locations of the Trieste Photo Fringe circuit (with over 1600 photos on display), and the 3 out-of-town locations of the Photo Days Tour.
There are still many exhibitions not to be missed:
- Mercato Coperto: Urban Photography: Trieste and Cities from the World (until 23 November), Mythography IV: Vulcano e Urano and Mythography vol. 4
- Civico Museo d’Arte Orientale: Manca Juvan Instanbul. Faces of freedom (until 26 January 2025)
- In city venues: Trieste Photo Fringe 2024, the widespread exhibitions of the URBAN Photo Awards 2024 in a selected circuit of venues in the city centre. Until December 2024
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The Trieste Photo Days 2024 is promoted by dotART – Cultural Association and Exhibit Around APS ETS, in co-organization with the Municipality of Trieste and the Department of Culture and Tourism. Supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the Kathleen Foreman Casali Charitable Foundation, and the Pietro Pittini Foundation.
In collaboration with IoSonoFriuliVeneziaGiulia, Poste Italiane, GO! 2025 – Nova Gorica – Gorizia, InArch Triveneto, AIDIA Trieste – Italian Association of Women Engineers and Architects, the Postal and Telegraphic Museum of Central Europe, MuMeG – Market of Taste Museum, the Photographic Archive of the Civic Museums of History and Art, Stelio Crise State Library, ITIS Public Company for Personal Services, TRART, Visja Strokovna Šola Sežana.
Photo Days Tour partnerships with Trieste Airport, the Municipality of Torviscosa, the Municipality of Buttrio, the Municipality of Cormons, the Municipality of Sagrado, and all the partners of local projects.
Main partners: Install.Pro, Unicusano Trieste, Cooperativa Lase, Palmanova Village, Gruppo Autotorino, Spin S.p.A. Bracco Group. Partners: Videndum Media Solutions, Stroppa.
Media partners: Il Fotografo, Foto Cult, L’Œil de la Photographie, Artdoc Photography Gallery, Radio Punto Zero. Founders: Stefano Ambroset, Roberto Fermo. Artistic consultant: Vincenzo Labellarte.
Trieste Photo Fringe: Adoro Cafè, Antica Tostatura Triestina, Aqvedotto Caffè, Cadenaro, Enoteca Grudina (Grudina Wine Bar), Enoteca Nanut (Nanut Wine Bar), Fora per Fora, HOME – Sapore di Casa (Piazza della Borsa), HOME – Sapore di Casa (Via G. Muratti), Ily Pasticceria, In bocca al Gioco, La Preferita, Le Delizie, Mapo Fusion Bakery, Mimì e Cocotte, ONES, PURO, Ristorante Radici, SET – Sapori Eccellenti del Territorio, White Café, 9 Stanze Boutique Hotel.
Relive the festival through the most significant shots
A heartfelt thank you to all of you: participants, collaborators, guests, partners, supporters, friends, and visitors of the exhibitions, events, conferences, and initiatives: thank you for making this edition unforgettable! Your energy is our driving force to keep improving. Let’s relive the best moments, day by day!
