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Galapagos Marine Iguana

The eyes of this Galapagos marine iguana reflect a calmness, a sense that it has witnessed the slow changes of the world, or perhaps none at all. This black and white portrait seeks to honor that tranquility, emphasizing the quiet resilience of a species as ancient as the land it inhabits.

Awards

Photographer of the Year Contest

2025

People’s Vote Award

Wildlife

Non Professional

Nominee

Wildlife

Non Professional

Galapagos Marine Iguana

The eyes of this Galapagos marine iguana reflect a calmness, a sense that it has witnessed the slow changes of the world, or perhaps none at all. This black and white portrait seeks to honor that tranquility, emphasizing the quiet resilience of a species as ancient as the land it inhabits.

About Artist

Maria Ciampini

Artist Statement My photographic practice is rooted in presence rather than pursuit. I work slowly with the camera, not to extract images, but to enter into relationship with land, light, and the often overlooked forms of life that surround us. Attentiveness, patience, and care shape both my process and the images that emerge from it. I am drawn to quiet encounters: the still gaze of an animal, subtle movements within landscape, and the textures of growth, decay, and renewal. These moments resist spectacle. Rather than documenting place, my photographs emphasize restraint and contemplation, inviting sustained looking and emotional resonance. Meaning unfolds through what is held back as much as what is revealed. My work is informed by a lifelong practice of listening. I hold a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Toronto, an M.Ed. in Adult Education from Brock University, and an Honours BA in Early Childhood Education. For decades, my professional life centered on close observation of human experience, where transformation arises through trust, deep attention, and respect for what is already present. This ethic now guides my photographic practice. As I once observed a child discovering their place in the world, I now observe the land revealing itself quietly and on its own terms. My camera functions as a mediator of that relationship. Each image is an invitation to pause, to look more closely, and to encounter the natural world not as backdrop, but as presence.

Maria Ciampini

Photographic Areas of Focus

Fine Art, Landscapes, Minimalism, Nature, Travel, Wildlife

Location

Canada

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Honorable Mention
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Honorable Mention
Sharon Lee

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