Fausto Podavini

Born in Rome, Fausto lives and works there. He began his photographic journey as an assistant and studio photographer first, and with time he became closer to reportage photography, until he embarked on a freelance journey that saw him collaborate with various NGOs on the production of some reportages in Italy, Peru, Kenya and Ethiopia. 

In 2009, Fausto began a collaboration with the Photography Collective WSP, and he joined it in 2010 as photographer and as a teacher of reportage photography. In addition to various works in Africa, South America and India, Fausto has carried out important works on Italian territory such as a reportage on sport for disabled, a work in a juvenile prison and a work on Alzheimer's disease, "MiRelLa", that earned him the first prize in the Daily Life section of World Press Photo 2013, the most important international photojournalism competition.

In 2018, Fausto won his second World Press Photo with his work "Omo Change", a long-term project that saw him working for 6 years between Ethiopia and Kenya to document the social and environmental changes in the lower Omo Valley, following the construction and functioning of the highest dam in all of Africa. In 2017 Fausto was appointed Reporter for the Earth by Earth Day Italy. He prefers medium to long-term jobs that allow him to linger and study in detail the issues addressed.

Fausto won numerous international awards, such as The World Press Photo in 2013 and 2018, POYi award in 2016 and 2018, Sony, Yves Rocher Grant, PDN Storytelling and Kolga Tiblisi, World Report Award and National Geographic Association Grant in 2021. His works have been published in the most important international magazines such as 6Mois, LeVie / LeMonde, GEO ES, Stern, Internazionale, Donna Moderna, Espresso, D di Repubblica, National Geographic, Days Japan, GEO Germany, GEO France and Neue Zürcher Zeitung Magazine and has exhibited in major cities like New York, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome and La Gacilly, in private galleries and international festivals.

His work MiRelLa has become a book distributed by Silvana Editoriale, achieving international success and sold out in a short time. In September 2019, he published his second book with FotoEvidence, "Omo Change" to finalize his work in the Omo Valley in Ethiopia. Fausto is currently part of the Water Grabbing Observatory and, together with journalist Emanuele Bompan and researcher Marisosa Iannelli, is documenting the water grabbing issue worldwide.