Alessia Santambrogio

Dante's Inferno - Tableaux Vivants is an exploration of the soul’s journey through a surreal and unconventional interpretation of dance. I wanted to capture an ethereal atmosphere of floating bodies, breaking away from traditional movement stereotypes to reach a state of pure abstraction.

The goal was to take real, tangible elements—the dancers' bodies and their precise geometries—and elevate them into visionary, dreamlike tableaux that defy the laws of physics. Winning this award is a deeply validating milestone; it proves that translating the transient energy of the stage into frozen, evocative imagery resonates with a global audience.

I look for images that strike a balance between technical perfection and narrative mystery. When selecting a piece, I ask myself: Does this image make the viewer stop and question what they are seeing?

For a competition like this, I chose shots from Dante’s Inferno Tableaux Vivants because it embodies both rigorous geometry and a sense of wonder. A winning entry shouldn't just be aesthetically pleasing; it needs to evoke a visceral response and tell a story beyond the frame.

It was a fascination with light and live emotion. I remember watching live performances and feeling frustrated that those incredible, breathtaking moments existed for only a second before dissolving into memory. Picking up a camera was my way of negotiating with time—a way to preserve the intensity of human expression and movement forever.

Stage and dance photography, without a doubt. Working with dancers is extraordinary because they use their bodies as instruments of pure geometry and emotion. I love the high stakes of stage photography: you don't direct the scene in real time; you have to anticipate movement, read the light, and react instantly to capture that split second where reality shifts into something ethereal and surreal.

My go-to setup is a full-frame mirrorless camera paired with a fast prime lens or a versatile 70-200mm f/2.8 for capturing dynamic stage action. Stage lighting is notoriously complex and dark, so my favourite feature is exceptional high-ISO performance combined with silent shooting. The silent shutter allows me to work seamlessly during delicate, quiet performance moments without disrupting the artists or the atmosphere.

Wonder. I want viewers to experience the childlike amazement of seeing something that defies everyday logic—to look at floating, geometric forms of bodies in space and feel, even for a second, that the laws of physics have been suspended.

Timing and precision. In stage photography, there are no second takes. The dancers' movements in Dante's Inferno rely on absolute geometrical harmony and physical tension. Capturing the exact micro-second where the bodies align into a harmonious tableau vivant, while managing challenging theatrical light and shadow, required intense concentration and complete synchronicity with the performers.

The human body in motion, framed by the dark, controlled space of a stage. The stage is a blank canvas where light, shadow, and human form interact. It is a controlled environment that paradoxically allows for infinite, wild, and surreal creativity.

My biggest influences come from a mix of classic stage photographers, fine art painters (especially Caravaggio for his dramatic chiaroscuro lighting), and modern contemporary choreographers. I am continually inspired by art forms that treat light as a physical material and the human body as a living sculpture.

Shoot your unique vision with absolute honesty. Participating in awards forces you to curate your work, articulate your narrative, and step out of your comfort zone. My advice for excelling is to focus on cohesion and emotion: choose work that reflects a distinct personal voice, and ensure that every element in your image—light, composition, subject—serves a specific purpose.

Learn to see light before you focus on gear. Technology is just a tool; understanding how light shapes form, creates emotion, and guides the viewer's eye is the true language of photography. Spend time observing how light changes scenes in real life.

I actually prefer to keep post-processing to an absolute minimum. As a stage photographer, my goal is to get the shot right directly in the camera. The real magic happens live, in the moment—working with the light on stage, the dancers' movements, and the exact timing of the shot.

Rather than relying on heavy digital editing, I focus all my energy on mastering composition, light, and exposure during the performance itself. For me, the power of an image lies in the authenticity of that precise, real-time capture.

AI is expanding the boundaries of visual creation, but it also highlights the irreplaceable value of real human experience and physical performance. For my work, the magic lies in the fact that these floating, surreal bodies are real dancers performing real, physically demanding feats. Technology might change how we process or present images, but the core of stage photography—the genuine connection with a live human performance—remains untouchable.

I would love to collaborate on a site-specific dance performance in an extreme natural landscape or ancient architectural ruins. Bringing the geometric precision of stage dance and tableaux vivants into a raw, majestic natural space would be an incredible continuation of this journey between reality and surrealism.