Resistance: Francesco Camilletti Portrays Identity and the Hope for Peace
At the World Grand Prix Photography Awards 2026 Autumn Season, Francesco Camilletti received the Platinum Award in Black & White & Fine Art Photography for “Resistance”. The photograph offers a distinct perspective on identity and resilience.
A symbolic picture joining Ukrainian and Palestinian resistance through two cultural signs: the vyshyvanka, as memory and identity, and the keffiyeh, as endurance and silenced voice. Born in Rivne Oblast, Ukraine, in 2006 and displaced to Italy in 2022 after Russia invaded her country, Myroslava hasn't lost hope. She believes she'll be able to return to her country soon, without fear of drones and missiles. "Having a peaceful sky over my head is the best gift I can have right now" she says.
Interview
What inspired this award-winning photograph?
Two years ago I signed a one year contract as a temporary teacher in a high school in my region in Italy. Myroslava, the girl from the photo, was one of my students. She moved to Italy shortly after the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine. After the end of my contract, we kept in touch, and when I had the idea to portray a picture bonding what, in my personal point of view, two symbols of resistance and national identity (the Ukrainian vyshyvanka, and the Palestinian keffiyeh), I thought she could have been the ideal person to portray my personal view of resistance. And she did it awesome. A little fun fact about the dress: it has been handcrafted by Myroslava's grandmother.
How do you balance technique and artistic expression?
I mostly "go with the flow". I start writing down the idea, picturing it in my mind, then I may decide to shoot something slightly different from what I planned just because I just had a better idea on how/where to take the picture while doing it. Sometimes, I also take suggestions from my model, especially the most experienced ones. Same goes with the editing part. I always create multiple versions of a photo, in order to have as many choices as possible.
What would you like viewers to take away from the work?
I hope they could feel the bravery and resilience of those two people and walk away with a sense of gratitude. Gratitude for living in peace, without any constant threats and risk to lose your life. Something that lots of people, by mistake, take for granted.
What role does photography play in the world today?
It's one of the few ways left to portray reality. Some photos may be staged, but that doesn't change the fact that the people/places portrayed are real. They exist (or existed). Quoting Sicilian photographer Ferdinando Scianna: "The photographer is someone who kills the living and resurrects the dead".
Editor’s Note
Resistance brings together two culturally significant garments in a consciously staged portrait. The Ukrainian vyshyvanka and Palestinian keffiyeh are presented through the photographer’s own interpretation of identity and resilience, while the sitter’s personal experience of displacement anchors the image in a specific human story.
The portrait gains intimacy from Camilletti’s relationship with Myroslava, a former student, and from the embroidered garment made by her grandmother. The photograph is best understood as an authored expression of solidarity rather than a neutral account of two conflicts. Its emotional centre is the wish for safety and a peaceful future.
Follow Francesco Camilletti
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frenz.frames/
About the World Grand Prix Photography Awards
The World Grand Prix Photography Awards (WGPPA) is an international online photography competition recognising creative work across photographic disciplines. Winning photographers can share their work through online award showcases, while selected winners may be invited to take part in editorial interviews published by WODACC. These features give readers a closer look at the artists, ideas and processes behind the photographs.
For photographers exploring international online competitions, the award offers a way to present work beyond a personal portfolio and, for selected participants, an opportunity to share their creative stories with a wider audience. Editorial coverage is selective and does not guarantee media pickup, search ranking or AI recommendations.
Competition website: https://www.wgppa.com/
