TITLE: Sun at midnight

There is no winter that prevents flowers from blooming in spring.
A plant can always generate beautiful flowers, even when it has experienced many fragments of life, if you take care of it.

The idea of photographing the everyday life of the retirement home in Troia (Italy) was born from the desire to tell the need for affection of those who, despite the winter of mind and body, always have a heart in bloom.
The body ages, the mind may lose its clarity, but the sap that nourishes the life of every creature, love, never dies!

The memories of days gone by are vivid in their hearts and are a precious gift that we often do not know how to appreciate.
Sometimes, there is no room for fresh daily memories that seem to reset after only a few moments, and the winter fog of life sets itself before their eyes, allowing them to see only with the eyes of the heart.
"You can only see clearly with your heart!"
This is their language. They travel into the past of memories on which love has placed its indelible mark... the family.
They are eyes that hope for the secret hope of seeing someone come and visit them and warm their hearts.
We move away from the greyness of that fog that prevents us from discovering faces and hands that stretch. There is still so much love they can generate, and their hearts can be rejuvenated in the face of love.
Let us not leave them alone at the end of the day, but let us illuminate their midnight.
Let us give them light so that they can shine so that the warmth of love can caress them in the transition of seasons between winter and summer.

AUTHOR: Francesco Caggese (Italy)

Francesco Caggese begins his photographic journey in 2011 with local courses.
In 2015 he is certified at the Canon Academy. In 2015 he qualified in Wedding Photography at the Italian Institute of Photography. In 2017 he specialized at the Italian Institute of Photography in Reportage. In 2017 he perfected at Mood Photography in Storytelling. In 2018 he follows a masterclass in "Long Term Project" at Mood Photography.

• 2022 – HONORABLE MENTION – Street Category – Monochrome Awards International Black and White Photography Contest
• 2022 – HONORABLE MENTION – Photojournalism Category – Monochrome Awards International Black and White Photography Contest
• 2022 - WINNER 3rd place - Editorial/Photo Essay Category - Tokyo International Foto Awards
• 2022 - SELECTED - People Category - Urban Photo Awards
• 2021 - FINALIST - Street Category - Italian Street Photo Festival
• 2021 - SELECTED - People Category - Urban Photo Awards
• 2021 - SELECTED - Street Category - Urban Photo Awards
• 2021 - SELECTED - Humanity Category – HIPA
• 2021 - FINALIST - Documentary & Photojournalism Category - Siena International Photo Awards
• 2020 - HONORABLE MENTION - Photojournalism / Story Category - Neutral Density International Photography Awards
• 2020 - FINALIST - Single Shot Category - World Report Award Documenting Humanity - Ethical Photography Festival