TITLE: Shadows of the Sacred

"Shadows of the Sacred" is my photographic journey into the ancient churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia. Through black and white imagery, I capture the intimate relationship between light, shadow, and faith within these rock-hewn spaces carved centuries ago.
I've visited Lalibela multiple times, captivated by how natural light transforms these environments. Rather than documenting ceremonies step-by-step, I focus on genuine moments: a pilgrim lost in prayer, sunlight filtering through stone windows, hands touching worn surfaces polished by centuries of devotion.
What drives this project is the honesty of these encounters. This experience show me faith as it's actually lived, not as a performance for outsiders, but as breathing, everyday devotion. The interplay between darkness and light became my visual language for the spiritual experience itself.
I was intrigued by the quiet corners: silhouettes moving through narrow passages, the texture of ancient walls, faces illuminated by candles during dawn prayers. These fragments come together to evoke something timeless about human spirituality.
This series it's a personal reflection on what it means to witness spaces where the sacred is woven into daily life. Through these images, I invite viewers to experience the power of silence and ritual that continues to thrive in our noisy, modern world.

AUTHOR: Lorenz Berna (Italy)

Lorenz Berna
is an award-winning travel & documentary photographer based in Florence, Italy.

Lorenz discovered his passion for photography during a transformative solo backpacking trip in Mexico in 2006, which inspired his lifelong pursuit of capturing humanity and landscapes with depth and intention.

Through his lens, Lorenz seeks to portray the soul of the places by blending candid, intimate street photography with striking imagery of landscapes and cultural heritage.

His work has earned recognition in several prestigious international competitions, including Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY), and has been featured in esteemed publications such as Geo, National Geographic Traveller, Forbes, and The Guardian.

His approach emphasizes slow travel, mindful exploration, and meaningful interactions with local communities, guiding photographers of all levels toward creating images with greater authenticity and emotional resonance.