Photography, at its core, is both a record and a revelation, and few embody this duality as seamlessly as Stefano Mirabella. Guided by his motto, “To me photography is the synthesis between the representation of reality and the ability to transcend it,” Mirabella’s work inhabits the delicate space between what is seen and what is felt.
Through his lens, everyday moments become layered with meaning: a fleeting gesture hints at timeless emotion, a familiar landscape transforms into a poetic metaphor. His images are not just captured scenes, but invitations, asking the viewer to pause, reflect, and discover something beyond the surface.
Step into Stefano Mirabella’s creative world, exploring how his unique vision blurs the boundaries between documentary precision and artistic transcendence. His photography reminds us that reality is never static, it is a canvas for imagination, memory, and emotion.
Rome 2013
I feel a special connection to this photo, taken in the center of Rome: it shows the rear of a minibus stopped at the terminus. Guided by the large advertisement covering the vehicle, I began to notice several elements that proved to be essential: the little girl leaning out of the window, the space on the right side of the frame where I waited for the subject to pass, and finally the surprise of that silhouette on the left, which magically brings compositional balance to the whole image.
Rome 2016
I took this photo in Rome, near Termini station. For me, it fully embodies the philosophy of street photography I believe in: an organization of form combined with a visual surprise. The unusual or the unexpected that, when it appears, completely transforms the image. I had noticed the many faces in the advertisement on the back of a tourist bus (the little girl had not yet appeared) and simply thought of aligning the profile of the bus with that of the building on the right, while waiting for a seagull to fly by, as they often circle that area. Then, all of a sudden, she appeared, the little girl: just a few moments to take the shot before she withdrew, intimidated by my presence.
Rome 2022
I took this photograph in Rome, in the area around St. Peter’s. I had stopped in front of this wall because, at that hour, the light was beautiful and the shadow of the streetlamp intrigued me; moreover, that spot is always frequented by interesting people. From a distance, I saw a nun approaching: she was walking quickly but with a very particular posture. I simply waited for her to come into relation with the shadow of the streetlamp and took the shot. Only afterwards did I realize that the long shadow of another figure had also entered the frame, appearing to move toward the woman. A surprise that perhaps lends the image an extra veil of mystery.
Napoli 2023
This image, taken in Naples, made me realize how, after many years of using my Leica Q with its 28mm lens, my photography had evolved and matured, thanks also to the consistent use of a specific focal length. It is a shot that would not have worked without getting close to the subjects and managing multiple elements at once, something only a wide-angle lens truly allows.
Palermo 2019
I took this photograph in Palermo, after waiting a long time for the scene to shape and compose itself exactly as I wanted. In situations like this, there’s always the risk of losing spontaneity and authenticity. Instead, in this case, waiting proved essential: the boys around me had time to get used to my presence, which eventually was no longer an obstacle but an advantage. I tried to build the image by “leaning” on the surrounding frames and by including the context of the place.
Pagani (Salerno) 2024
Italy is rich in popular religious festivals. During the Easter period, especially in the south of the country, events and rituals take place that carry deep emotional and human intensity. For years I have been attending one in Campania with the picturesque name *La Madonna delle Galline*. It is a unique occasion for photography. In this image, some of the most representative figures of the celebration appear, brought together in a composition that is both complete and varied. I often seek multiple layers and elements to enrich the frame, and in this photograph I believe they all came together in a natural harmony.
Roma 2023
Another event, this time not religious but social and cultural, with a human impact just as intense, the Pride. Guided by the face in the foreground on the right, I waited a few seconds to include other subjects in the frame, as I often do. The two figures at the top pointing to the heart-shaped balloon are, in my view, the photograph’s added value. I remember slightly bending down to find the right angle and to give more emphasis to the background. Often, a change of perspective proves to be decisive.
Roma 2023
Another event, this time not religious but social and cultural, with a human impact just as intense, the Pride. Guided by the face in the foreground on the right, I waited a few seconds to include other subjects in the frame, as I often do. The two figures at the top pointing to the heart-shaped balloon are, in my view, the photograph’s added value. I remember slightly bending down to find the right angle and to give more emphasis to the background. Often, a change of perspective proves to be decisive.
About the Photographer
Stefano Mirabella, Italian-based photographer
Stefano Mirabella (Rome, 1973) is an Italian photographer working in the fields of documentary and street photography. He began his photographic journey in 2003, studying at leading photography schools in Rome, and immediately embarked on a personal path focused on social documentary work. His projects have taken him to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, India, Syria, and the occupied Palestinian territories, places that have become central themes in several of his exhibitions and publications.
Over the years, his work has been exhibited widely, in both solo and group shows across Italy and abroad.
Since 2012, street photography has been his primary creative and professional focus, a visual language to which he feels deeply connected, and one that enables him to explore and interpret reality through a personal way of seeing. He was a member of the Italian street photography collective Spontanea, and in 2014 was among the winners of the Leica Talent Award. He currently teaches at Officine Fotografiche, one of Rome's most respected photography centers, and is a faculty instructor at the Leica Akademie, an international hub for photographic education.
In 2021, he curated the exhibition Caio Mario Garrubba – FREELANCE SULLA STRADA for Istituto Luce, contributing to the renewed recognition of one of the key figures in twentieth-century Italian photography.
His photographic vision, constantly balancing the documentation of reality with a desire to transcend it, is driven by a sincere and passionate approach, which he shares both in the classroom and through his daily practice.
Website: stefanomirabella.com
Instagram: @stefanomirabella
Youtube: Stefano Mirabella