Portrait nominee

This portrait explores the space between fear and freedom — the fragile moment when awareness begins, but change is not yet complete.

We all live within invisible limits shaped by doubt, insecurity, and expectation. The wire fence represents those mental barriers. It is still present, still holding its shape, yet it is starting to bend.

The subject stands in that in-between space: no longer completely trapped, not yet fully free. There is tension, resistance, and the first conscious act of transformation.

This image does not depict escape. It captures the threshold — the quiet, decisive moment where the possibility of freedom becomes real, even if the path forward remains uncertain.

I’m Paolo Santoriello, also known as Paul Wanders, the name behind my photography work.
I’m a photographer and visual storyteller based in Italy, working internationally.
My background in archaeology shaped the way I approach photography: observing, understanding context, and telling stories through place and human presence.
Since 2019, photography has become my main language, evolving through different fields and experiences.
In 2023, I turned my passion for travel into a profession, working as a tour leader and content creator for a leading travel company, with a focus on Iceland, the Scandinavian countries, and remote northern landscapes.
Working closely with travelers and photographers in challenging environments has deeply influenced my visual approach.
Today, my work focuses on documenting journeys, landscapes, and moments shaped by exploration, light, and silence.