ADRiana Benetti Longhini
My small biography.
I was born in Arusha, Tanzania in Africa below the slopes of Mount Meru and her majestic neighbour Kilimanjaro. My school years where spent at Arusha School and then at the International School Moshi. My childhood days are filled with memories of having glorious fun at our family's coffee plantation called “Maswere” and numerous holidays with grandparents and family at Lake Manyara, Mombasa, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
During the 70's my parents left Tanzania for greener pastures in South Africa, firstly Durban and eventually to Johannesburg. During my 30 years in South Africa, I developed an intense love for this “Rainbow Nation”, from the Drakensberg, (Eastern Transvaal) Mpumalanga, Wild Coast, the Garden Route to our beautiful mother city Cape Town.
I studied Fine Arts in Durban, Kwazulu Natal where I ventured into the world of photography, loving the hours in the darkroom developing predominately black and white photos.
In recent years I have gone back to live in Asiago, northern Italy where my ancestors originated....a beautiful but diverse and difficult country....perhaps more so than Africa. I have a huge love for Europe and the diverse beauty she offers, and this continues to inspire me to use the magic of light and capture what my eye sees and share it with the rest of the world.
The Altopiano of Asiago in northern Italy has some of the largest pine forests in Europe. This photograph was taken at sunrise in spring when thermal inversions take place and provide wonderful misty conditions. My very favourite weather conditions.
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 16.5 inches x 23 inches
Edition 1 of 25
I try to go out and photograph during all kinds of weather conditions, except clear blue skies. I have an on going love affair with trees and this particular Beech tree is alone amongst a forest of pines and I return during the various seasons to capture it’s beauty.
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 16.5 inches x 23 inches
Edition 1 of 25
Fraxinus, English name ash is also one of my favourite trees. They grow abundantly on the Altopiano of Asiago, and this particular speciman which stands proud in the middle of a field is almost ghostly in the winter mist. I have never photographed her in autumn, but will make that a must later on in the year
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 16.5 inches x 23 inches
Edition 1 of 25
This ancient beech tree, which is estimated to be about 200 years old is very difficult to photograph. It sits on the edge of a tarmac road and the surrounding scenery is not too spectacular. I’ve been itching to photograph her and the only reasonable shot I could get was to accentuate here lower branches and beautiful trunk during our last snowfall of this season.
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 16.5 inches x 23 inches
Edition 1 of 25
Autumn brings the most wonderful colours and no exception is the beech tree which during the months of October and November are at their best. I love beech trees and the older they become the more beautiful they are. In the mist, the orange colours of the leaves become like small jewels.
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 16.5 inches x 23 inches
Edition 1 of 25
The Plains of Marcesina is an unspoilt plateau or prairie on the eastern side of the Altopiano of Asiago. It is spectacular and during the summer months it is prime cattle grazing territory. The sunrises are always spectacular often with beautiful cloud formations that rise up from the region of Venice which lies to the east and not too far away.
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 16.5 inches x 23 inches
Edition 1 of 25
When I leave the mountains of the Altopiano of Asiago and go to lower altitudes our forest changes from pine and larch trees to some wonderful specimens of oak. What attracts me to this tree is the beauty of the branches, the lichen and moss growing on the trunk which is in contrast to the autumn colours of the leaves.
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 16.5 inches x 23 inches
Edition 1 of 25
large rivers do not exist on the high plateau of Asiago (Altopiano di Asiago), but we do have a few little streams that cascade down from higher peaks. I often go to this small set of waterfalls throughout the year where there is utter peace and tranquillity. This shot was taken in April 2018 just after the last snow had melted.
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 16.5 inches x 23 inches
Edition 1 of 25
Much of the countryside where I currently live on the Altopiano of Asiago is rural. Most plots of land belonging to various farmers are divided by these fences, primarily used to keep cattle from roaming too far. A winter storm was brewing while i was out photographing, and the simple lines of the old fence caught my eye, resulting in this simple but dramatic photo.
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
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Image size: 15 inches x 23.5 inches
Edition 1 of 25
Beautiful larch forest are typical of the Altopiano di Asiago and look equally beautiful in autumn and are fabulous to photograph after a recent snowfall. .
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 23 inches x 33 inches
Edition 1 of 25
Fagus sylvatica, one of my favourite trees. They grow abundantly on the Altopiano of Asiago, and these dressed in their winter coat are over 150 years old. .
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
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Image size: 23 inches x 33 inches
Edition 1 of 25
Fagus sylvatica, or commonly known as European beech grows abundantly here on the Altopiano of Asiago. What I particularly love about this photo is the contrast between the bright orange of the autumn leaves with the white of the snow. .
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 12 inches x 17 inches
Edition 1 of 25
Spectacular thermal inversions on the Plains of Marcesina, together with pine forests and rolling meadows makes for dream photography. .
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 12 inches x 17 inches
Edition 1 of 25
Photographing on the plains of Marcesina at dawn is particularly rewarding as almost on a daily basis there are thermal inversions which create dreamy like mist that hovers above the ground. It is my favourite time of the day to photograph as I know that I will come home with something special. Here again I am photographing at dawn before the annual cattle drive takes place.
Artist: Adriana Benetti Longhini
C-print on photographic paper
Image size: 16.5 inches x 23 inches
Edition 1 of 25