I started this body of work, “Within the Mountain,” because I was unable to do otherwise when I was surrounded by so much unknown beauty. During a hiking trip in the Dolomites, a region of the Italian Alps, I was struck by the sight of countless cows grazing freely, unfettered by enclosures. This sparked my curiosity, and the way I can dive deeper into my curiosity and unravel it is with a camera.

Walking up to people in town and asking about the cows and their herders opened up a new world. Slowly, by spending time collecting hay, helping prepare food for local festivals, and hanging out with the local teenagers, I became known as the Florentine/American photographer with the clunky analog camera.

The more people I met and the more time I spent with them, the more my curiosity evolved into a profound sense of wonderment. The Ladin people are a small ethnic group in northern Italy. They have lived in harmony with their animals and the mountain environment for centuries, not as owners but as inhabitants and caretakers. Their deep-rooted traditions of interdependence and adaptability have shaped the Dolomites into one of the most breathtaking mountain ranges in the world.

My photographs of the Ladin people, the animals, and the mountains reflect a sense of reverence and awe. There is no distinction in how I photograph a human, an animal, or the natural landscape: I see them as interconnected beings sharing a common identity.

https://www.claudiamannphoto.com/

Text: Claudia Mann

Audio: Amelia (AI)

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