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Street Photography Instructors in Rome: Valeria Tofanelli | Daylight School

Daylight School

Street Photography Instructors in Rome: Valeria Tofanelli | Daylight School

Street photography in Uzbekistan: children on bicycles amid the historic architecture of Khiva. A practical example of composition and visual storytelling taught in the street photography courses at the Daylight School in Rome with Valeria Tofanelli.
Capturing history in everyday life: children on bicycles in Khiva, Uzbekistan. This photograph documents an urban photography project undertaken during the practical sessions of the street photography course in Rome, focusing on composition and storytelling.

 

Valeria Tofanelli isa documentary photographer based in Rome, specializing in color street photography and visual storytelling. Her work stands out for her masterful use of light and urban geometries, as well as her ability to capture the irony and poetry in the ordinary moments of daily life. Since 2022, she has been a member ofthe prestigious international street photography collective“Burn My Eye” andteaches our street photography and storytelling courses at Daylight School, our photography school in Rome’s Pigneto neighborhood.

From the Streets to Storytelling: The Biography

Born and raised in Rome,Valeria hasdeveloped a deep connection with the urban environment, transforming it into the natural setting for her photographic exploration. Through constant practice and careful observation of the cityscape, she has refined a style in which people interact spontaneously with architecture, colors, and shadows.

A solitary figure walks along a dark beach at night. A dramatic, atmospheric bokeh effect—like exaggerated snow or rain—fills the air. An example of how to create mood and visual storytelling, as taught in the photographic storytelling courses at the Daylight School in Rome with Valeria Tofanelli.
Creating atmospheres and visual narratives: a silhouette on the beach at night. This storytelling photograph explores solitude and mood—a key component of our advanced courses in Rome with Valeria Tofanelli.

 

A recognized figure in the contemporary street photography scene, she has exhibited her work at prestigious international festivals. Among her many accolades, she wasa finalist in the StreetFoto San Francisco International Street Photography Awards, and her work has been featured and selected for major international events such as the London Street Photography Festival.

Projects, Publications, and the Narrative Approach

Her approach to street photography is focused on storytelling.For Valeria, street photography isn’t just about capturing a single striking shot, but about building a coherent vision. This approach is perfectly reflected in her editorial work:

  • The photography book“Mareterno”(Eyeshot Publisher, 2021):Valeria is the co-author, alongside Lorenzo Catena, of this important photography book, which features an introduction by Melissa Breyer. The project explores Ostia—Rome’s seaside—revealing its secrets and atmospheres on the outskirts of the Eternal City.

  • Color Composition and Geometry:In his work, he uses bold color palettes and sharp contrasts of light to structure the image, combining a keen eye for architectural lines with a marked sensitivity to unexpected visual coincidences.

  • The Human Element and Space:It explores the relationship between people and the chaos of the metropolis, transforming mundane scenes into structured frames with a strong narrative impact.

Candid street photography captured through glass at Roma Termini station at night. You can see the face and veil of a nun in a black habit, superimposed on complex reflections of passengers on escalators, the station’s industrial architecture, and bright digital screens. A practical example of how to capture the urban atmosphere and visual overlays, as taught by Valeria Tofanelli in the courses at our photography school in Rome.
Capturing the atmosphere of Rome’s Termini Station: a reflection of faith and urban life. This shot is a case study in complex composition and street storytelling—central themes of our street photography workshops in Rome.

Daylight School: Our photography school in Rome

AtDaylight School, locatedat Via Macerata 34/36 (Pigneto, East Rome), Valeria guides students through the art of photographic storytelling. Her teaching philosophy is based on training the eye: she demonstrates how the camera is the perfect medium for transforming the randomness of people walking down the street into a cohesive, carefully crafted, and personal narrative—far removed from the usual clichés.

Street photography in a museum: a young man yawns beneath a classical painting. An example of how to capture the irony in everyday life—a technique taught in the street photography courses at the Daylight School, a photography school in Rome, with Valeria Tofanelli.
Finding irony in everyday life: the art of waiting in a museum. Learning to observe human contrasts is one of the central themes in Valeria Tofanelli’s street photography courses in Rome.

 

What You'll Learn in Valeria Tofanelli's Photography Courses

No pointless theory. In the workshops and courses taught by Valeria at the Daylight School, you’ll head out onto the streets and learn to “read” the city. With her, you’ll learn to:

  • Developing a narrative eye:Going beyond the single photo to create a sequence and a coherent visual project (storytelling), just as you would when putting together a photo book or a fanzine.

  • Managing Color, Light, and Composition:Use shadows, reflections, and natural light in the urban environment to add dramatic impact to your shot.

  • Develop a rigorous editing process:Select the images that truly reinforce your story, and learn to weed out the unnecessary ones to give your portfolio a solid foundation.

Don't missValeria Tofanelli's work!

A night photograph of a man smoking next to a closed kiosk, characterized by a strong contrast between light and shadow. An example of urban storytelling in the dark, analyzed during the night photography courses at our photography school in Rome with Valeria Tofanelli.
The Art of Capturing the Night: Using Artificial Light and Shadows to Create Cinematic Atmospheres. Explore night photography storytelling techniques in the advanced courses at our photography school in Rome.