Your Bio

I'm an Italian freelance photojournalist based in Rome.
Photography started as pure passion, but after attending a one-year photography course at "Istituto Italiano di Fotografia" in Milan and two summer workshops at TPW in Tuscany, I started working as a pro.
My work focuses on social and environmental issues.
I am available for assignments everywhere.

Cell 39 328 5669281
e-mail: nicoletta.valdisteno@gmail.com
skype: nicoletta.valdisteno
http://www.nicolettavaldisteno.com

Featured Galleries

The Kalimati Kidz - Kathmandu, Nepal     (April 2009) : Along the banks of the Bagmati, one of Kathmandu’s dirtiest rivers, in an area called Kalimati, live hundreds of  immigrant low-cast Indian squatters. 
The majority of the men in these slums sell fruit for a living, whilst the women and children, especially boys older then 8, collect rubbish in giant sacks at night around the busy and polluted tourist area of Thamel and sell it for recycling, getting a little money in the process. 

In the past two months a group of  Nepali and foreign volunteers have been working to get some 20 of the younger children into a local school. They met and convinced the children’s families, bought uniforms, shoes, books. They also provided a facility in close-by Teku, where the children come in the morning and afternoon and ready themselves. Classes have been being set-up for the elder brothers and sisters, who are illiterate and too old to go to school. 

Most of these children still continue to collect rubbish in Kathmandu, some before school, some late into the night. Anyway, this operation will not only have an impact on their lives as individuals thrust into a totally new and structured environment, but also that of their community, that benefits from their children being given a chance to learn.
This is the story of Mukesh, 8 years old, and his family. 

photos © Nicoletta Valdisteno

The Kalimati Kidz - Kathmandu, Nepal (April 2009)

Along the banks of the Bagmati, one of Kathmandu’s dirtiest rivers, in ...

Updated: May 17, 2009 7:18am PST

Libera Terra, a new life for the Mafia lands (Sicily, September 2008) : The cooperative "Placido Rizzotto", based in San Giuseppe Jato, near Corleone, Sicily, is part of the umbrella organization "Libera", founded by Don Luigi Ciotti to fight against the Mafia. 
Thanks to his work, the Italian Parliament passed a law in 1996 to make it possible to use for social useful purposes the properties once owned by the Mafia bosses in Sicily and in the rest of Italy.
The 12 partners of the cooperative grow organic fruit and lentils and make a very high-quality organic wine called "Centopassi". The final products are sold in fairtrade shops and supermarkets.
The cooperative also owns a holiday farm (once one of Giovanni Brusca's - a  very important Mafia boss - properties) and a riding-school. 
The members all live in the surroundings and this is an important example for the local population: it shows how living inside the law can also be a way to live and work honestly, without being afraid of the Mafia.

photos © Nicoletta Valdisteno

Libera Terra, a new life for the Mafia lands (Sicily, September 2008)

The cooperative "Placido Rizzotto", based in San Giuseppe Jato, near C ...

Updated: Dec 15, 2008 6:12am PST

Capestrano, memorie di vita (Wine Photo 2008 - Third Place) : Walking across the narrow streets of Capestrano, a small village 30 km away from L'Aquila, means going back in time. 
In the last 50 years, many of the inhabitants have left and emigrated to the United States, Venezuela and France. 
That's why many of the houses are abandoned and are the only witnessess of a once active and wide community.
Today only 750 of the 3500 original inhabitants still live here, mostly elderly. 
They are the keepers of far-off but not yet lost recollections.

photos © Nicoletta Valdisteno

Capestrano, memorie di vita (Wine Photo 2008 - Third Place)

Walking across the narrow streets of Capestrano, a small village 30 km ...

Updated: Jun 20, 2008 1:24pm PST

Ciclonauti - passion for cycling in Rome (December 2007) : Biking in Rome can be difficult and dangerous, but there is a small group of very passionate people who refuse to drive a car and go around only by bicycle.
They founded an association called "I Ciclonauti". Their headquarters are in the old and fascinating area of Monti, in the historical center of Rome, not far from the Coliseum.
Each week they meet to repair their bikes, give lessons on bike mechanics and talk about...bicycles! Bike auctions are often organized in a small sqaure not far from the headquarters, where people can buy old repaired bikes and discover the association and its activities.

photos © Nicoletta Valdisteno

Ciclonauti - passion for cycling in Rome (December 2007)

Biking in Rome can be difficult and dangerous, but there is a small gr ...

Updated: Jan 17, 2008 4:30am PST

Galleries

The Kalimati Kidz - Kathmandu, Nepal     (April 2009) : Along the banks of the Bagmati, one of Kathmandu’s dirtiest rivers, in an area called Kalimati, live hundreds of  immigrant low-cast Indian squatters. 
The majority of the men in these slums sell fruit for a living, whilst the women and children, especially boys older then 8, collect rubbish in giant sacks at night around the busy and polluted tourist area of Thamel and sell it for recycling, getting a little money in the process. 

In the past two months a group of  Nepali and foreign volunteers have been working to get some 20 of the younger children into a local school. They met and convinced the children’s families, bought uniforms, shoes, books. They also provided a facility in close-by Teku, where the children come in the morning and afternoon and ready themselves. Classes have been being set-up for the elder brothers and sisters, who are illiterate and too old to go to school. 

Most of these children still continue to collect rubbish in Kathmandu, some before school, some late into the night. Anyway, this operation will not only have an impact on their lives as individuals thrust into a totally new and structured environment, but also that of their community, that benefits from their children being given a chance to learn.
This is the story of Mukesh, 8 years old, and his family. 

photos © Nicoletta Valdisteno

The Kalimati Kidz - Kathmandu, Nepal (April 2009)

Along the banks of the Bagmati, one of Kathmandu’s dirtiest rivers, ...

Updated: May 17, 2009 7:18am PST

ME&YOU FOREVER: padlocks on Ponte Milvio and at Fontana di Trevi (Rome, March 2009) : Love padlocks are a custom by which sweethearts affix padlocks to symbolise their love.
On Ponte Milvio, a very ancient bridge in the northern part of Rome, young couples and friends put a padlock with their names on and then throw the key into the river Tiber, shouting "Per sempre!" ("forever!").
The ritual was invented by author Federico Moccia for his popular book and movie "I Want You".
Recently, padlocks have appeared also on the gates of the church of Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio, in front of the Trevi Fountain.

photos © Nicoletta Valdisteno

ME&YOU FOREVER: padlocks on Ponte Milvio and at Fontana di Trevi (Rome, March 2009)

Love padlocks are a custom by which sweethearts affix padlocks to symb ...

Updated: Mar 19, 2009 12:10pm PST

Monte Vibiano, the 360° Green Revolution : Monte Vibiano is a wine and olive oil producer near Perugia, Italy. 
At the end of 2008, the company started the "360° Green Revolution" project, which aims to cut the company’s carbon emissions to zero by the end of 2009, making it the greenest business in Italy.
Many investments were made in this direction, such as using solar panels and electric charging stations, producing bio-diesel and organic fertilizers.
Monte Vibiano has been working closely with the Center for Biomass Research from the University of Perugia to minimize carbon dioxide emissions and to find solutions to make the company greener.
They even painted in white some silos to deflect light, a solution that has the same effect on the environment as eliminating 1 ton of carbon dioxide. 

photos © Nicoletta Valdisteno

Monte Vibiano, the 360° Green Revolution

Monte Vibiano is a wine and olive oil producer near Perugia, Italy. ...

Updated: Dec 16, 2008 4:05am PST

Libera Terra, a new life for the Mafia lands (Sicily, September 2008) : The cooperative "Placido Rizzotto", based in San Giuseppe Jato, near Corleone, Sicily, is part of the umbrella organization "Libera", founded by Don Luigi Ciotti to fight against the Mafia. 
Thanks to his work, the Italian Parliament passed a law in 1996 to make it possible to use for social useful purposes the properties once owned by the Mafia bosses in Sicily and in the rest of Italy.
The 12 partners of the cooperative grow organic fruit and lentils and make a very high-quality organic wine called "Centopassi". The final products are sold in fairtrade shops and supermarkets.
The cooperative also owns a holiday farm (once one of Giovanni Brusca's - a  very important Mafia boss - properties) and a riding-school. 
The members all live in the surroundings and this is an important example for the local population: it shows how living inside the law can also be a way to live and work honestly, without being afraid of the Mafia.

photos © Nicoletta Valdisteno

Libera Terra, a new life for the Mafia lands (Sicily, September 2008)

The cooperative "Placido Rizzotto", based in San Giuseppe Jato, near C ...

Updated: Dec 15, 2008 6:12am PST

Soft Air, il gioco della guerra :

Soft Air, il gioco della guerra

Updated: Dec 12, 2008 5:09am PST

Green Ireland (April 2008) :

Green Ireland (April 2008)

Updated: Sep 10, 2008 5:50am PST

Capestrano, memorie di vita (Wine Photo 2008 - Third Place) : Walking across the narrow streets of Capestrano, a small village 30 km away from L'Aquila, means going back in time. 
In the last 50 years, many of the inhabitants have left and emigrated to the United States, Venezuela and France. 
That's why many of the houses are abandoned and are the only witnessess of a once active and wide community.
Today only 750 of the 3500 original inhabitants still live here, mostly elderly. 
They are the keepers of far-off but not yet lost recollections.

photos © Nicoletta Valdisteno

Capestrano, memorie di vita (Wine Photo 2008 - Third Place)

Walking across the narrow streets of Capestrano, a small village 30 km ...

Updated: Jun 20, 2008 1:24pm PST

Ciclonauti - passion for cycling in Rome (December 2007) : Biking in Rome can be difficult and dangerous, but there is a small group of very passionate people who refuse to drive a car and go around only by bicycle.
They founded an association called "I Ciclonauti". Their headquarters are in the old and fascinating area of Monti, in the historical center of Rome, not far from the Coliseum.
Each week they meet to repair their bikes, give lessons on bike mechanics and talk about...bicycles! Bike auctions are often organized in a small sqaure not far from the headquarters, where people can buy old repaired bikes and discover the association and its activities.

photos © Nicoletta Valdisteno

Ciclonauti - passion for cycling in Rome (December 2007)

Biking in Rome can be difficult and dangerous, but there is a small gr ...

Updated: Jan 17, 2008 4:30am PST

Copenhagen (October 2007) :

Copenhagen (October 2007)

Updated: Nov 21, 2007 10:03am PST

International Munich Art Lab, April 2006 :

International Munich Art Lab, April 2006

Updated: Sep 17, 2007 6:39am PST

Wine Photo 2007 Photographic Contest :

Wine Photo 2007 Photographic Contest

Updated: Jun 11, 2007 3:14pm PST

Yucatan for sale (May 2007) :

Yucatan for sale (May 2007)

Updated: May 02, 2007 8:03am PST

"Robiola mon Amour" :

"Robiola mon Amour"

Updated: Oct 03, 2006 4:28am PST

Summer Jamboree, Senigallia (August 2006) :

Summer Jamboree, Senigallia (August 2006)

Updated: Aug 28, 2006 2:53pm PST

Conceptual U.S.A. (October 2005) :

Conceptual U.S.A. (October 2005)

Updated: Nov 09, 2005 2:24am PST