Ilaria Mariagiulia Rizzuto (born in Verona, Italy, 1988) has always felt the sea as her
true home. Although raised far from the coast, she grew up cultivating a deep
fascination with water, practicing various aquatic sports that strengthened her bond
with the ocean. In 2019 she became a certified scuba diver and soon after
embraced freediving, discovering in the silence of the depths a place of belonging
and inspiration.
Her journey into underwater photography began in 2021, guided by her partner and
mentor, internationally acclaimed photographer Pietro Formis. With determination
and curiosity, Ilaria quickly developed a distinctive style, combining strong technical
skills with a sensitive narrative vision. From her very first shots, she received
recognition in major international competitions such as Ocean Art, UPY, Mare,
Asferico, VIEPA, Memorial Maria Luisa, World Nature Photography Awards,
OG. Picoty, among others. In 2024 she was named Emerging Photographer of
the Year at the prestigious Og. Picoty Awards, confirming her talent on the global
stage.
Her images have been published in several national and international magazines,
and in 2024 she was invited as co-presenter at PHIDEX Manila, Asia’s leading
underwater photography and diving event. Beyond photography, she has
collaborated on underwater film projects: in 2022 she worked as assistant camera
operator on Divina, a documentary about Federica Pellegrini, and in 2024 she
filmed the paralympic freediving world record under ice.
Ilaria is an ambassador for Marelux and Beuchat, brands that embody her
passion for high-quality tools essential to exploring and documenting the
underwater world. Since 2025 she has also expanded her photographic language
to terrestrial wildlife, achieving recognition in this field as well.
For Ilaria, photography is more than art: it is a means of conservation and
awareness. Through her images she seeks to reveal the fragile complexity of
ecosystems, whether in the ocean depths, the stillness of a forest, or the delicate
movement of an insect — always guided by the same energy, respect, and love for
life.