A selection of images from “The Ugly Duckling,” by Italian photographer Giulia Vanelli. Currently based in Florence, Italy, her work blends documentary narratives with intimate approaches. “The Ugly Duckling,” an ongoing project, explores the human condition through the difficult process of stepping outside of one’s comfort zone. “The human mind does not always get along with changes and what follows from them: this is why it creates natural barriers and feels discomfort in the face of situations never experienced before,” Vanelli explains. “Unconsciously, we make sure to remain anchored to the starting point, in a known cone shadow that prevents you from betting on yourself.”

See more from “The Ugly Duckling” below!