A long-term documentary project exploring the American Midwest by Italian photographer Francesco Aglieri Rinella. Rinella’s has a background in the military and a deep-rooted passion for storytelling. His work explores the American landscape, its cultural heritage, and the quiet power of everyday life. His practice is grounded in long road trips across rural America, where he documents communities and characters often pushed to the periphery.

“Galaxies Beneath a Dying Sky” features a blend of portraits, interiors, and open landscapes that capture the resilience, fragility, and quiet dignity of communities often overlooked in contemporary narratives. Rooted in slow, analog photography with medium format film, the project traces an emotional terrain shared across diverse geographies. It offers a reflection on memory, isolation, perseverance, and belonging by engaging with how individuals and landscapes navigate change.

Francesco Aglieri Rinella participated in our 2025 Booooooom Art & Photo Book Award and made our shortlist.