Photographer Simone Batini is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this documentary photography. From the series ‘Past Times’. To see Simone’s body of work, click on any photograph.

Officine Milani, a blacksmith shop located in Tuscany in the municipality of Pomezzana, municipality of Stazzema, a place immersed in the nature of the Apuan Alps Park, within this historic workshop the highest quality artisanal tools for sculpture are made.

Fabio Ragghianti from Tuscany. He has been building and repairing guitars since 1981. He considers himself a low-tech, analog, baby boomer craftsman. That is, an endangered species. In these photos he is carving the mahogany neck of a classical guitar with a spoke-shave.

In the ancient carpenter/turner’s workshop located inside the Chestnut Museum located in Colognora Pescaglia (Lu) Tuscany Italy, Angelo Frati is working on an ancient pedal lathe, around him there are all the tools necessary for processing the wood and a warm light filters through the window which seems propitious

The series of photographs entitled ‘Tempi Passati’ is a long-term project. It was born from my idea of describing the artisan working realities still present in my territory. The photos for this collection were taken in Tuscany, in the province of Lucca in Garfagnana, Media Valle del Serchio, Alta Versilia and surrounding areas but also in other places in this splendid region. I chose to work with color images, combining the search for good light and an atmospheric situation, because I wanted to convey a sense of current events. In fact, even today these old craftsmen are active in their tiring and exciting activities with the help of some young people. In the series there are portraits of both the process and the place and shops where they spend their days.

Ancient crafts have been passed down for generations with the hope that they will never be lost or forgotten. The purpose of my photographic series is above all this: to prevent them from being forgotten.

Ferriera Galgani, an ancient blacksmith’s shop, located in Tuscany in the municipality of Pescaglia. Carlo and his young nephew work the iron every day, shaping it to their liking, the environment around them is dark, the walls are black from the smoke and fumes that have ignited the coal emissions. This is an environment rich in history and full of passion for ancient crafts. All this makes this place magical and unique for those who visit it.

Artisan Leather Workshop Pienza Tuscany, where it is possible to admire Valerio Truffelli, a craftsman expert in leather processing, an ancient art that requires great experience and precision.

The warm light that illuminates Gianfranco’s stable filters through an ancient window, while he dedicates himself to the care of his animal friends and grows the typical products of the Apuan Alps (Tuscany).

My name is Simone Batini, I live in Italy, in the Tuscany region. I have been passionate about photography since I was a child. I have always tried to immortalize through images what struck me most. As I grew up and with the arrival of digital photography, I tried to learn more and more, and to date, I think I have reached a good level of competence, through the study of light, composition and the search for specific projects.

I like almost all photographic genres, personally I take very natural and truthful photography, for my shots I prefer the landscape and reportage genre, however I also practice other genres such as macro and street.

I am constantly looking for new stimuli to continue and improve my photographic growth path.

All images and text © Simone Batini