I didn’t keep the RAW negatives of these photos (silly me!) with the result that I cannot bring back the color. And it was a beautiful August day, a sunny bank holidays! I enjoyed the company of a group of friends, for a daily trip to the Liguria’s coast. Happy memories!
What is the piggy for?😅
The girls!
I love Casalbaroncolo, as I love summer. I often pair these two elements in my head. That afternoon of the 3rd of August 2012 was definitely busy, in the sense that “the whole world” seemed to be in Casalbaroncolo! There was me, the twins Cristina & Mara, their 4 kids (of them, Pietro [son of Cristina] and Margherita [daughter of Mara] also looked like twins!), there was Chiara, Lisa with 3 friends, 2 cousins of Lisa & Margherita, the dogs, and…there were the horses! Enjoy these mixed memories 🙂
That I worked for a few months as a secretary, on a construction site in northern France, you are already aware of that. But you might not remember that one day the guys took me to the construction site, in the phase where they were laying the gas pipes. The muddy, dusty, noisy pathways gave me a different perspective from the daily routine in the office which I enjoyed!
From memory, I didn’t recall having taken so many blurred photos in the same shoot…Gala (the Weimaraner teenager dog of a friend) was beautiful: her hair was silky and her ears seemed to be made of Alcantara leather! She had a penetrating gaze, a bit mad, I reckon, but very sweet and intense. Back in March 2012, she was in the prime of her life : as a sparkling 3 years old, she was frenetic in her hits&runs and jumps and she also was pretty much demanding attention to her human companions. Feel free to admire her beauty, in color as B&W!
Where is she?!
This is such a classic one!
The deepness of her eyes…
Going nuts!
And her portrait session is officially over…
This is the kind of post for a Monday evening. While I’m running through a tense stage, at the end of an intense period, in the middle of a stressful phase where I get easily on my nerves and become emotional, trying to re-arrange my present, to plan my future, and there is a lot at stake…I just need to re-discover Tina’s secret sauce to life’s problems (through one of her relaxed moments): lie down and let it go!! Tina was the 9 years old Labrador of my landlords, while I lived in Saint-Omer, and had become such a regular, affectionate presence. Her daily routine consisted of eating, drinking, sleeping, laying in different positions, being cuddled and getting extra food. Gosh, she knew how to enjoy life! The only moments when I saw her emotionally distressed was when the postman would kick at the gate. I look at her and I think: Why can’t I be like her (even though she was a bit overweight)? Well, the good news is that in a week time I’ll be flying off for an early Christmas holidays. That’ s something I am looking forward to 🙂
Whilst I was working on the campsite, one of my colleagues (his name was Denis) was also keen on his camera. More specifically he was into sports cars photography. I don’t remember whether I asked him to take some portraits of me OR whether he asked me to go on the beach for a couple of photos, and I accepted. The sure thing I recall is the place: it was the beach of Sangatte! It was a grey Sunday morning, with some sea breeze, but the pictures of this session came out well. You nailed it, Denis!
I love this close-up!
Don’t ask me why, but I am obsessed with this one…Is it for the symmetrical layout of the poles?!
Chin down and hair up!
Voilà, a classic shot to end this serie!
It was a summer evening (pictures show 27/08/2011) and I had been invited to a concert as 2 friends were part of the group. I have random memories related to that event however, I recall that it was a success, fans were enjoyably entertained! I like the very colorful editing of some of these images without being too ashamed of my primitive technique 🙂
The first picture of this post can be misleading…No, this shot was not taken at a farm adventure park! It was a bank holidays in Italy, August 15th 2011 (Ferragosto), and our group of friends spent the day in a lovely agriturismo, close to Pontremoli (such a pity that I cannot remember the name!). It was a gorgeous day, we had plenty of laughs, good food and nature was at its best during summer time! We were also given the opportunity to cool off, having access to a very small lake, whose water was crystal blue!
Ross “rezdora” style 🙂
Free chicken range
Now heading to the small lake…
Found it!
I find that there is so much love in the 2 pictures below!
Let’s get artsy: girl with a flower in the hair!
#Baywatchteam
Ideas-refreshing 🙂 The temperature of water was freezing!
Proud couple of siblings!
Fede, check it out who’s behind you!
Roby!
and now to the vineyard!
Not sure how the bra ended up hanging there and whose this belonged to?!
Bullfighter style 🙂
It was not easy to take this one!
The girls!
Finishing the day with some music!
Father Luciano spent many of his parish years defending and hosting immigrants. In Parma he was considered an outsider but he never really cared. In late July 2011 I asked him whether I could take some pictures during the Sunday service. He asked me what the purpose was. I explained that I wanted to document a community, of different cultural backgrounds, coming together during the service and that this would be for my blog, a personal use. He agreed. I was positively impressed by that community that was small but quite tight. There seemed to be a silent harmony. I never saw him after that and, a few years later, I was saddened to acknowledge that he passed away.
“It is better to die for an idea that will live, than to live for an idea that will die” Steve Biko.
In memory of Father Luciano Scaccaglia (1936-2016), priest and non-violent activist.
I am back to posting old stuff, so here we go with a few pictures taken from my 28th birthday, in July 2011.
I feel nostalgic about that period of my life where people would just offer me (fake!) money 🙂
Bag!
Vivi’s trying to protect the camera!
With sweet Ceci
A couple of days ago, I sent her this photo-memory, and so (rightfully!)she replied 🙂
in the dark…
And to finish, this is all of us (#dreamteam)! However, there’s one piece of information that I am missing…Who took the pictures that night?!
Many years have passed since Giorgia’s graduation, that was a lovely aperitivo night! There were many friends and I remember that she received lovely and practical presents!
Uhm, look who’s there 🙂
I don’t know, maybe it’s the way Ines is leaning on Silvia, as if she was there to protect her, or maybe it’s the fact that Silvia is closing her eyes but she is smiling at the same time, seizing this loving moment, completely trusting her grandmother…For these reasons this is my favorite shot of that day, taken at Elisa and Federico’s wedding reception. As spectators, we enjoy admiring beautiful pictures, but we also need to connect to people, and photography allows that! I am proud of this shot, that technically is far away from being perfect, but when I look at it, a good feeling warms me up. And this is also what photography is about.
There is no mystery about the fact that I am a reserved person but that I can also be quite communicative (well, to be honest, during my childhood years I loved to be the center of attention, even though I was too shy to impose myself). Nor about the fact that I am a bit lazy!!
Over the years many people asked me if I would organize a photo exhibition. I always replied that I didn’t know. Now, actually there was only one occasion when I printed a few pictures from my portraiture portfolio and displayed them in a shop! It was during BoulevArt 2011, in a clothes boutique (La sfinge of the great Laura Fabiano!). As you can gather from the 1st image (thanks Laura for this shot) I was not super pumped 🙂
About BoulevArt: The aim of BoulevArt (a Festival of Street Arts) was to invade the city’s historic centre, offering photographic sets, open-air art galleries, backdrops for music and dance performances. People were involved in experiencing art under various forms. And the appealing part was that shops, trattorias & pubs in the city centre were involved in hosting artists, and remained open until midnight.
Also, it’s a fact that miniature schnauzers are the best!!
Enjoy some street snapshots!
June 2011, Parma, Parco Ferrari. I took a serie of portraits of Verena, an Austrian student who was finishing her Erasmus year in Parma. And then at the end of the shoot, she took a couple of pictures of me! Well, if you wonder why I do have soap bubbles in my hand, it’s because I have always loved them…and I used them for effect in several of my sessions.
This photo is dated 17th June 2011. It’s granny with myself. I do not remember this image being taken, honestly. I discovered it totally by accident, browsing through my old photo archive. It’s not technically perfect (with so many disturbing elements in the background!) but I still love the affection that shows.
Nonna, we miss you!
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 