Elena seen by Matthew Bishop [Newbury, Berkshire, 2013]

This post is not to forget that, yes, we can! It is also meant to be a reminder to always thank ourselves for all the good stuff, the ideas, the braveness that we can have, for each meaningful action that we do, during each day, in every phase of our lives. One of my nemesis is to show-up and to share valuable contents. When I am going to write an article or to prepare a post, I always ask myself: “Shall I do it? Is it worth it?”. If I can inspire or motivate someone, or my words might have a positive impact on someone who is sharing even a slightly similar aspect during his journey or might be able to relate because of a personality’s aspect, then my purpose is fulfilled.

Posing in front of a camera is always intimate, it is hard and when they say that the first 15-20 minutes are awkward, they are completely right. It was summer 2013, I had moved to England (Newbury) a few weeks earlier, I was recovering from the end of a relationship and…look at it, I just got a drastically-short haircut! I felt the need to have some nice images of me, plus I wanted to document this period of change. Browsing on the web, I found Matthew Bishop and fell in love with his work, so on a late afternoon he came down from London, in order to take some portraits of me in a forest area, close to the Kennet canal. The glow of that evening was simply breathtaking. I felt comfortable working with him, because of his calm and also because he had a vision, about what he wanted to achieve. To this day, I am still grateful to him for these lovely outcomes. That’s why I hired him, a few months later, for a winter session in London 😁

Boudoir session [Parma, 2013]

I have a complex personality and I am full of contradictions. I believe though that these contradictions have always been and still are a fertile ground that allows me to understand myself better, as well as others. I am shy and reserved but, at the same time, I am attracted by the beauty of the body. Throughout the early years of my photographic journey, I really was interested in boudoir photography and, for a short while, I thought that I would specialise in this genre. I have always admired statues in museums, seeking the perfection in their symmetry and in the naked body. So far, I have undertaken four intimate shoots and these are some of them. Most of us in the West don’t have a positive perception and we are embarrassed with our bodies. It is a taboo to undress in public. I am not suggesting that you should bear all, but try semi-naked to start 🙂 Also, this is fine art to me, there is nothing vulgar in it.

This is how Maria Buttafoco saw me. These pictures are dated April 2013.

Portraits serie in the living room [Hamburg, 2012]

In October 2012 I flew to Hamburg to catch up with friends. This was also an occasion to spend some time with the family I had been Au Pair girl. The father of the little one shares a passion for photography and he created his own little studio in the living room (a principle which I cherish and is one of my plans in a near future). He offered to take some portraits of me. Find below the results, yes, it went a bit crazy with the very wide angle lens!

30 minutes on a Microlight [Saint-Omer, 2012]

The owner of the house where I lived in Saint-Omer had two passions: vintage cars and…the aéroclub de Saint Omer! Luckily, I have never suffered from vertigo, so when he offered to take me out, on a ride on his microlight, I accepted without hesitation. Actually I was really excited about that! Don’t ask me how I managed to take pictures while we were flying over the countryside (without letting the camera drop!). Whilst we were up (it was a glorious summer evening), I wasn’t scared but I still remember the very strong impact of the air on our bodies.

Powerful bodies

That was ours!

Ready, steady…fly!

Sunset was approaching

Safely back to the ground, we are almost there!

Back to Casalbaroncolo [2012]

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 🙂

On the field, literally! [Pas-de-Calais, 2012]

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!

Gala [Saint-Omer, 2012]

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…

A life lesson from Tina [Saint-Omer, 2012]

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 🙂

Portrait serie on the beach [Sangatte, 2012]

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!

Rock concert [Parma, 2011]

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 🙂

Ferragosto 2011

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!

Church service at Santa Cristina [Parma, 2011]

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.