Looking at these pictures (dated July 2011), makes me feel that I would like to go back, just to spend a few hours surrounded by nature and good company!
Chiara, Pietro, Lisa, Margherita, Mara, Cris and Romy, thanks for welcoming me to your special place! Enjoy this lovely photo-memory!
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.
Elisa & Federico are my second cousins. They tied the knot in 2011 and I was invited to their wedding, together with my grandmother (who was obviously over the moon to get the chance to spend a day with her family!). Granny was one of the sisters of Federico’s grandfather, Alfredo, who unfortunately passed away the year before. His absence was palpably felt. But let’s skip our family stories to get straight to the point…
July the 2nd was a remarkable day: a loving & lovely ceremony was held at church; the grandfather walked Elisa down the aisle with the help of Mattia. while beautiful Virginia (their youngest) was cuddled by groom’s grandparents. Elisa was dressed like a model in her stunning gown! It was a summery, warm evening at the venue La Vignazza that was a tasty choice. Rossana & Guido, Federico’s parents (who are a sociable, warm and generous couple) were absolutely delighted. My cousins kids (they were quite a bunch!) were quite easygoing and enjoyable. During the dinner the music’s selection was perfection and oh yes, I took some beautiful shots of Ines (the groom’s granny) with her grandchildren.
Somebody is not getting into the mood of the occasion…
Granny with a TV advert smile!
Silvia Maria & Licia, first cousins of the groom
Amazing Mara!
The youngest cousins…
and the beautiful bride proudly escorted!
Virginia checking on the ceremony’s progress…
A relaxed but also touched Francesca, sister of the groom
Super Rossana, the mum of Federico!
The VW Dormobile!
Guido, the groom’s dad, known for his entertaining skills!
I LOVE these 2 pictures SO MUCH
but this is my FAVORITE! Granny Ines & granddaughter Silvia Maria
and to finish, the gown’s train!
Even now (after many years) I think that one of the best shots taken during Diletta’s wedding day (if not the best one!) is the snapshot of her little cousin, who was one of the flower girls.
What makes me believe that it’s a winning one? The fact that I took it at the right moment. The little one is spontaneous, she is not posing. I don’t recall asking her to smile or to say something. She just looks straight into the camera. Almost impossible to wonder what she is thinking about. She has sort of an enigmatic, deep glaze. There’s a central, vertical line that provides a sense of rhythm and continuity. Also, the black & white editing gives this scene more power. A penny for your thoughts!
The fact of having known a friend for your whole life, makes it easier to take a few shots while she’s getting ready for her big day…This is quite uncommon, being among the guests and, at the same time, having the privilege of taking photos but it is so cool! Diletta and Davide got married on a sunny Sunday, 26/06/2011, which passed into our friends history book as a beautiful day, under the flags of friendship & love!
Below, a great Vale Coco make-up artist at work!
Hey, Fede has got the power!
Followed then by Andrea!
A serious couple-portrait…
Uhm, Laura as a potential competitor? 🙂
S H O E S !
Diletta, you are GORGEOUS! You have an infectious laugh!
A very proud momma Annamaria!
A bride and her veil!
A final check and..Yes, all seems ok!
Is it now TIME to go?! Shall we? 🙂
The moment when you release that kind of feeling: “YES, all went well!”
Merle is a German friend who came to visit me in Parma at the beginning of summer 2011. Back at those days, I considered the camera a toy, so we played with it! Two mini (relaxed!) portrait sessions emerged. I have attached some of her pictures. I think that she has a very sweet, delicate smile.
27/06/2011
Thank you Merle for this shot…I don’t know why I was hugging the tree!
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!
Here are some of Verena’s portraits taken by me. I have always been fascinated by big, blue eyes, possibly because they are the opposite of mine, which are tiny, almond shaped and deep brown. It was a lovely June afternoon (not too warm, if I recall correctly) and Parco Ferrari was the perfect location for this shoot.
“I should’ve known the eyes. Wide, bright blue, and something about the delicate arc of the lids: a cat’s slant, a pale jeweled girl in an old painting, a secret” – “The secret place” by Tana French
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.
These pictures were taken at a friend’s wedding. It was June 2011. Cheers to the “good old days”, where to be happy I just needed a Canon Eos 1100D and I enjoyed even more the fact of not being the official photographer 🙂 The real one was an other dear friend of mine, Michele Galloni.
I am still in love with Elena’s (this is the name of my friend, the bride) stunning wedding gown! When I saw her, I remember thinking: “She is perfect!”. And she was, really. Also the bouquet was lovely (and the car was magnificent! 🙂
Elena, I hope you don’t mind me sharing these intimate photos!
I vividly remember having taken these photographs in June 2011, at my friend Carlotta’s place. I double-checked the date on one of the images and it matches: 5 June 2011! Just a few days later Carlotta gave birth to her first child. A friend and I went to visit her at home, on top of a beautiful hill overlooking a gorgeous countryside. The weather was simply crazy. Even though it was almost summer, it seemed like it was an October day, the colors were changing quickly, there was mist and it was chilly!
It was Kilian’s birthday. He had invited some of his friends at home to celebrate it together. His parents (who are friends of mine) had prepared something tasty to eat but the kids were just interested in playing. For sure, it was a lively, lovely bunch of pals! They started at home and eventually moved on to a local park, finishing with a rugby match.
This is an old shoot from my early years in photography (dated April 2011), so technically speaking, you might find that the quality and the editing are not that outstanding 🙂 however I really love the spontaneity and the freshness of the pictures..as well as the subjects!! Enjoy this memory!
and now that’s what has always been my nemesis (driving me crazy!)…aka getting the subjects prepared for a group composition!!
Thanks for this shot, Cri, as a good recap of a lovely afternoon!
As previously mentioned on my instagram account, in 2022 my old photo archive was sort of miraculously rescued, thanks to Syntex Informatica, so now I can finally try to get everything together: the old & the new stuff on the same website (www.elenaarvasi.com will replace elenarvasi.com). This will be my final effort to UNIFY my work!
Curiously enough, he oldest image I found (catalogued under January 2011, even though I had taken it in 2009) is not a pretty landscape or a gorgeous portrait. It is a snapshot of the title of an article by Chiara Lubich, the founder of Movimento dei Focolari. Not highly artistic but it is worth sharing it, as her words are still powerful and beautiful.
“Sono Grazie” = “My name is Thank You. When I come knocking at your door and you ask my name, I won’t tell you my name. I will just say: My name is “Thank You” as I am thankful to you, forever and for everything”.
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 