2020 has undoubtedly been a ghastly and exhausting year and has felt as if it would never end. We have lived through what we could have never imagined as possible. Considering how events were progressing, on more occasions I feared that the “very worst” might happen but actually it never arrived. My family and the people I love are still here. I have been facing my fears, some doubts and decisions-to-be-made about my future and have reviewed a couple of relationships.
On the other hand, if this year has sounded slow, almost frozen, the entire decade has really flown by and a new one is about to start. So much has happened during the past 10 years: from being a student I became a professional, I had the opportunity to live in and discover different countries, I have met so many people and this has impacted on my life as a blessing. I have become more self-conscious, somehow some part of me has changed and my way of thinking is slightly different. My photography has evolved quite a lot in interesting ways.
I would describe my “2010 > 2020 phase” as psychologically tough, self-inquisitive, challenging, adventurous, idealistic, passionate, restless, fast. It was a stage of life that I needed to go through and I did it.
What do I hope and expect now for the next decade? Less moving around and to settle down!
P.S. I can reassure you that the picture is not a photo-montage, I really was in the garden. It was just taken with a very shallow depth of field!
I feel a bit uncomfortable to acknowledge this but…very often I take things on the personal side (yes, I am touchy!!). Accepting and handling criticism is a big challenge for me. This is applicable to my photographic experience as well as to my life’s journey.
I am here now thanks to a lot of hidden work that happened “behind the scenes”. We become who we are and we eventually succeed although other people won’t be able to see what has led to our present circumstances. Criticism does not necessarely need to be negative and positive criticism is an essential tool to allow us to challenge and improve ourselves. Even if it is “negative”, you can use it to achieve positive results.
I believe that criticism depends a lot on “Who”, “How” and “Why” it is made and if you want to receive it. How do you perceive the critic? Is he/she respected in the field of knowledge or just a “loud mouth”? What does this person represent to you? Is there an emotional bond between giver and receiver? In the end is criticism subjective or objective or both?
In my life I have received the “best “critics from people who loved me but sometimes also from those with whom I had little or no connection. I understood that in the end, they weren’t polemical notes against me, as they allowed me later to move forward. I think that a serious critic should have an in-depth knowledge of the topic or object under discussion and an honest attitude towards you. We all make mistakes but we should be self-aware enough to recognise them and turn them into strengths and a learnt experience.
Ru & Ian, your garden is stunning! P. s. Thank you Fra for this lovely shot!
The Queen has a passion for photography and she has played a huge role in the contemporary history of this country but it is not just that…She has set the bar high, providing us with an example of a life grounded in a sense of responsible duty, free from selfishness. I have always wondered how she made it through several decades, being so stable and dutiful. I admire and respect her deeply, both on the professional and personal side.
In springtime I sent her a short Thank-you letter, saying how much I appreciated her for being a good example to others and for applying constantly a strong sense of justice, dignity, discipline and search for truth. And last month I was surprised and delighted that I got a response!! I am happy to display the letter here…God save the Queen!!
I believe that art reaches our sensibilities and can touch invisible strings in our soul. So many people have an artistic vein and many are not fully aware of it! I met William Martinez Bosch (see the beautiful model in the previous post!), through work, a couple of years ago. After following him on Instagram, I was delighted to discover and admire his travel and street photography shots. I find he is incredibly talented! I like the sense of geometry, shapes and curves that you can find in his images. I decided to ask him a few questions about his personal and photographic journey, as an amateur, and he kindly accepted!
William has two Instagram accounts, you can find the first one by clicking here whilst the second one is there!
– Tell me a bit about yourself and your story…
I grew up and lived most of my life in the Netherlands. Lost my father after I turned 18 which brought the family closer together and since I came out to my family during this time as well, I started becoming my own person more and more. After high school I started studying law but gave that up very quickly because I didn’t feel like I belonged there. I ended up doing a degree in North American Studies for which I spent some time in New Orleans. That was the first time I was away from my family for an extended period, and it allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the world. After my return, the feeling I’ve always had of not belonging in the Netherlands grew stronger and upon finishing my degree I started looking for another master’s degree abroad. After almost a year of deciding where to go and withdrawing my enrolments from Universities in the US and Australia, I was made aware of Edinburgh by a friend whom I met during my time in New Orleans. I decided to apply here and was accepted. I always feel that though my first degree didn’t provide me with excellent job opportunities, it did lead me to where I am now, and I am very happy it did.
– When and how did you take up photography?
I can’t really tell you the moment I took up photography as I always had an interest in it. As soon as smartphones started to have decent cameras, I played around with it. I didn’t have a proper camera till I turned 25 which I first used it on my travels through the United States. It was after this that I actively started to take photograph and develop my Instagram.
– From your portfolio, I can see mainly travel, street photography and architectural images: do you have any preference?
I don’t really have a preference as it often depends on the situation, I find myself in and the mood. Photography, for me, is very instinctive, you could say. It has to feel right for me. Especially when it comes to my Instagram account, the decision to upload a picture is based on how much I feel the photo matches the aesthetic of the rest of my portfolio. If I had to pick one, I would go for street photography because I really love candid and unposed photos. Relying on the moment and the photographer’s ability to capture it.
– Do you prefer using your mobile or camera?
For convenience’s sake I’ll have to say mobile. Capturing photos, editing, and posting can all be done on the same device which makes it very useful when you’re out and about and you want to share it straight away. Quality wise, though my iPhone does have a very good camera, I have to go with a proper camera.
– You have a strong sense for geometric shapes and form. Have you previously studied art or architecture?
I can’t say I properly studied art or architecture, but in high school I did study art and art history was part of that. Despite that, I was never really good at drawing or painting realism. I often reverted to the abstract which included geometric shapes. Architecture would have been my other choice of degree if I didn’t pursue my current one. Ever since I was a little kid, I used to draw houses and was interested in architecture so I guess you can see that come back in my photography.
– What does photography mean to you?
For me it is a form of artistic expression that enables me to portray objects/people/scenery in a different light. It also allows the viewer to stop and take in/appreciate the beauty of things.
– Do you think you manage to express a part of yourself through your shots?
Not sure about this one. I don’t really feel that I’ve found my true self in photography yet. I feel that I’m still figuring out what it is that makes my photographs inherently me or what makers my photographs stand out. I also believe that I need to delve into photography more. Read and study about it and take up some photography courses as soon as life returns back to normal.
I am proud of this shoot for several reasons. William is a friend and I really wanted to have him pose for me since he is such a good model! Also, very rarely I work with male models, so for me it was extremely exciting. We met at the Botanic Gardens …in the Glasshouse!! We had the chance to spend a couple of hours in this magic jungle, surrounded by nature and silence (well, we spotted a couple of small and cheerful permanent residents, like a robin – singing fearlessly just a meter from us – and a black purring cat!). I have added them in the post below. In the end we got a few natural and unpretentious portraits. William fits perfectly into the surrounding nature and the colors enhance the shoot!
Francesca’s laugh precedes her. She is a beautiful woman but I believe that she reaches her zenith when she smiles. In early November 2020 we gathered in Portobello, as I wanted to take some headshots of her. We were joined there for a chat and a walk by a couple of friends, who eventually worked as unpaid assistants during our photo session! We set up on the beach a white bed sheet as background, with the hope that this would turn into a great asset for the final result …Well, that did not work out as expected but it was fun!! Francesca is gorgeous, she reminds me of an actress from the 70s or the 80s with her beautiful, thick, wavy hair and warm-hearted charming smile! Enjoy these lovely, “chilly” memories!
And a Thank You note to all my assistants over the years:
It is helpful to have assistants during a shoot…on the one hand it makes you feel “important”, whilst on the other it is just practical! I enjoy having people around while I work, even although it can be a bit more difficult to focus. It can never be taken for granted that a good quality final result can be obtained but, I can tell you that making a shoot more interactive is positive and stimulating! In the case of the pictures below I praise my brave assistants who were freezing & desperate for a hot coffee!!
Photo-shooting even when your subjects keep on smiling, but what is making them laugh?
Following the example of an artsy and caring super-Momma, these beauties are growing fast and well. They are now two sparkling teenagers: both charming and strong-minded, artistic wise, they are showing off to be talented! They are happy and Yes, they love each other! It is a pleasure for me to document their life through the different stages
I met Olivia at the beginning of the pandemic, we were colleagues in a call centre. I can tell that she was the best gift of that year to me. She only worked in the company for a few months before starting university (yep, she is 18 years younger than me!), but when we met the sparkle of friendship and understanding clicked, and we have stayed in touch since then. I have always appreciated her good nature and good faith, the sense of family & friendship that she has, her open-heartedness. Her affection lifts me up and her zest for life is skyrocketing! She also has a deep connection with photography, thanks to her mother!
I took pictures of her in November 2020. She had brought some of her friends with her, at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The setting was outstanding with such beautiful autumn colors and it was intriguing to watch them acting more as a knit family rather than friends! Enjoy these beautiful memories (and the short video below)!
and that came as a GOOD surprise…Olivia & Necka on PhotoVogue!
If you believe that this is a studio portrait, then you are wrong! It was taken outdoors at the Botanics on a cold day!! Another friend supported the black drape and we created an improvised studio setting.
Is their pose provocative? I don’t think so. This portrait reminds me of an old daguerreotype taken during the American civil war, two friends standing together, lost in time and almost sharing the same destiny…
The girls were just outstanding and they got a bit emotional when I told them that the shot had been selected for publication by PhotoVogue!
I have known these little ones for a while. I met Tomomi (their lovely mum) in 2015 and took pictures to Ami. Then Emi joined the family’s crew one year later: the first time I saw her, she was only 6 days old! Tomomi and I stayed in touch and we currently enjoy meeting up for a photo- shoot 2 or 3 times a year.
On this occasion, my ambitious idea & hope was to take a couple of professional, smart portraits that might eventually bring me some recognition. But Ami and Emi’s view point was slightly different…they wanted to have fun and play around! Actually they were both excited to join us in the studio and to be the shoot’s stars. Ami, the little one, was the leader of the show and is a natural poser!! I quickly realised that, more or less, I was at their mercy.
I believe that at the end of our shoot our expectations matched. I am quite hard on the quality of my work but I really think that some of their pictures are beautiful and these little sisters are themselves and are behaving in a spontaneous way. It was brilliant to watch them playing around and being so lively.
It was a blustery, coldish day in the Meadows. However, Erica and I managed to meet up and we eventually took some portraits of her children, Florence and George. They were both growing fast: George was acting now like a little adult, he was pretty talkative and much more outgoing, whilst Florence was both a princess and an “amazon”, determined and quite independent. She definitely was an attentive and curious observer. It was a positive feeling to admire them playing thoughtlessly!
I believe that shooting with siblings can be easier than with only one child, at least in the beginning, as they know each other and there is usually an intimacy bond between them. Also, because there are 2 or 3 of them, they feel more secure and relaxed when they are asked to pose in front of the camera. We were in a park so they were free to run and play wherever they wanted. In most of the shoot, my approach was that more of a photo-reportage even towards the end of it, I asked them to pose for me which they did. In a couple of images, Florence reminded me of “Alice in Wonderland”…
First time I took pictures of Lola, she was 3 years old. In September 2020 she was 5 years and a half and in the meanwhile, the year before, she had welcomed a baby brother, Matisse. By memory Lola was always quick, lively and with an outgoing personality. Now she was a little actress-princess and also a natural leader: she managed pretty seriously to involve adults and other kids in her games! Playing with her for an hour made me burn the most calories of the whole week!
We gathered with Blandine, their mum, and a mutual friend, at Portobello and I had the pleasure to meet beautiful Matisse. It was his first trip to the seashore and he literally went mad for this sandy experience! He loved speedy crawling on the sand at the point that as Blandine mentioned, he looked like one of the baby tortoises that, once the eggs hatch, are running towards the sea to jump into the water. He was into everything, super-focused on whatever was happening close to him but at the same time he was quite chilled and relaxed. When I work or spend time with children, I realise that time flies quickly and that their world is uncomplicated and this is priceless. It was a windy but pleasant afternoon.
I am turning 37 years old this week-end. I don’t believe that age is important in relationships and I am not ashamed to confess that I have had many friends who are over 60. Some of them are sadly no longer with us. They have a place in my heart.
I consider a part of myself an old, grumpy person. I can be a loner. Maybe also for these reasons I find it easy to establish a connection or a relationship with older folks.
The age gap can form a sort of a peaceful attachment. Older women especially have had a charismatic impact and a caring presence throughout my life. I have been guided and learnt and absorbed lessons like a sponge. There is no sort of competition or sense of judgement that can happen to people of my age.
Talking recently with a good friend (this week-end she will be 75!) she said: “What plans can you see for me at my age?”. When I hear this kind of sentiment, a part of me becomes grey and I feel sad but I got her point. Sometimes I also ask myself what is the purpose of my journey and what am I fighting for.
We are all human and I reckon that most of us can be frail at times. Age can allow us to see things in different perspectives and with more detachment.
What I have always appreciated in older friends is the fact of being a solid, experienced presence, with their feet planted firmely on the ground. They are like a reassuring oak tree in a society whose pieces are moving and dancing all the time. They are just there. Wise teachers. I am really thankful and I feel blessed for their friendship.
This is a selfie. My friend Francesca, the mum (aka the bump), took it a few days ago in the afternoon, while she was resting with her older daughter Irene (the little hand).
This image, in my opinion, could be suitable for an exhibition; even although it was taken with a mobile in an unplanned moment; even although it is a selfie; even although it is maybe a bit too dark ; even although the quality is not that high. Nothing is missing there. Everything is highlighted and concentrated. There is love, silence, darkness, waiting, hope. Three lives and three hearts close to one another, beating together in such a small, confined space. Everything is captured in this little square mobile upload but the three of them seem ready to jump out of the frame.
I asked Francesca if I could post it on my Facebook page and I hope that this intimate shot will be seen by many, otherwise it would be wasted because it is just perfect. She was delighted for me to do this.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully
The reasoning behind this photo article is that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be a good one. An image must be purposeful, it has to “speak” to you. One or a few mistakes can still make a success. I refer to the photo below as an example:
Technically defective, this is one of the pictures I will remember for a very long time. To start with, it was good fun to take a few shots in the garden. I like Ruth & Joshua (mom & son), the two subjects and I know, this is personal! I edited it in black & white since this gives a long-lasting memory effect to the photo : it provides an illusion of an old shot, even although it was taken a few days ago.
The cropping is severe and sharp, resulting in a strong close-up (I chose to remove a toy – a distractive element – from Joshua’s hand) but the viewer focuses on Ruth’s eyes, the center of the composition. There was no need to tell Joshua to smile, I just asked him to kiss his mother and he grabbed her around the neck. He is an happy child and while we were shooting, he was even louder in his lively euphoria! They were both delighted and overwhelmed by joy. Some specific out-of-focus photos can work rather well and I believe this is one of these cases. It can give a fresh and lively impact to the shot.
I know all of these details because I was with them but I bet that an observer, who doesn’t know anything about them or the photo, can catch this feeling and imagine the kind of moment it was. Without taking any value away from techniques and rules, I would say that we don’t have to struggle to seek perfection. We do need “living” and lasting images, carrying a meaning or a concept.
If you have a vision and strongly believe in your work, even although it is imperfect, you can still consider it valuable and worth including it in your portfolio.
Enjoy the rest of the photos of Joshua, his mom Ruth and his little brother Samuel, in the belly!
To me the basis of a good relationship and what makes it last is…that I have nothing to lose in it! I know, even although this sounds dry and cynical, it is not too far from the truth. I firmly believe that mutual esteem is the deepest form of love and respect towards somebody else. If you think somebody is important to you, it means that you have a good opinion of this person who is valuable, just because of the way he or she is and for the inner characteristics of his / her personality. A healthy relationship relies on the “good image” you have of the other.
This must be reciprocated. If this process doesn’t work both ways, there is no growth for the people who are involved, and no matter the kind of relationship we are talking about : it can be marriage, friendship, work etc.
I am usually attracted to somebody, when I have something to learn, when I receive a positive lesson. There must be an exchange, both on the mental and emotional plan. This is enriching and allows me to make steps forward. I want to grow and develop my inner self and I don’t have time to lose.
Maybe overrated to say, but true, unconditional, reciprocal love is rare. Most of the interactions are superficial and I accept that but I do take out the best of myself when I feel loved (aka esteemed) by the other. I have loved in depth only a few people till now. Honestly, only a few relationships can be life-lasting. When it happens, I don’t let them go. I want them to stay with me, by my side.
I have always prayed to the Lord to help me encounter and keep close to me people who would love, encourage, strengthen, inspire and teach me something good. People who wouldn’t be jealous when I achieve something, when I manage to get to the top of the hill (and trust me, I know what it means to struggle in daily life!). People who can reassure my insecurity, my anxiety. In exchange, I would commit to do the same to them, in a loyal way, the best way I can and in this case I can be generous because I like to give to others.
For this reason when somebody I love achieves success, this is also my success. The joy is mutual. I love to work on projects with others : subjects, photo-amateurs, photographers. I can learn from them. I can teach them. I can upgrade myself.
For me behind a project, I would dare to say, behind my life there is an ideology. I need to excel and realise something good. I strive to achieve a result and need to demonstrate to myself that I am able to make it, that I won’t be broken by the events. I don’t want to fight by myself, I hope that somebody is fighting with me. This makes me feel stronger.
What I find is quite sad and poor in our society (but I guess this is part of the history of the human kind) is this sort of parochialism that is the result of a jealous competition between individuals. I mean, if somebody is good, you acknowledge it. There is no need to make any polemics about a more than deserved success. Why shouldn’t I encourage people who have talents?
In photography, as in many other fields, we would really need to exchange ideas and stand together, to encourage one another, to bring things together when it is about achieving success or growth. We need to know how to work as a team. One is big only when there are people behind. Unity versus jealousy and competition. This is greatness.
, I really was in the garden. It was just taken with a very shallow depth of field!
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 