My landlady Gina was also passionate about photography. Early on a Sunday morning, at the end of August, we went to Speen forestry area and took each others impromptu portraits. Here are mine, edited by myself. Gosh, I loved that blue navy ceremony dress so much!
In early 2013 I decided to organise a photographic women’s project. The main purpose was to show the exceptional beauty of our regular “imperfection”. At the same this was meant to be a manifesto of female preciousness and a praise to women’s active contribution in our community. Quite a big bunch of ladies accepted to be part of it. These sessions were taken in Foto Studio Carlo Urbani (in Parma) between January and March 2013. Enjoy beautiful Maria‘s shoot!
INNO ALLA DONNA di Alda Merini
Stupenda
immacolata fortuna
per te tutte le creature
del regno
si sono aperte
e tu sei diventata la regina
delle nostre ombre
per te gli uomini
hanno preso
innumerevoli voli
creato l’alveare del
pensiero
per te donna è sorto
il mormorio dell’acqua
unica grazia
e tremi per i tuoi
incantesimi
che sono nelle tue mani
e tu hai un sogno
per ogni estate
un figlio per ogni pianto
un sospetto d’amore
per ogni capello
ora sei donna
tutto un perdono
e così come vi abita
il pensiero divino
fiorirà in segreto
attorniato
dalla tua grazia
I met Martina in early 2013, via a mutual friend. At the time I was working on a photographic women’s project about their strengths and she bravely accepted to be part of it. We all have points in our body that we don’t appreciate (weak points?!) and this seems to be an almost universal established law. Said that, I don’t think that Martina has many 🙂 She is beautiful, even today. She has very expressive eyes, a nice, agile body shape and has a witty, strong personality! Marti, enjoy this memory!
About that August evening of 2012, I remember that we got a beautiful golden hour light. It was warm, but not crazy hot. The year before, I had taken some photos of Matilde, so she had asked me if she could invite a friend of hers. I said yes and the 3 of us met at Parco Ducale. They were 17 years old at that time. I like taking pictures of young people because, usually, they pass on to me their fresh enthusiasm for life. Having said that, I remember that both of them had a strong character 🙂 Enjoy their photos!
I have known Maria since… I think it was 2011. She is also from Parma and is a vibrant artistic young woman. She is brilliant, she is incredibly forward thinking and has an inspiring impact on me. Over the years, I have taken several portraits of her and it always was fun. The theme of this shoot (dated August 2012) was Marie Antoinette 🙂 Don’t ask me how and why we chose that! Probably because we both were impressed by the movie by Sofia Coppola that had recently been released. And maybe, also because Maria was wearing a very feminine, elegant pink dress who gave her frivolity and lightness. The location was the dried up river bed of the river Parma. Enjoy these delightful memories!
My 2 favs below!
I don’t really have a lot to say about this shoot, as I can sum it up in one sentence: I loved EVERY SINGLE THING OF IT! I loved them, their love, their passion for life, artistic side, the details at their flat, I loved Paris, the weather of that day, that summer season…There’s just one question I don’t have an answer to, when I look at their shots, will I also experience such passion? Enjoy this loving and lovely memory!
Angela, Angela, what can I say about her…Photographs tell more than words! Angela is from Naples but has lived in Paris for two decades now. I met her through mutual friends while I was having an internship there and we did a couple of shoots over the years. These are the very first photos I took of her, dated early July 2012. Angela is beautiful, her sparkling soul is all in her eyes! She is alive, she is always on the go and is surrounded by a genuine enthusiasm that involves other people. The theme of the shoot was “Charleston dancer” of the Roaring Twenties.
We were hosted by a friend (Thanks, Francesca!) who lived in an evocative, very Parisian flat in Montmartre. There were also Francesca’s lovely cats roaming around (who got extra cuddles)! Back then, I realised how vital can be the pictures of the details, taken during the preparation phase. Enjoy this visual memory!
The cats in the bathroom ♡
WOW, charmers!
Angela’s joie de vivre!
You, beauty!!
My favorite below
Impossible NOT to finish this serie if not with this one…
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 