When I imagine true love, Laura and Filippo are one of the couples that come to my mind. Going through my photo archive, I didn’t realized how many pictures I took of them, over the years. Maybe it’s because I like them both individually and it’s also good to have them together! We gathered a summer evening in a field just outside of Parma. About the rest…well, enjoy their pictures!
Beautiful Laura!
and a snappy memory together with the photographer!
I met Katell in 2010, whilst doing an internship in Paris. We kept in touch since then, even although we haven’t met for several years now. I took these portraits of her in the spring of 2012. We were in a park in Paris (but I don’t remember which one!). Katell is a warm and welcoming person, open to others, with a hint of shyness so I really appreciated her willingness to pose for me as a model and a muse! What did these images reveal? Herself! : her unveiled spontaneity, her sweetness, a radiant, artistic side of her personality and… also a sensual one!
And now folks, the crazy part of the shoot…the lake with the swim fins!! She didn’t dive into it, though.
I love this one!
In April, on a Saturday morning, my friend Caroline drove me to Berck-sur-Mer and then to Étaples military cemetery. I left a piece of my heart on that insanely vast, light beige sanded beach. Berck is famous for its kites competition and, as there was one, I took some shots of these flying sheet 🙂 Many children had fun that day. In the afternoon, we headed to Étaples Military Cemetery. I love those commemorative places for their very simple and squared architecture. Also, I have always enjoyed history and remembering and honoring the past, and the people who fought and died for our own freedom, it is righteous.
A close-up of Caro!
Étaples cemetery
Because of my Italian heritage, I have always known the principles of Carnival. I remember lovely, fancy dresses that my mum would buy me on that occasion, to go to a children’s party (see the last picture of this article!). I stopped dressing-up when I was a teenager. However, when in Rome, do as Romans do! So, while I was in Saint-Omer, I could experience the craziness of the Carnaval of Dunquerque (to remember their dead fisherman, throughout the years), which I thought brought these principles to the “really next level”! It was a triumph of a very specific libertine style, it was noisy, had even too much colour, and people were uncomplicated, and delighted to have their picture taken! Even though colour was one of the main characters of this parade, I find that the most powerful shots, below, are possibly the ones in B&W. Enjoy these pictures dated March 2012!
Getting to the party! February 1992…
Sometimes things start one way and then the lead goes in another direction. This was the case! It had to be a “solo” portrait session that turned up into a group shooting! My idea was to take some shots of Margot (daughter of my friend Claudia), a sprint 8-year-old, sports enthusiast, in her after school, but unexpectedly a small, compact group of kids (who were on the playground) joined us! One point that fascinates me about working with kids, is that they are natural. Even when they are not laughing or playing, they usually have a catching, spontaneous expression. These images are dated 4/10/2011, it was a warmish late afternoon and the light was gorgeous. Enjoy these memories!
Bats-position, hanging upside down!
I have NO clue about how & why we skipped to this “shoes-off-show” part of the shooting! Whose idea was that?!
And to finish end, a out of focus photographer!
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!
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 