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 🙂
I spent my Erasmus year (back in 2004/2005) in France. I shared a flat with Carlotta & Martina. During that year, we spent a lot of time together, but it was not just related to the fact that we were living in the same place: we went to events and parties together, we traveled together, we helped each other whilst writing our essays, we grew up a lot and learnt to be more patient and understanding one with the other and to see our differences as funny and stimulating. That unique experience created a bond that, I like to believe, will last in time.
In august 2011, Carlotta invited Martina, with her family, and me to her beautiful family compound in Cozzano, in the hills south of Parma. Martina’s eldest son was a toddler, while Carlotta had welcomed her first born weeks before. It was a pleasure for me to “spy” with my camera Giona’s curious and busy activities and to admire the peaceful and defenseless cuteness of baby Dario, well protected in the arms of his mum.
I like his profile, below, and the light contrast, even though you cannot see his face…
Uhm, somebody is running late with the grocery shopping…Luckily Lafayette (the basset hound!) doesn’t seem worried!
Lafayette is kaputt!
My favorite shots below
I love his hands and cheeks 🙂
There’s complicity between these two!
Let’s hide and seek!
Snack time, finally, and then, time to go home!
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!
Elena is a family friend who has 5 gorgeous boys. In July 2011, she invited my parents and me to spend a few hours at their house in the outskirts of Parma. At that time she (only!) had 4 kids, however when we arrived, there were also young friends of her 2 eldest children. The boys were just…boys in the summer! Lots of lively water games and fun, some fresh drinks and a few tantrums from the youngest one. A most enjoyable afternoon with my camera!
The one below is my favorite, the editing makes me just think of the 1970s. Also, I like the way Emanuele is eying up the camera!
I am back to posting old stuff, so here we go with a few pictures taken from my 28th birthday, in July 2011.
I feel nostalgic about that period of my life where people would just offer me (fake!) money 🙂
Bag!
Vivi’s trying to protect the camera!
With sweet Ceci
A couple of days ago, I sent her this photo-memory, and so (rightfully!)she replied 🙂
in the dark…
And to finish, this is all of us (#dreamteam)! However, there’s one piece of information that I am missing…Who took the pictures that night?!
Many years have passed since Giorgia’s graduation, that was a lovely aperitivo night! There were many friends and I remember that she received lovely and practical presents!
Uhm, look who’s there 🙂
The best shot, from Casalbaroncolo’s session, is in my opinion this portrait of Margherita. I cherish it because…it is a fresh and pure moment of happiness, frozen in time by the camera. Margherita’s proverbial good character is echoed in the picture. Her laughter, even though you cannot hear her, is incredibly loud! This image passes on to me a feeling of wellbeing.
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!
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!
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!
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!
Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer 