matthew bishop photography – Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer

Explaining to myself the concept of Fine Art Photography [2020]

10 August 2025Posted in Personal & othersTagged concepts, digital photography community, fine art photography, maria buttafoco, matthew bishop photography, Personal & othersLeave a comment

It took me a while to discover the meaning of Fine Art Photography. Fine Art Photography is generally described as relating to the intent of the photographer since the photographer is using photography as a medium for a creative expression. The goal of fine art photography is therefore to express an idea, a message, or an emotion in an incisive way.

I agree with this and I like the idea behind Fine Art Photography. It is also an interpretation of our society, people, and the situations in which they find themselves. I firmly believe that Fine Art must be intended as “good quality” photography that is equally a question of taste, sensibility, a combination of elements, colors and feelings.

For me these two portraits fit well with the above description, They were taken at different times (in 2013 and in 2020), places (in London and Parma) and by the hands of different photographers (Matthew Bishop Photography and Maria Buttafoco). When I look at them, I feel rather proud to be the subject of a classy, beautifully colour-balanced and tasty composition but it is not just that. To me they bring memories of two different stages of my life that were meaningful and it is the personal factor that, for me, is vital in photography.

I gather that photography after all, as all the arts, is subjective.

Elena seen by Matthew Bishop [London, 2013]

27 April 20243 August 2025Posted in portraitureTagged december 2013, digital photography, london, matthew bishop photography, nikon d700, portraiture, women photographyLeave a comment

I believe that photography is so important not only to allow us to have beautiful pictures and to receive a rewarding image of ourselves but it also functions as a collective memory, documenting the different stages of our life. December 2013, I had been in England for 5 months and was recovering from a difficult time. I wanted to shine and prove to myself that I was making it, that I was taking care of myself and that my efforts were fulfilling a valuable purpose. However, when I look at these pictures I still think: “Gosh, how skinny was I!”. I had worked with Matthew Bishop, who to this day he remains one of my favorite photographers, a few months earlier and I asked him to take some winter portraits of me. We met up in London on a cold December morning, we had a coffe and he led me through the shooting. I cherish these photographs: I see myself as elegant and also with a somewhat French style!

Elena seen by Matthew Bishop [Newbury, Berkshire, 2013]

23 April 20243 August 2025Posted in Personal & others, portraitureTagged 2013, berkshire, digital photography, matthew bishop, matthew bishop photography, nikon d700Leave a comment

This post is not to forget that, yes, we can! It is also meant to be a reminder to always thank ourselves for all the good stuff, the ideas, the braveness that we can have, for each meaningful action that we do, during each day, in every phase of our lives. One of my nemesis is to show-up and to share valuable contents. When I am going to write an article or to prepare a post, I always ask myself: “Shall I do it? Is it worth it?”. If I can inspire or motivate someone, or my words might have a positive impact on someone who is sharing even a slightly similar aspect during his journey or might be able to relate because of a personality’s aspect, then my purpose is fulfilled.

Posing in front of a camera is always intimate, it is hard and when they say that the first 15-20 minutes are awkward, they are completely right. It was summer 2013, I had moved to England (Newbury) a few weeks earlier, I was recovering from the end of a relationship and…look at it, I just got a drastically-short haircut! I felt the need to have some nice images of me, plus I wanted to document this period of change. Browsing on the web, I found Matthew Bishop and fell in love with his work, so on a late afternoon he came down from London, in order to take some portraits of me in a forest area, close to the Kennet canal. The glow of that evening was simply breathtaking. I felt comfortable working with him, because of his calm and also because he had a vision, about what he wanted to achieve. To this day, I am still grateful to him for these lovely outcomes. That’s why I hired him, a few months later, for a winter session in London 😁