photographic blog – Elena Arvasi Portrait Photographer

Back to Casalbaroncolo [2012]

21 December 20236 July 2024Posted in Personal & othersTagged august 2012, casalbaroncolo, digital, friends, kids, photographic blogLeave a comment

I love Casalbaroncolo, as I love summer. I often pair these two elements in my head. That afternoon of the 3rd of August 2012 was definitely busy, in the sense that “the whole world” seemed to be in Casalbaroncolo! There was me, the twins Cristina & Mara, their 4 kids (of them, Pietro [son of Cristina] and Margherita [daughter of Mara] also looked like twins!), there was Chiara, Lisa with 3 friends, 2 cousins of Lisa & Margherita, the dogs, and…there were the horses! Enjoy these mixed memories 🙂

Matilde [Parma, 2011]

28 October 202329 September 2024Posted in portraitureTagged 2011, digital, matilde, october, parma, photographic blog, portraiture, teenagerLeave a comment

I took some shots of Matilde in October 2011. At that time she was 15 years old (not far from turning 16). When you are at that age, your life is busy: there’s school, there are friends (of all types!), sport activities, your mobile is always in your hands and you can be grumpy, especially with your parents and siblings.

I was a teenager a long time ago but I still remember feeling neither one thing nor the other. Everything seemed complicated. Adolescence is a strange, delicate turning point. Childhood is behind you but the future is ahead of you and you don’t know where you belong. Dualism is extremely accentuated and is a typical trait of this phase of life: on one hand, you are carefree but, on the other, you need to be serious. You are too young to be involved in certain things but too grown up for others.

Matilde has always looked more grown up that she actually was. She has always been responsible, sharp and with clarity in mind. I was very happy to spend an hour with her and her auntie!

Below, my favourite!

Merle [Parma, 2011]

2 September 202329 September 2024Posted in blog, portraitureTagged 2011, blog, friends, merle, parma, photographic blog, photography, photography portraitureLeave a comment

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!

Verena [Parma, 2011]

30 August 202329 September 2024Posted in portraitureTagged 2011, elena arvasi, parma, photographic blog, photography, photography portraitureLeave a comment

Here are some of Verena’s portraits taken by me. I have always been fascinated by big, blue eyes, possibly because they are the opposite of mine, which are tiny, almond shaped and deep brown. It was a lovely June afternoon (not too warm, if I recall correctly) and Parco Ferrari was the perfect location for this shoot.

“I should’ve known the eyes. Wide, bright blue, and something about the delicate arc of the lids: a cat’s slant, a pale jeweled girl in an old painting, a secret” – “The secret place” by Tana French

The oldest picture in my (rescued!) archive, together with my unified website [Parma, 2011]

13 August 20236 November 2025Posted in blogTagged 2011, personal, photographic blogLeave a comment

As previously mentioned on my instagram account, in 2022 my old photo archive was sort of miraculously rescued, thanks to Syntex Informatica, so now I can finally try to get everything together: the old & the new stuff on the same website (www.elenaarvasi.com will replace elenarvasi.com). This will be my final effort to UNIFY my work!

Curiously enough, he oldest image I found (catalogued under January 2011, even though I had taken it in 2009) is not a pretty landscape or a gorgeous portrait. It is a snapshot of the title of an article by Chiara Lubich, the founder of Movimento dei Focolari. Not highly artistic but it is worth sharing it, as her words are still powerful and beautiful.

“Sono Grazie” = “My name is Thank You. When I come knocking at your door and you ask my name, I won’t tell you my name. I will just say: My name is “Thank You” as I am thankful to you, forever and for everything”.

My return to blogging! [Edinburgh, 2023]

12 August 20233 November 2025Posted in blog, Personal & othersTagged personal, photographic blogLeave a comment

The past few years I have been through a rather trying phase of my life. I have been questioning myself, my choices, my future and my photographical activities. I haven’t really been active with the camera but I never gave up. Recently I sold most of my Nikon equipment with the refreshing intention of transferring to a mirrorless Canon (R6 Mark II you are on my bucket list!!).

A friend (Antonia!) told me once that I should combine my photography with my blogging so here I am back. And, hey, I am happy to receive any comments about this old photo (taken at the end of Uni) even though it looks like it was stolen from my high school photo album 🙂