I think the most intriguing feeling is - shock

Featuring Ria Mort Words by Nastasia Khmelnitski

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Ria Mort is a fashion photographer from Athens, Greece who loves experimenting with color to paint her works with different vibes. Ria stresses that personality and a personal story is the most powerful element present in photography. Shock is an aesthetic and a driving force that creates curiosity with the viewer and pauses the stare for a couple of moments.

Ria’s work is filled with life that happens everywhere indoors and outdoors and is fuelled with vibrant colors. The models are having the time of their lives gifting you with a genuine smile and a sense of freedom. Read the story of Ria to discover the person behind the lens.

‘I always felt that fashion is translated differently to different personalities. I believe that, as time passes, we are going to be more open to accepting each person's individuality.’

Hi Ria, thank you so much for dedicating your time to this interview. How is this summer going for you?

Hello Stasia, it's a pleasure doing an interview for WÜL Magazine. I hope Summer is going well for you. Mine has been very creative and full of work since the beginning of summer, but I decided to take August off and go on vacation.

Fashion is changing at a rapid tempo and becomes more inclusive for people of different ages, nationalities, and subcultures. The reality is still far from being perfect, and the model can consider her career to be over at the age of 30. How do you approach this issue in your works?

I don't have a particular standard. I always felt that fashion is translated differently to different personalities. I believe that, as time passes, we are going to be more open to accepting each person's individuality. Personally, as a photographer, I don't have any taboos, I just want my models to inspire me.

What is the most intriguing emotion for you to reveal in your works? Why?

I think the most intriguing feeling is - shock. I like my work to give intriguing emotions to the viewer, but my job is also to vindicate those controversial subjects like sexuality or a naked body. With this, I want to open up a new perspective, so the viewer sees a different side of something that is generally considered controversial.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Creative, spontaneous, but serious.

Last film you have seen? Did you like it?

The last film I watched is called Maudie. It is based on a real story of an arthritic woman full of creativity and courage. Her story was very moving, and her perspective on life left me with thoughts on how different people can translate their problems into something creative.

Every creation today finds its way to appear online. The viewer’s attention is short, and the main purpose is to stop that thumb from scrolling and swiping. One of the challenges is to find an interesting pose for the models to draw the attention, as in your project ‘Fugitives.’ Where do you get inspired from and how do you architect the set?

Usually, I get inspired by a certain location, a piece of clothing or an object. This is what happened with this particular project. One day I was walking by a location full of old RVs and plastic oil containers. It was a spot inside Athens but at the same time so far away from everything and anything. I found it quite magical because it was as if you suddenly were in a different place, far away from Greece. This is how we came up with the title "Fugitives."

‘One day I was walking by a location full of old RVs and plastic oil containers. It was a spot inside Athens but at the same time so far away from everything and anything. I found it quite magical because it was as if you suddenly were in a different place, far away from Greece.’

A behavior you would not tolerate during your photo shoot?

Models inspire me a lot, and I want them to express themselves with their bodies, but when I have one vision in my head, I want them to take my guidance. This is the only behavior I wouldn't tolerate

You are experimenting a lot with color. Tell us about the burned brown goldish feel you explore lately.

I love playing with colors in my pictures because if combined the right way they give a different vibe. I also love to experiment with new color-ways because I like changing up my style.

‘When I was younger, I thought that the equipment played a big role in a photographers work, but as I got older, I understood that they don't hold as much meaning.’

From the latest fashion trends this year name one that you absolutely love and one you hate.  

I love pant-boots in different colors and textures. I cannot think of a trend I hate, I like seeing fresh ideas in general.

Imagine that all the data on the internet and all the personal computers are lost. If you could choose only one of your works that survives and most expresses your approach to the world of photography what would it be?

This question made me laugh because it's something that happened to me recently. It was quite frightening to lose all my work from years back, but thankfully my data was restored. I thought about this question a lot, but I cannot decide on just one. Every picture I have created is special to me.

What has changed from a professional perspective during the years you have been photographing?

When I was younger, I thought that the equipment played a big role in a photographers work, but as I got older, I understood that they don't hold as much meaning. I will quote Tim Walker for this one; "Camera is a black box and in that black box there is a mirror and that mirror flips up for milliseconds and leaves its imprint on a piece of film. I think the notion of the mirror is so vital to the photographer - you have to be very honest about what moves you because it will reflect on that picture and then that picture will float down the street with nothingness."

Your favorite dish?

My favorite dish hands down is Spaghetti Carbonara.

Where can we see your next project? What are you working on right now?

My next project is going to be published this September on Ablativus magazine. Now I am working on projects with male models because it's something new for me.