Bodies
Bodies is a long-term project created by photographer Elena Breuer. Elena explores the connection between the female body and nature during the shooting process on an island in Croatia. The body-nature relation is emphasized by the chosen visual elements and color schemes. The bodies of the two models become a lifelike extension of the landscape. The yellow-beige of the rocks and the skin almost merge under the light blue of the sea and the sun.
The exploration of boundaries is not only visual, through the colors, but it’s also thematic. It brings us to a narrative of femininity and freedom, which is accentuated through the nude models. Elena speaks of her experience of this shoot, “There were very few people involved, and I was able to be in the moment with the two women. I had the freedom to work the way it felt natural, and I was not distracted from my vision. I was able to shoot from the eyes of a female perspective.”
‘My approach is to dissolve the boundaries between the body and the earth, and in some cases, to create abstract worlds that take on the identity of neither body nor landscape, exploring where these boundaries meet and depart.’
These photographs are selected from a long-term project in which I explore the connection between the female body and nature. The idea is to open a visual dialogue with the sensual qualities of the landscape and the female body to create a feeling of mimesis. My approach is to dissolve the boundaries between the body and the earth, and in some cases, to create abstract worlds that take on the identity of neither body nor landscape, exploring where these boundaries meet and depart. Without prejudice, to move freely with our unique, individual female bodies through a world of freedom and natural beauty, and to bring the body in all its magnificent forms into situations in which it does not look perfect.
‘For my series Bodies, it was very important to me that no styling is in focus. Nothing should distract, only the body language and the uniqueness of nature should speak together.’
In this photo series, it was very important to me that it was about an encounter with nature. For this reason, I went to an island in Croatia to implement my project. I gave the two talents time to discover the beautiful environment and gave them space to move freely without direction so that I was able to observe the situation and catch interesting compositions and not focus on staged moments or interactions. Only in the course of time, I was giving art direction in addition to spontaneous shots to catch certain moments' effectiveness or to emphasize emotions.
For my series Bodies, it was very important to me that no styling is in focus. Nothing should distract, only the body language and the uniqueness of nature should speak together. I have deliberately chosen to keep the characters anonymous. So that the viewer has the opportunity to concentrate purely on the body and the surroundings. Emotions through facial expressions should not be in focus.
‘The decision not to work with artificial light was made consciously. This allowed me to have the shots as real and natural as possible because the colors and also the unique light in this special place have made the photos for me more expressive.’
I took all the photos analog and used natural light for this project. Since it was important for me, above all, to capture the moment and be limited in my shots and not be distracted by digital results and lose focus. The decision not to work with artificial light was made consciously. This allowed me to have the shots as real and natural as possible because the colors and also the unique light in this special place have made the photos for me more expressive. In my cut-outs, I tried to vary a mixture between portrait and landscape formats to create and play with a certain intimacy but also anonymity. It was also important to me to integrate a certain abstraction that unites nature and the body in a unique way.
‘This form of photography, where emotions, intimacy, and the moment merge is a whole and unique experience where I can live my art to the fullest and break away from perfectionism. The results are often much more valuable to me personally than very structured work.’
The special thing about this series: it was very personal and close work on set. There were very few people involved, and I was able to be in the moment with the two women. I had the freedom to work the way it felt natural, and I was not distracted from my vision. I was able to shoot from the eyes of a female perspective. For me, this form of photography, where emotions, intimacy, and the moment merge is a whole and unique experience where I can live my art to the fullest and break away from perfectionism. The results are often much more valuable to me personally than very structured work where everything is planned from the beginning, and there is little room to let moments and memories arise.
