INTERVIEW
February 10, 2020
THE WONDERS OF EVERYDAY LIFE
Photography by Anna Marchioli
Interview by Melanie Meggs
The world is a vast and wondrous place, filled with beauty and mystery, and Anna Marchioli is determined to explore it all. Through her lens as an abstract photographer, Anna captures the light, colours, and sights that move her, transforming them into something ethereal and mysterious. Her works are a diary of her emotions - of gloom and melancholy, but also of awe and admiration - as she faces the wonders that life offers. Each piece of Anna's art is a snapshot into her own life, shaped by her unique perspective on the everyday.
Anna's photography is an invitation to explore the world from a different angle. With every click of the shutter on her camera, she takes us on a journey through her eyes to a place where reality blends with abstract emotion. From the smallest details to the grandest vistas, Anna captures the emotion and depth of each moment, creating unforgettable pieces of art. Whether we are left in awe of the beauty or moved to our core by a sadder mood, Anna's work will draw you in and captivate you.
When you get an idea that you fall in love with, this is a glorious day. - David Lynch
“What he said stayed with me. This is how I feel when I manage to shoot something that feels right, I feel like I’ve fallen in love with it, as narcissistic as it may sound. And so, I chase that feeling around when I’m taking photographs and working on them later on.”
IN CONVERSATION WITH ANNA MARCHIOLI
THE PICTORIAL LIST: Anna please tell us when you started your interest in photography?
ANNA MARCHIOLI: When I was a little girl, I must’ve been eight maybe, and my father first lent me his camera. I started taking photographs then and have ever since, sporadically. But since I’ve started sharing my work, it’s become a true passion.
TPL: Where do you find your inspiration?
AM: Just walking around cities or in nature will inspire me. It’s a combination of factors such as light or colour, which will create moments of inspiration, I think.
TPL: Has your style changed since you first started your photography journey?
AM: Yes, very much so, it might always keep evolving. I like the idea that you can sublimate feelings through art, to me it’s about channeling negative or positive feelings at a given moment.
TPL: What artists inspire you the most?
AM: I seem to be more inspired by painters than photographers. For example, by Paul Gauguin, because if he saw something a certain color, he would paint it that same color, although most people thought it was absurd at that time (late 19th century). I like how he twists colors and makes them vivid, whether he painted in Brittany or in Tahiti.
TPL: Where is your favourite place to photograph?
AM: I don’t have a favorite place to photograph but I have a favorite time of the day: during Blue Hour or Golden hour. I love how everything becomes poetic and how the changing light and colors transform everything.
TPL: Do you think equipment is important in achieving your vision in your photography? What would you say to someone just starting out?
AM: I don’t think I’m in a position to give advice, but one thought that helps me is that being yourself is key. I don’t remember where I read this and it can encompass everything in life. But sometimes when I feel self-conscious when sharing something different or a bit bold and this is what I will tell myself. To me equipment is just a tool, I don’t like technology per se, but I will learn to use it if I feel that what it can accomplish is motivating.
TPL: What characteristics do you think you need to become a photographer? What’s your tips or advice for someone in your genre?
AM: I would say passion! Other than that, I don’t know, I’d also like some tips if anyone has any!
TPL: Have you ever been involved in the artistic world before photography?
AM: No, but I did spend more time drawing than taking photographs growing up. My father painted after being in the military corps. And my sister is working in the photography and art world. These are my connections to the art world.
TPL: Are there any special projects you are currently working on that you would like to let everyone know about?
AM: I am working on a series of unedited photographs called “Greater (Lens) Paris”. It’s about shedding a new light on the city where I live, Clamart, which is a part of Greater Paris. Paris, just like London once did, is building its Greater Paris around Paris. But it’s underexposed, often misrepresented and very diverse. You will find many versions of the “banlieue”, the French word used to call everything around Paris in the Paris region. I like to show mine with vivid colors, a bit of mystery and hopefully some poetry.
TPL: “When I am not out photographing, I (like to)…
AM: I have worked many jobs. I worked in HR, as a translator and as a teacher. But as far as this artistic path is concerned, if I’m not taking photographs, I’ll be drawing, painting or sculpting and I also have a comic book project I’ll pursue once I have more time.”
