AWAKENING INSTINCTS Marilena Filaiti is living proof of the importance that photography can make in your life. An enlightening experience that gave her more understanding of herself and the world she exists in. AWAKENING INSTINCTS November 11, 2022 INTERVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY Marilena Filaiti INTERVIEW Karen Ghostlaw Pomarico Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link SHARE Marilena Filaiti is living proof of the importance that photography can make in your life. It was an enlightening experience for Marilena, giving her more understanding of herself and the world she exists in. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Marilena's father worked for the United Nations and was appointed to work in Africa where he lived with his wife for eleven years and where Marilena was born. They returned to Greece when Marilena was four years old, and her mother was pregnant with her brother, who was born in Athens. Both of their parents had a cosmopolitan upbringing. Marilena’s father, a descendant from the Egyptian Greeks and her mother from Istanbul, with a lineage of Greek descent, felt it important to pass their culture and heritage to their children. Marilena fell in love with the man she then married at a very young age and they soon started their family, a value important to Marilena, a legacy from her Mother. Caring and parenting three children created a demanding life that challenged Marilena, taking on many different jobs along the way to help make a good home for her family. Marilena ultimately took a job that gave her exposure and a chance to learn about marketing utilizing specialized multimedia tools that related to photography. These tools and their applications gave Marilena the inspiration to take up and explore the “Art of Photography”. Fascinated by Photography, she bought her first camera and started experimenting with her new tool, it wasn't long before she entered her first photography contest and was hooked. She decided to penetrate the world of photography and learn as much as she could. Her first teacher, Tolis Chatzignatiou, inspired her first steps and for three years he supported Marilena's development as a photographer. Tolis Chatzignatiou taught Marilena the principles of photography and how to clearly choose for herself what she wishes to include in her frame. She made many educational trips with the photographic group “Routes”, even getting close to her father's birthplace, an experience powerful for Marilena. Marilena was thirsty to learn more and more about photography, to go deeper and deeper, to be able to create meaningful photographs of her own. Marilena wanted to expand her knowledge and understanding of photography and immersed herself in photography workshops led by Lukas Vasilikos in October 2021. He has been an excellent teacher and mentor to Marilena, guiding her in her search within herself to find what she wants to express, while exposing her to new ideologies, working with his direction to create powerful sensational images that have much meaning. This motivating and influential experience gave birth to Marilena's first solo project, AWAKENING INSTINCTS, through which Marilena shares her insightful presentation of her project and her photography. We wish her much inspiration in her quest to create powerful intimate images that speak from the heart. “For the first time I saw my work complete. I continue today to grow personally and as a photographer by studying with Lukas. He keeps pushing me to work on new projects that allow me to express myself. Less need for words, more opportunities for visual inspiration.” IN CONVERSATION WITH MARILENA FILAITI THE PICTORIAL LIST: Marilena, tell us about Athens and what life in Greece has brought to your work AWAKENING INSTINCTS. We see how important your family members are to your work, tell us what inspiration they bring to this collection MARILENA FILIATI: Greece is a unique country worth visiting. Athens is a city with its beauties and its difficulties. Like all over the world, the pandemic touched us here, where photography became an excellent outlet for me. The pandemic directly connected the project with my inner world. Many photographs were taken in different parts of Greece during this period. There is nothing more important to me than my family and my home. My friends are also family. My teacher Lukas Vasilikos urged me to dig deeper and express photographically how important my family members are to me. TPL: Tell us about this project, Marilena; how it came about, what you were looking for, what you finally discovered. What surprised you? MF: When the workshop started, I had no idea what the outcome would be. Step by step we started to build this project gradually through the course of the study cycle. When I saw my photos on the wall I was impressed. I didn't know this side of myself. The most important reason besides my love for photography is that I don't have to talk too much with my images. That's how I've wanted to express myself for the last few years. I was surprised by the result because I finally managed to have a meaningful conversation through this project. TPL: You told us how important your teacher here was to you for this project, how you worked side by side. What were his influences on you, what were the gifts he gave you. What was his role as you created this project? MF: Master Lukas Vasilikos is an experienced and inspiring photographer himself, quite strict with himself but with unlimited patience and acceptance for his students. This characteristic of his allowed me to be inspired by him and many world photographers. Lukas also dared me to express myself freely and personally during our classes. He led me through the photographic process accepting and correcting any technical difficulties I had, while supporting me to move forward to my personal artistic identity through paths I admit, I didn't know I could take. TPL: There is depth in your shadows, creating intimate spaces for your subjects. Tell us about these shadows, darkness and what they represent in your photographs. MF: Within those shadows are important gifts of awareness. I like to create new worlds; escaping from reality. I like after instinctively creating them, to revisit my works as a viewer and have them transform into new stories. I listen to my silence and find the peace of mind I seek. TPL: Your colors are deep and saturated, adding to the depth of space and creating thought provoking connections to your subject matter. Tell us about the role color plays in these images. MF: I originally worked mostly in black and white and through my work with Lukas, I discovered color. I saw color as a tool for individual expression. It transformed the world around me into something else, something colorful, something much more dreamy, lyrical, focusing inward, allowing me to express my deeper self. Saturation is a medium that transports me to these other worlds. The bright color seems fake to me and does not represent my own reality. TPL: When you began this journey of self discovery, where did you start? Why? MF: I started this journey of self exploration with themes familiar to me, close to me, subjects accessible to me, so that I could venture deeper to see them in another dimension. an imaginary transformation of them. Thus my one son was transformed into a creature of my imagination, he effortlessly played this role since he trustingly allowed me to create another reality by "rebirthing" him through my photograph. My daughter, seen through another gaze that perhaps she herself did not initially accept, as the unconventional realistic image that she was, but she quickly realized how redemptive the freedom of a different gaze is. My little son, who grew up through our collaboration, agrees that the result has rewarded us both. My friends showed me the same trust by posing and allowing me to play freely with the lens. I like to create new worlds; escaping from reality. I listen to my silence and find the peace of mind I seek. TPL: What new discoveries have you made while doing this project? Has this project been completed? MF: Expression itself is a great discovery for me who doesn't like words much and is more of a sensory person. That is to speak through a medium that I share with so many people, even globally, and to “say it all” through the common language of the Image. My work has now become synonymous with my existence and as I evolve, it will evolve too. Each new experience I experience motivates me to 'lock in' the moment. Our lives are made up of moments. TPL: Can you recall that defining moment when you understood how to use photography to create what you wanted to say or see with your eyes, heart and soul? When you photograph, how much is instinct and spontaneity programmed? Do you pose your subjects? MF: When I realized that photography was a love for me and that I could express through it whatever I was hiding inside, I decided to leave my job to follow it in whatever path it took me. Because of my love for photography, I decided to only work in the field professionally. There is absolutely no programming in the way I photograph, I work on impulse and instinct, I ‘shoot’ non-stop even if I don't have a camera at that moment. Of course this requires one to have acquired a solid technical base and to have incorporated it. I would say my impulsiveness has gotten me into trouble at times. However, when I work as a professional, I try to listen to the needs of the subject matter but always through the freedom of my personal view. TPL: What are the lasting impressions you want to leave on the viewer, what is their 'Take Away'? What was yours? MF: I have no intention of leaving a lasting impression on the viewer. Everyone is free to make whatever impression they wish based on their reading. I wish to converse and evoke emotions. My takeaway is to have a photograph I see speak to me. TPL: Does the equipment you use help you achieve your vision in your photography? What camera do you use? Do you have a preferred lens/focal distance? MF: So far it has been adequate. Currently I have developed a need to try even more sophisticated gear. I am on a quest. Initially I was shooting with my mobile phone. Then I was accompanied on my journey by a Nikon D3400, a Panasonic Lumix DC Vario with which I also shoot with in water, a Canon EOS R, and I have a collection of analogs, mostly old pieces. I've been trying different lenses and haven't settled on a recommended one yet. TPL: What are some of your goals as an artist or photographer? Where do you hope to see yourself in five years? MF: This journey is a journey of freedom for me. It's a journey that matters, the destination of which I myself will know in five years. MF: “When I don't go out to photograph, I like to... I like to travel, drive, walk with my friends, read and often enjoy my ‘solitude’.” We would like to take this opportunity to thank Marilena for her time and insightful presentation of her photography. We wish her much inspiration in her quest to create powerful intimate images that speak from the heart. VIEW MARILENA'S PORTFOLIO Explore more of Marilena's Awakening Instincts >>> Website >>> Instagram >>> read more interviews >>> GUIDED BY A WHISPER Guided by reflection and the quiet presence of art history, Isolda Fabregat Sanz makes photographs that resist certainty and invite the viewer to remain inside the act of looking. WHAT REMAINS, WHAT EMERGES Laetitia Heisler transforms risk, memory, and the body into layered analogue visions — feminist rituals of seeing that reveal what endures, and what quietly emerges beyond visibility. WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE DO Culture lives where art and community meet, and in this space Alejandro Dávila’s photographs reveal the unseen labor and devotion that sustain creation. ANALOGICAL LIMBO Nicola Cappellari reminds us that the photograph’s power lies not in what it shows, but in what it leaves unsaid. THREADS OF MOROCCAN LIFE Through gestures of work and moments of community, Kat Puchowska reveals Morocco’s overlooked beauty. IT STARTED AS LIGHT…ENDED IN SHIVERS… Between intimacy and estrangement, Anton Bou’s photographs wander — restless fragments of light and shadow, mapping the fragile terrain where self unravels into sensation. WITH EYES THAT LISTEN AND A HEART THAT SEES For decades, Rivka Shifman Katvan has documented the unseen backstage world of Broadway, capturing authenticity where performance and humanity intersect. DIPTYCH DIALOGUES Through the beautiful language of diptychs, Taiwanese photographer Jay Hsu invites us into a world where quiet images speak of memory, resilience, and hope. UNKNOWN ABYSSINIA In Ethiopia, Sebastian Piatek found a new way of seeing — where architecture endures, but women in motion carry the narrative forward. THE PULSE OF THE STREET Moments vanish, yet Suvam Saha holds them still — the pulse of India’s streets captured in fragments of life that will never repeat. WHAT DO WE WANT? More than documentation, David Gray reveals the human pulse of resistance and asks us to see beyond the surface of unrest. CRACKED RIBS 2016 Cynthia Karalla opens up about the art of survival, the power of perspective, and why she believes each of us holds a monopoly on our own narrative. STREETS OF KOLKATA Ayanava Sil’s reveals Kolkata’s soul, capturing moments with empathy, presence and humility while offering deep insight into both city and self. PERIPHERAL PLACES A project by Catia Montagna that distills fleeting encounters and spatial poetics into triptychs - visual short stories that capture the in-between, where meaning often hides. POINTE-AU-CHIEN IS NOT DEAD Through Wayan Barre’s documentary, we are invited not only to see but to feel the lived realities of a community standing at the crossroads of environmental collapse and cultural survival. QUEER HAPPENED HERE Author Marc Zinaman sheds light on the valuable contributions that LGBTQ+ individuals have made to the cultural and social fabric of New York City. TRACES OF TIME Marked by an ongoing visual dialogue with time, memory, and impermanence, Zamin Jafarov’s long-term projects highlight the quiet power of observation and the emotional depth of simplicity. THERE MY LITTLE EYES Guillermo Franco’s book is an exploration of seeing beyond the obvious. His work invites us to embrace patience, curiosity, and the unexpected in a world that often rushes past the details. VISUAL HEALING BEYOND THE DIAGNOSIS Betty Goh’s photography exemplifies the transformative power of visual storytelling, where personal adversity becomes a canvas for resilience, illuminating the connection between art, healing, and self-reclamation. EVERYDAY BLACKNESS Parvathi Kumar’s book is a profound tribute to the resilience, and contributions of incredible Black women from all walks of life, making it a vital addition to the conversation around International Women’s Month. A VOYAGE TO DISCOVERY Fanja Hubers’ journey in photography is one of continuous exploration, balancing documentation with artistic self-reflection. MARCH FORWARD Through photography, Suzanne Phoenix creates a space for representation, recognition, and resistance — ensuring that the voices of women and gender-diverse people are seen, heard, and celebrated. FLUX: Exploring Form, Luminescence, and Motion Amy Newton-McConnel embraces unpredictability, finding structure within chaos and allowing light to guide the composition. AN ODE TO SPONTANEITY AND SERENDIPITY Meera Nerurkar captures not just what is seen but also what is felt, turning the everyday into something worth a second glance. THAT’S HOW IT IS Luisa Montagna explores the fluid nature of reality - how it shifts depending on the observer, emphasizing that subjective perception takes precedence over objective truth.

Talking to photographers from around the world, offering an insight into their photographic journey to inspire us all. WITH EYES THAT LISTEN AND A HEART THAT SEES For decades, Rivka Shifman Katvan has documented the unseen backstage world of Broadway, capturing authenticity where performance and humanity intersect. INTERVIEW GUIDED BY A WHISPER Guided by reflection and the quiet presence of art history, Isolda Fabregat Sanz makes photographs that resist certainty and invite the viewer to remain inside the act of looking. INTERVIEW WHAT REMAINS, WHAT EMERGES Laetitia Heisler transforms risk, memory, and the body into layered analogue visions — feminist rituals of seeing that reveal what endures, and what quietly emerges beyond visibility. INTERVIEW WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE DO Culture lives where art and community meet, and in this space Alejandro Dávila’s photographs reveal the unseen labor and devotion that sustain creation. INTERVIEW ANALOGICAL LIMBO Nicola Cappellari reminds us that the photograph’s power lies not in what it shows, but in what it leaves unsaid. INTERVIEW THREADS OF MOROCCAN LIFE Through gestures of work and moments of community, Kat Puchowska reveals Morocco’s overlooked beauty. INTERVIEW IT STARTED AS LIGHT…ENDED IN SHIVERS… Between intimacy and estrangement, Anton Bou’s photographs wander — restless fragments of light and shadow, mapping the fragile terrain where self unravels into sensation. INTERVIEW WITH EYES THAT LISTEN AND A HEART THAT SEES For decades, Rivka Shifman Katvan has documented the unseen backstage world of Broadway, capturing authenticity where performance and humanity intersect. INTERVIEW DIPTYCH DIALOGUES Through the beautiful language of diptychs, Taiwanese photographer Jay Hsu invites us into a world where quiet images speak of memory, resilience, and hope. INTERVIEW UNKNOWN ABYSSINIA In Ethiopia, Sebastian Piatek found a new way of seeing — where architecture endures, but women in motion carry the narrative forward. INTERVIEW THE PULSE OF THE STREET Moments vanish, yet Suvam Saha holds them still — the pulse of India’s streets captured in fragments of life that will never repeat. INTERVIEW WHAT DO WE WANT? More than documentation, David Gray reveals the human pulse of resistance and asks us to see beyond the surface of unrest. INTERVIEW CRACKED RIBS 2016 Cynthia Karalla opens up about the art of survival, the power of perspective, and why she believes each of us holds a monopoly on our own narrative. INTERVIEW STREETS OF KOLKATA Ayanava Sil’s reveals Kolkata’s soul, capturing moments with empathy, presence and humility while offering deep insight into both city and self. INTERVIEW PERIPHERAL PLACES A project by Catia Montagna that distills fleeting encounters and spatial poetics into triptychs - visual short stories that capture the in-between, where meaning often hides. INTERVIEW POINTE-AU-CHIEN IS NOT DEAD Through Wayan Barre’s documentary, we are invited not only to see but to feel the lived realities of a community standing at the crossroads of environmental collapse and cultural survival. INTERVIEW QUEER HAPPENED HERE Author Marc Zinaman sheds light on the valuable contributions that LGBTQ+ individuals have made to the cultural and social fabric of New York City. INTERVIEW TRACES OF TIME Marked by an ongoing visual dialogue with time, memory, and impermanence, Zamin Jafarov’s long-term projects highlight the quiet power of observation and the emotional depth of simplicity. INTERVIEW THERE MY LITTLE EYES Guillermo Franco’s book is an exploration of seeing beyond the obvious. His work invites us to embrace patience, curiosity, and the unexpected in a world that often rushes past the details. INTERVIEW VISUAL HEALING BEYOND THE DIAGNOSIS Betty Goh’s photography exemplifies the transformative power of visual storytelling, where personal adversity becomes a canvas for resilience, illuminating the connection between art, healing, and self-reclamation. INTERVIEW EVERYDAY BLACKNESS Parvathi Kumar’s book is a profound tribute to the resilience, and contributions of incredible Black women from all walks of life, making it a vital addition to the conversation around International Women’s Month. INTERVIEW A VOYAGE TO DISCOVERY Fanja Hubers’ journey in photography is one of continuous exploration, balancing documentation with artistic self-reflection. INTERVIEW MARCH FORWARD Through photography, Suzanne Phoenix creates a space for representation, recognition, and resistance — ensuring that the voices of women and gender-diverse people are seen, heard, and celebrated. INTERVIEW FLUX: Exploring Form, Luminescence, and Motion Amy Newton-McConnel embraces unpredictability, finding structure within chaos and allowing light to guide the composition. INTERVIEW AN ODE TO SPONTANEITY AND SERENDIPITY Meera Nerurkar captures not just what is seen but also what is felt, turning the everyday into something worth a second glance. INTERVIEW THAT’S HOW IT IS Luisa Montagna explores the fluid nature of reality - how it shifts depending on the observer, emphasizing that subjective perception takes precedence over objective truth.

PICTORIAL STORY WHERE THE MUSIC BEGINS Before the strings, Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan leaves the movement of the street for the rhythm of the workshop, where time holds, hands work, and each moment forms what will later be heard. April 19, 2026 PICTORIAL STORY PHOTOGRAPHY Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan STORY Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan INTRODUCTION Karen Ghostlaw SHARE Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Street photography often begins with movement. A walk through a city, a pause at a corner, a moment when light shifts and the ordinary reveals something quietly remarkable. Yet the photographers who sustain our attention understand that seeing is rarely about speed. It is about patience, observation, and the willingness to remain present long enough for meaning to appear. For Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan, that act of attention begins with something simple: walking. Moving through the streets of India with patience and curiosity, Jeevan observes how everyday life unfolds within public spaces. Different moments exist side by side, creating a layered sense of flow that reflects the complexity of the communities around him. His approach develops through sustained observation and time spent within a place rather than the urgency of capturing it. By remaining present within a scene, Jeevan allows the atmosphere of a location to settle, watching as gestures, expressions, and small interactions begin to surface. In many ways, the photographs appear only after patience has done its work. He isn’t chasing big or dramatic moments. His focus is on the subtle, in-between moments that sit just outside what people usually pay attention to. By giving himself time and being fully present, he allows these moments to emerge naturally. The result is a body of work that feels attentive to the emotional texture of everyday life, revealing how people move through their environments, their beliefs, and their shared spaces. That same attentiveness guides him when he turns his camera toward tradition and craft. In the story that follows, Jeevan steps away from the street and into the quiet workshops of Thanjavur, where another rhythm unfolds long before music is ever heard. Here, in the hands of master artisans shaping the Thanjavur Veena , this is the story that exists before the strings. In the quiet corners of Thanjavur, a rhythmic symphony plays out long before a single musical note is ever struck. It is the sound of heavy chisels biting into aged wood, the rasp of sandpaper, and the steady breathing of men whose lineages are etched into the very instruments they create. This is the birthplace of the Thanjavur Veena , an instrument that carries the weight of centuries and the soul of Tamil Nadu’s musical heritage. My journey into this world began with a simple curiosity about the origins of sound. I found myself in the workshops of artisans like Chinnappa, men who have spent over three decades listening to the “ voice ” of wood. To them, a Veena is not manufactured; it is birthed from the heart of a jackfruit tree. The process is a masterclass in patience. It starts with the selection of timber from trees that have stood for nearly a century. These trees, often sourced from the Panruti region, are chosen for their unique density and echo quality. In an age of mass production, there is something profoundly moving about watching a craftsman look at a raw log and see the graceful curve of a kudam , the resonator bowl. For the rare Ekanda Veena , the artisan’s skill is pushed to its limit as the entire instrument, the bowl, the bridge, and the neck, is carved from a single continuous block of wood. Watching this process feels like witnessing an act of devotion. There are no computer aided designs here. There is only the eye measure and the steady hand of a master who has been refining his craft since he was sixteen. As I photographed the stages of creation, I was struck by the sensory richness of the workshop. The air is thick with the sweet, earthy scent of jackfruit shavings and the pungent aroma of melting beeswax used to set the frets. I watched as twenty-four brass frets were meticulously aligned, a task requiring surgical precision, for a millimeter’s error would ruin the instrument’s tuning. Yet beneath the beauty of the craft lies a sobering reality. The artisans spoke of the increasing difficulty in finding the right wood as ancient groves disappear to make way for modern housing. They spoke of a generation gap, where the five years of rigorous apprenticeship required to master this craft feels like an eternity to the youth of today. This photo story is more than a documentation of a manufacturing process. It is a portrait of a living tradition at a crossroads. Through my camera, I chose to focus on the textures: the calloused skin of the craftsman against the smooth, yellow grain of the wood; the intricate carvings of the Yali , a mythical creature that guards the head of the Veena; and the final, vibrant glow of the polish that signals an instrument is ready to find its voice. Before the Strings is a tribute to the hands that labor in anonymity so that music may live. It is an invitation to look past the stage and the spotlight, and to find the profound beauty in the dust, the sweat, and the silent wood that waits to sing. © Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan © Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan © Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan © Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan © Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan © Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan © Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan © Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan Through his photographs, Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan reminds us that the stories of culture and craft are often found far from the stage where their final expression is heard. By turning his attention to the hands that shape the Veena long before music fills the air, he reveals a quieter form of devotion, one measured in patience, repetition, and generations of knowledge passed from master to apprentice. In these workshops, sound begins as silence. It lives first in wood, in careful measurement, and in the steady rhythm of tools against grain. Through attentive observation, Jeevan allows us to witness the moment before music begins, when the instrument still waits for its voice. The textures of labor, the concentration of the artisan, and the quiet presence of tradition come together in images that honor both the process and the people who sustain it. As his photographs reach wider audiences and receive growing recognition, they remain connected in the same simple practice that began it all: walking, waiting, and paying attention to the stories that quietly surround us. view Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan's portfolio Instagram >>> The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author/s and are not necessarily shared by The Pictorial List. read more stories >>> WHERE THE MUSIC BEGINS Before the strings, Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan leaves the movement of the street for the rhythm of the workshop, where time holds, hands work, and each moment forms what will later be heard. LAND, LABOR, AND THE GOLDEN FIBER In West Bengal’s jute fields, Rajesh Dhar examines the systems of land and labor, tracing how a single material sustains communities and informs a changing ecological future. WITH GRATITUDE AND DEVOTION A quiet and intimate account of devotion in Zaraza, Venezuela, Rafael Ayala Páez reflects on faith, memory, and community through photographs and words that honor the enduring power of small gestures. SILVER AND BREATH Within this fragile space between looking and being seen, Eva Christina Nielsen has developed a practice that is both restrained and deeply attentive. RUPTURE REPAIR REMNANT In this reflection on rupture, Donna Bassin invites us to consider how grief settles into the body and the image, and how the slow work of witnessing becomes a form of repair. DELTA DUSK John Agather weaves image and text into a single current, tracing how music, memory, and daily life continue to move through the Mississippi Delta. SILENT BEAUTY Tamara Quadrelli photographs the world by slowing down inside it. There is no rush to explain what we are seeing. The pleasure comes from staying with it. SOLITUDE UNDER A TECHNIFIED SUN Tracing the space between movement and stillness, Héctor Morón reveals a city that persists as human presence slips by. 4320 MINUTES WITHOUT COLOR Moving between photography and narration, Mohammed Nahi traces a period in which sight could no longer be assumed as reliable, and attention shifted toward memory and duration. THE PAINTED VILLAGE OF LABANDHAR Anjan Ghosh’s photographs carry us to Labandhar, where painting becomes language, tradition stays present, and art grows through shared ground. ORDINARY GRIEF What endures when everything else is uncertain? Through photography, Parisa Azadi asks us to see Iran not as story, but as feeling. THE EVERYMAN Eva Mallis uncovers the quiet strength of overlooked lives, capturing everyday encounters in Mumbai’s industrial districts as intimate portraits of labor and resilience. IN BETWEEN LIFE AND AFTER In Cairo’s City of the Dead, families carve out ordinary lives among centuries of tombs — Paola Ferrarotti traces the fragile line between memory and survival. UNFIGURED Nasos Karabelas transforms the human body into a site of emotional flux — where perception fractures and inner states become visible form. VISIONS OF ICELAND FROM ABOVE Massimo Lupidi takes flight above Iceland — capturing nature’s abstract brushstrokes where land, water, and sky blur into poetic visions beyond the ordinary eye. UNDER THE CLOUDS Giordano Simoncini presents a visual ethnography of the interconnectedness of indigenous cosmology, material life, and the ecological balance within the Quechua communities of the Peruvian Andes. NYC SUBWAY RIDERS BEFORE THE INVASION OF SMARTPHONES Hiroyuki Ito’s subway photographs reveal a vanished intimacy — strangers lost in thought in a world before digital distractions took hold. THE GHOST SELF Buku Sarkar stages her refusal to vanish. Her photographs are unflinching, lyrical acts of documentation, mapping a body in flux and a mind grappling with the epistemic dissonance of chronic illness. WHISPERS On Mother’s Day, Regina Melo's story asks us to pause. To remember. To feel. It honors the profound, often quiet sacrifices that mothers make, and the invisible threads that bind us to them. BEYOND THE MASK By stepping beyond the scripted world of professional wrestling and into the raw terrain of mental health, Matteo Bergami and Fabio Giarratano challenge long-held myths about masculinity, endurance, and heroism. FRAGMENTS OF TIME Each of jfk's diptychs functions as a microcosm of the city, allowing viewers to experience urban life as constant fragmented glimpses, mirroring the unpredictable nature of human interactions. VANISHING VENICE Lorenzo Vitali’s portrayal of Venice is an almost surreal experience — where time dissolves, and the viewer is left with the sensation of stepping into a dreamscape. CLAY AND ASHES Abdulla Shinose CK explores the challenges faced by Kumhar Gram's potters, balancing tradition and adaptation in the face of modern pressures. ISLAND Enzo Crispino’s photographic series, “Nêsos,” invites viewers into an introspective journey that mirrors the artist’s rediscovery of his voice in photography after a prolonged period of creative estrangement. BEYOND THE BRICKS Amid Bangladesh’s dynamic urban growth, Anwar Ehtesham’s photography takes us beyond statistics and headlines, revealing the hidden lives of the laborers working tirelessly in the nation’s brick kilns.

Be inspired by the photographers on the 2023 List. 2023 PHOTOGRAPHERS © Ypatia Kornarou AARON RUBINO San Francisco UNITED STATES ALESSANDRO GIUGNI Milan ITALY ALEX GOTTFRIED BONDER Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA AMY NEWTON McCONNEL Arizona UNITED STATES ANASTASIYA PENTYUKHINA Moscow RUSSIA ANDREE THORPE Ontario CANADA BARBARA PEACOCK Portland UNITED STATES BRANDEN MAY Atlanta, UNITED STATES DARREN SACKS London UNITED KINGDOM DOUG WINTER California UNITED STATES ELSA ARRAIS Leiria PORTUGAL FABIO CATANZARO Venice ITALY GILES ISBELL Chiang Mai, THAILAND IDA DI PASQUALE Rome ITALY JAN PONNET Antwerp BELGIUM JAYESH KUMAR SHARMA Varanasi INDIA JEFF ROTHSTEIN New York UNITED STATES JUAN BARTE Madrid SPAIN JUAN SOSTRE California UNITED STATES KONRAD HELLFEUER Görlitz GERMANY LEANNE STAPLES New York UNITED STATES MENA SAMBIASI Madrid SPAIN MONIKA JURGA POLAND NAIMA HALL New York UNITED STATES NSIRIES Bologna ITALY

Be inspired by the photographers on the 2021 List. 2021 PHOTOGRAPHERS © Meryl Meisler AGATA LO MONACO ITALY ALAN THEXTON Melbourne AUSTRALIA ALEX RUTHERFORD Surrey UNITED KINGDOM ANDRES GONZALEZ Porto PORTUGAL ANDREW ROVENKO Melbourne AUSTRALIA ANDRÉ LOBÃO London UNITED KINGDOM AURÉLIEN BOMY Nantes FRANCE BARRY BOTTOMLEY London UNITED KINGDOM BASTIAN PETER Basel SWITZERLAND BEN ALLAN London UNITED KINGDOM BETTY MANOUSOS Athens GREECE CAMILLE WHEELER Texas USA CARLA HENOUD Beirut LEBANON CAROL DRONSFIELD New York UNITED STATES CHICHEK BAYRAMLY Baku AZERBAIJAN CHRISTINA SIMONS Melbourne AUSTRALIA DAMIEN GORET FRANCE DANIEL GOLDENBERG Buenos Aires ARGENTINA DANIELA PEREIRA Montevideo URUGUAY DANNY JACKSON Essex UNITED KINGDOM DAVID KUGELMAS New York UNITED STATES DAVID LAWLESS Winnipeg CANADA DAVID SHORTLAND London UNITED KINGDOM DREW KELLEY California USA EDUARDO ORTIZ Valparaiso CHILE

Be inspired by the photographers on the 2020 List. 2020 PHOTOGRAPHERS © Abbie Briggs ABBIE BRIGGS Wisconsin USA ABHAY PATEL Delhi INDIA ABHISHEK SINGH New Delhi INDIA ADAM SINCLAIR Melbourne AUSTRALIA ADESH GAUR Uttar Pradesh INDIA ADRIAN TAN SINGAPORE ADRIAN WHEAR Melbourne AUSTRALIA AHMET HOJAMYRADOV Minsk BELARUS ALEX FRAYNE Adelaide AUSTRALIA ALEXANDRA AVLONITIS New York ALEXEY STRECHEN RUSSIA ALICIA HABER Montevideo URAGUAY ANEEKA MANKU England UNITED KINGDOM ANGEL CARNICER Zaragoza SPAIN ANNA MARCHIOLI FRANCE ANNETTE LANG Nice FRANCE ANTONIS GIAKOUMAKIS Athens GREECE ANWAR SADAT Nairobi KENYA ARTURO CAÑEDO Lima PERU ASHISH PATEL Delhi INDIA ASSIA STARKE RUSSIA/AUSTRIA ASTRID NEUNDLINGER Vienna AUSTRIA B JANE LEVINE New York USA BELINDA CORNEY London UNITED KINGDOM BENNY VAN DEN BULKE BELGIUM

Be inspired by the photographers on the 2025 List. 2025 PHOTOGRAPHERS © Stephanie Duprie Routh ABDULLA SHINOSE CK Malabar INDIA ALEJANDRO DAVILA Pachuca MEXICO ANTON BOU Montreal CANADA AYANAVA SIL Kolkata INDIA BETTY GOH SINGAPORE BUKU SARKAR Paris FRANCE CYNTHIA KARALLA New York UNITED STATES DAVID GRAY New York UNITED STATES EVA MALLIS New York UNITED STATES FANJA HUBERS Utrecht THE NETHERLANDS FUTURE HACKNEY London UNITED KINGDOM GIORDANO SIMONCINI Rome ITALY GUILLERMO FRANCO Córdoba ARGENTINA HIROYUKI ITO New York UNITED STATES JAY HSU Yilan City TAIWAN KAT PUCHOWSKA Barcelona SPAIN LAETITIA HEISLER Berlin GERMANY LUISA MONTAGNA Parma ITALY MASSIMO LUPIDI ITALY MATTEO BERGAMI Bologna ITALY MEERA NERURKAR Düsseldorf GERMANY NASOS KARABELAS Greece ATHENS NICOLA CAPPELLARI Vicenza ITALY PARISA AZADI IRAN & DUBAI PARVATHI KUMAR New Jersey UNITED STATES

Be inspired by the photographers on the 2024 List. 2024 PHOTOGRAPHERS © Anna Tut ALEXANDROS ZILOS Athens GREECE AMY HOROWITZ New York UNITED STATES ANA-MARIA ALB Bukovina ROMANIA ANN PETRUCKEVITCH UNITED KINGDOM ANNA TUT Krasnogorsk City RUSSIA CARMEN SOLANA CIRES Madrid SPAIN CATIA MONTAGNA SCOTLAND/ITALY DASHA DARVAJ UMRIGAR Karachi PAKISTAN DEDIPYA BASAK Kolkata INDIA EDWIN CARUNGAY San Francisco UNITED STATES FRANCE LECLERC Chicago UNITED STATES ISABELLE COORDES Münster GERMANY JOHN KAYACAN Los Angeles UNITED STATES JUSTINE GEORGET Lyon FRANCE MARIETTE PATHY ALLEN New York UNITED STATES MATTHIAS GÖDDE Beckum GERMANY MEI SEVA New York UNITED STATES MIA DEPAOLA Washington D.C UNITED STATES NAZANIN DAVARI Tehran IRAN PAUL COOKLIN UNITED KINGDOM PEDRO VIDAL Barcelona SPAIN RAFA ROJAS São Paulo BRAZIL ROMAIN COUDRIER Marseille FRANCE ROWELL B. TIMOTEO La Union PHILIPPINES SASHA IVANOV St. Petersburg RUSSIA

Be inspired by the photographers on the 2022 List. 2022 PHOTOGRAPHERS © Adrian Pelegrin ADRIAN PELEGRIN Playa del Carmen MEXICO AHSANUL HAQUE FAHIM Dhaka, BANGLADESH AJ BERNSTEIN New York UNITED STATES ANWAR EHTESHAM Dhaka BANGLADESH ASEN GEORGIEV Sofia BULGARIA ASLI GONEN Eskisehir TURKEY BRIAN DOUGLAS Ontario CANADA CAHLEEN HUDSON New Taipei City TAIWAN CHETAN VERMA Gurgaon INDIA DEAN GOLDBERG New York UNITED STATES ELIZABETH PAOLETTI UNITED STATES EMIR SEVIM Istanbul TURKEY EMY MAIKE Baden Württemberg GERMANY FRANCESCA TIBONI Cagliari ITALY GABRIEL MIELES GUZMÁN Guayaquil ECUADOR GABRIELE GENTILE Parma ITALY GIANLUCA MORTAROTTI London UNITED KINGDOM GIORGIO GERARDI Venice ITALY JAN ENKELMANN London UNITED KINGDOM JEAN ROSS New York UNITED STATES JELISA PETERSON Texas UNITED STATES JENS F. KRUSE Mallorca SPAIN JONAS WELTEN Salzburg AUSTRIA LAINE MULLALLY Stockholm SWEDEN LELE BISSOLI Vercelli ITALY

We are on a mission to discover new photographers, and the most pictorial and interesting photo stories out there. SPOTLIGHT / JEEVAN AKASH JAYAVARTHANAN INDIA AARON RUBINO ABBIE BRIGGS ABDULLA SHINOSE CK ABHAY PATEL ABHISHEK SINGH ADAM SINCLAIR ADESH GAUR ADRIAN PELEGRIN ADRIAN TAN ADRIAN WHEAR AGATA LO MONACO AHMET HOJAMYRADOV AJ BERNSTEIN ALAN THEXTON ALEJANDRO DAVILA ALESSANDRO GIUGNI ALEX FRAYNE ALEX GOTTFRIED BONDER ALEX RUTHERFORD ALEXANDRA AVLONITIS ALEXANDROS ZILOS ALEXEY STRECHEN ALICIA HABER AMY HOROWITZ AMY NEWTON McCONNEL GET ON THE LIST © John St.

The Pictorial List is a global online magazine exploring the beauty and complexity of all things photography. WHERE THE MUSIC BEGINS Before the strings, Jeevan Akash Jayavarthanan leaves the movement of the street for the rhythm of the workshop, where time holds, hands work, and each moment forms what will later be heard. Latest features PICTORIAL STORY SILVER AND BREATH Within this fragile space between looking and being seen, Eva Christina Nielsen has developed a practice that is both restrained and deeply attentive. INTERVIEW GUIDED BY A WHISPER Guided by reflection and the quiet presence of art history, Isolda Fabregat Sanz makes photographs that resist certainty and invite the viewer to remain inside the act of looking. PICTORIAL STORY RUPTURE REPAIR REMNANT In this reflection on rupture, Donna Bassin invites us to consider how grief settles into the body and the image, and how the slow work of witnessing becomes a form of repair. PICTORIAL STORY DELTA DUSK John Agather weaves image and text into a single current, tracing how music, memory, and daily life continue to move through the Mississippi Delta. PICTORIAL STORY SILENT BEAUTY Tamara Quadrelli photographs the world by slowing down inside it. There is no rush to explain what we are seeing. The pleasure comes from staying with it. PICTORIAL STORY SOLITUDE UNDER A TECHNIFIED SUN Tracing the space between movement and stillness, Héctor Morón reveals a city that persists as human presence slips by. PICTORIAL STORY 4320 MINUTES WITHOUT COLOR Moving between photography and narration, Mohammed Nahi traces a period in which sight could no longer be assumed as reliable, and attention shifted toward memory and duration. PICTORIAL STORY THE PAINTED VILLAGE OF LABANDHAR Anjan Ghosh’s photographs carry us to Labandhar, where painting becomes language, tradition stays present, and art grows through shared ground. INTERVIEW WHAT REMAINS, WHAT EMERGES Laetitia Heisler transforms risk, memory, and the body into layered analogue visions — feminist rituals of seeing that reveal what endures, and what quietly emerges beyond visibility. INTERVIEW WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE DO Culture lives where art and community meet, and in this space Alejandro Dávila’s photographs reveal the unseen labor and devotion that sustain creation. INTERVIEW ANALOGICAL LIMBO Nicola Cappellari reminds us that the photograph’s power lies not in what it shows, but in what it leaves unsaid. INTERVIEW THREADS OF MOROCCAN LIFE Through gestures of work and moments of community, Kat Puchowska reveals Morocco’s overlooked beauty. INTERVIEW IT STARTED AS LIGHT…ENDED IN SHIVERS… Between intimacy and estrangement, Anton Bou’s photographs wander — restless fragments of light and shadow, mapping the fragile terrain where self unravels into sensation. INTERVIEW WITH EYES THAT LISTEN AND A HEART THAT SEES For decades, Rivka Shifman Katvan has documented the unseen backstage world of Broadway, capturing authenticity where performance and humanity intersect. PICTORIAL STORY ORDINARY GRIEF What endures when everything else is uncertain? Through photography, Parisa Azadi asks us to see Iran not as story, but as feeling. LAND, LABOR AND THE GOLDEN FIBER In West Bengal’s jute fields, Rajesh Dhar examines the systems of land and labor, tracing how a single material sustains communities and informs a changing ecological future. OPEN CALL IN AN INSTANT Have instant film tucked in a drawer or fresh from the camera? We are gathering Polaroids, Instax, and all peel-apart surprises for this fun instant exhibition. Family snapshots, artistic experiments, awkward haircuts — every square counts. Join us and let your instant memory meet the wall. MORE INFO New York, New York! PICTORIAL STORY NYC SUBWAY RIDERS BEFORE THE INVASTION OF SMARTPHONES Hiroyuki Ito’s subway photographs reveal a vanished intimacy. INTERVIEW FABRIC OF NEW YORK VISUALS Elle Clarke lives NYC — snapping its heart and hustle with her smartphone, one real city moment at a time! INTERVIEW NOD OF RECOGNITION B Jane Levine’s portraits give a playful wink — inviting a nod of recognition to the hidden stories we all carry inside. INTERVIEW NEW YORK IMPROVISATIONS Fast-moving, off-kilter, witty, raw and classic film noir define Bill Lacey's photography. PICTORIAL STORY MERMAID MAGIC AJ Bernstein captures the magic of the Mermaid Parade—where fantasy, freedom, and community come together in a sea of color and joy. INTERVIEW GOTHAM MEMORIES Jeff Rothstein clicks, time unfolds — capturing the heart of the city in timeless frames, from 1969 to today. PICTORIAL STORY TAKING THE PLUNGE Carol Dronsfield takes the plunge with the Coney Island’s Polar Bears, capturing the chill, the thrill, and the heart. INTERVIEW THE AUTHENTIC GAZE Amy Horowitz says “Don’t Smile”— and in doing so, captures the real and wonderfully unscripted faces of New York City. VOLUME ONE- NEW YORK BUY NOW FOUNDATIONS OF PRACTICE ART EXHIBITION February 07 to April 03 Foundations of Practice marks the beginning of The Pictorial List's journey - an opening not only of our new artspace, but of dialogue into the practice of the artist. CALL FOR ART CODE GIRL CODE GIRL is a curated multi-media exhibition presented as part of Women in Public Space. Following the Memorial Day Weekend mural commission, this women's and gender expansive group exhibition expands the dialogue into the Artspace through interdisciplinary practices including photography, painting, printmaking, sculpture, video, film, animation, and expanded media. MORE INFO © Parvathi Kumar, Desiree Washington (2020) join the Pictorial Community >>> Follow us on Instagram #thepictoriallist @thepictorial.list Load More WITH GRATITUDE AND DEVOTION A quiet and intimate account of devotion in Zaraza, Venezuela, Rafael Ayala Páez reflects on faith, memory, and community through photographs and words that honor the enduring power of small gestures. Interviews you may have missed REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE Camille J. Wheeler documents Austin's streets, with a particular focus on its homeless community. COMEDIANS Steve Best documents the British comedy scene, backstage and on stage, the highs and lows, and the joy of being a comedian. QUARANTINE IN QUEENS Neil Kramer's humorous and compassionate lockdown diary has gone viral. ENROUTE TO THE PINES Robert Sherman shares his documentary series about drag queens celebrating the 'Invasion of the Pines'. SERVICE INTERRUPTION Wojciech Karlinski documented Poland train stations during the pandemic, highlighting their formal and aesthetic side. VOICES OF THE NILE Voices of the Nile by Bastien Massa and Arthur Larie is a project documenting the relationship of Ethiopians with the Blue Nile. BREAKS FROM REALITY The magic only dreams are made of become reality for viewers as they engage in the poetic imagery of Mariëtte Aernoudts. BEYOND THE STORY Through her documentary photography, Christina Simons is compelled to tell the stories of those who are unable to do so themselves. © Russell Cobb Stay up to date Subscribing to The Pictorial List means joining a community that values visual storytelling. You will get exclusive content, inspiring pictorial stories, thoughtful interviews, book reviews, and more — delivered weekly to your inbox. Media Partners

EVERYDAY BLACKNESS Parvathi Kumar’s book is a profound tribute to the resilience, and contributions of incredible Black women from all walks of life, making it a vital addition to the conversation around International Women’s Month. EVERYDAY BLACKNESS A Celebration of Strength, Legacy, and Unity March 23, 2025 INTERVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY Parvathi Kumar INTERVIEW Karen Ghostlaw Pomarico Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link SHARE Parvathi Kumar is a visual storyteller whose work spans the genres of art, documentary and advocacy. Her book ‘Everyday Blackness’ uses portraiture to amplify the underrepresented voices of Black women and celebrate their contributions that enrich the human experience. Born and raised in eastern Canada, Parvathi developed an early love for photography under the guidance of her mother, mastering film techniques before transitioning into digital storytelling. Her artistic journey spans over three decades, blending her technical expertise from a career in IT with an innate passion for visual narratives. Now based in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Parvathi has established herself as a professional photographer with an impressive exhibition history across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Her work has garnered awards and recognition, not only for its aesthetic depth but for its commitment to fostering cultural awareness and social connection. ‘Everyday Blackness’ captures the dignity, strength, and complexity of everyday individuals, offering viewers a window into lives and experiences beyond their own. Parvathi’s book is a profound tribute to the resilience, and contributions of exceptional Black women from all walks of life, making it a vital addition to the conversation around International Women’s Month (IWM). Her authentic portraiture, along with the personal narratives of her subjects, tells a powerful story that highlights the lives of 25 remarkable Black women from New Jersey and New York. These women who, despite systemic barriers, have forged paths as leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, veterans, and advocates. This work is more than a photography book; it is a historical and cultural document that addresses and hopes to counter erasure and misrepresentation. Black women have long been the backbone of their families, communities, and movements for justice, yet their stories are often overlooked. By centering them in her project, Parvathi not only acknowledges their individual journeys but also emphasizes their collective impact on society. The book’s warm, monochromatic portraits and thoughtful interviews create an intimate space where these women’s voices can be heard and celebrated. Their stories reflect perseverance in the face of adversity, offering hope and inspiration to future generations. For IWM, this book serves as a powerful reminder that the fight for gender equality must also address racial justice. It urges us to see the interconnectedness of women’s struggles and triumphs, reinforcing the IWM message that progress for one woman is progress for all. Parvathi Kumar’s work is an opportunity to step outside our usual circles, listen deeply, and recognize the value in diverse experiences. As the world celebrates women’s achievements in IWM, this book stands as a testament to the power of photography in honoring those who have long been at the forefront of change, yet too often remain unseen. “I didn’t want to include celebrities or public figures; though of course impressive, they already have a spotlight. I wanted to feature women who are more relatable, approachable, and who deserve the attention for simply being who they are – hardworking women of color who quietly serve, dutifully taking care of the community in their own ways and resolving serious matters that we often don’t think about. The stereotypes of being uneducated, unaware, weak, aggressive, lacking, or unmannered simply do not hold up. I was able to meet them in their homes, work environments, and other settings reflecting who they are and what they do. It was the simple act of having a conversation and interaction – something sorely lacking in our society today between people who are ‘different’ – that quickly revealed how authentic and relatable they are. In their default mode of modesty and service, many of them were surprised and skeptical as to why I selected them, and I had to remind them that they were more than what they know, exactly the subjects I was looking for - ordinary yet extraordinary. Later when seeing themselves in the book and on elegant gallery walls, they were overwhelmed and delighted.” IN CONVERSATION WITH PARVATHI KUMAR THE PICTORIAL LIST: What initially inspired you to create this book, and how did your personal background shape your approach to documenting the lives of Black women? PARVATHI: The horrific and unforgettable loss of Mr. George Floyd’s life in May 2020 was the inspiration and catalyst. At the time, I was taking an online class through ICP on Visual Storytelling, so the seed for my project and initial photos began there. The idea was to create an antidote to the pain and suffering we were collectively feeling from the tragic event. By celebrating Black culture and specifically everyday Black women with joy and pride, we could learn to banish fear and misconceptions. The work carried on well after the course ended, culminating in a self-published photo book. I began in June 2020, and my goal to release the book in time for February 2021 – Black History Month – was accomplished! The book is now in circulation at two NJ public libraries, is part of an independent Black-female-owned bookstore in Bayonne, NJ, had its inaugural full-scale exhibition in February 2022 at the Visual Arts Center of NJ (I wanted nothing less for the women featured and am grateful to curator Mary Birmingham who invited me to exhibit and shared my vision), and is now in the hands of many readers around the world. I am humbled and honored that this work is touching many hearts and minds. I have always felt injustice and inequality deeply, perhaps because I am a Libra (the symbol for balance, harmony, equality) or someone who is a “visible minority”. After what happened to George Floyd, and knowing that art peacefully protests and raises awareness, there was an urge in me to create. With many years of photography and photo book design experience, I had the skills, resources, and tools to make it happen. When the idea for the book sparked, I ran with it. TPL: What was the most surprising or moving story you encountered while working on this book, and how did it impact you personally? PARVATHI: In terms of surprising stories – and in a good way – two of the senior women told me that growing up they never really experienced racism or discrimination, that their childhoods were generally happy, with good education, and the neighborhoods where they grew up were nurturing and warm. They only encountered racial issues later on in life in their work when trying to help those less fortunate. I was moved by Simone Gordon’s story, a young single mom to an autistic son who was giving back to many other women in need through a direct giving program she founded. Though Crystal Ramsey was diagnosed with HIV in 1991, lost her young son to HIV, and later lost her vision because of HIV medication, she overcame, pursued an education, and now helps others dealing with the illness and other trauma. Not only were the women’s stories eye-opening, but the additional related research and reading I did on Black history while forming the book were also astonishing. I highly recommend reading 'The 1619 Project' (link at the end of interview). TPL: For International Women’s Month, your book serves as a powerful reminder of Black women’s contributions. How do you see it fitting into the larger conversation about intersectional feminism? PARVATHI: Their contributions should definitely be included in wider discourse. Women face multiple barriers all the time. Based on the women in the book, to be someone “of color” and HIV positive, physically disabled, previously incarcerated, or other identity factors is to have to battle through additional barriers often needlessly. So, discussing these topics would create awareness on multiple levels, educate about different forms of discrimination to improve acceptance, and make visible the great contributions of diverse members of society. If I ever extend the series, I hope to include women who are also in the LGBTQ+ community, biracial/multi-racial, on the autism spectrum, and having other identity facets, all to further promote intersectional feminism, and to avoid potentially harmful misunderstandings. At the time of this published interview (March 2025), we are dealing with a US President who seeks to make diversity a “bad word”, thus making it even harder for women of color to rise up, which is all the more reason to push back and promote these women. Blair Murdock - “Things I see in the world can be frustrating and infuriating. But you have a choice of how you’re going to respond. You can dwell in sadness, or you can do something with it and so I choose to write songs, speak through music, and send a positive message because at the heart of all this, we just need to see people as humans, and start loving people. That’s what I’m doing to stay positive, to see the good, and to try to be the good that I want to see in the world.” © Parvathi Kumar Pamela Poncé Johnson - “I’m an optimist, and I feel that there’s more good than evil. People just need to be able to have conversations and get to know others. We have to start taking care of each other, even if it’s just the neighbor down the street or somebody who’s not from your community, because when you step outside of your own community it is very powerful. You start to look at people differently, not as ‘them’ but more like ‘us’.” © Parvathi Kumar Kisha Pinnock - “Trying to stay positive is just unplugging, enjoying loved ones, creating experiences and not taking life so seriously. People are losing their lives over nothing. But I try to stop and love and enjoy all those around me. If I do unplug, then I have more energy for the next day. Your brain needs to rest and stop. Self-care is important.” © Parvathi Kumar Tamiko Hubbard - “I’m just one in a long line of African American women in my family whose goals are to be there for their family, and to love their family, as well as their extended families. Through Sweet Reads, I think of being able to provide love in the form of books, and in helping people to realize that we are all connected.” © Parvathi Kumar T’Anna Kimbrough - “Whenever my time it is to leave my body, and to go on to another life, I just want to be remembered for the good and that I tried. And that I succeeded by touching people and changing their lives. Also, always be unapologetically you, believe in yourself, and in your capabilities. Don’t doubt yourself, ever. You are capable, far more than anybody thinks you are.” © Parvathi Kumar Desiree Washington - “Be yourself. Be true to who you are. Live with truth because a lie doesn’t stand. Only truth stands up and it stands tall and bold and sets people free. So, to be your real self, you have to walk in truth.” © Parvathi Kumar Dr. Brenda Smith - “Hard work was no stranger to me, having grown up with parents who worked hard, but I just worked hard to prove myself. And that was a great challenge.” © Parvathi Kumar Simone Gordon - “Pay attention to a black woman - you might learn something.” © Parvathi Kumar Dr. Marilyn Giorgi - “I am a strong believer that we just have to keep going and that’s why I mentor; to make other young people know they can do this. We can get there. I’m here, so more of you can get here and when you do, pull somebody else up with you.” © Parvathi Kumar Crystal Ramsey - “Whatever life deals you, don’t give up. The HIV virus has been living with me for 35 years, and society said should have been dead. But I just don’t give up and I have that drive. It makes me get up in the morning and just put one foot in front of the other and do whatever I need to do for the day.” © Parvathi Kumar TPL: How did you go about selecting the 25 women featured in your book, and what qualities drew you to their stories? PARVATHI: Of the 25 women featured, I included only one woman who I knew personally prior to starting. I wanted to allow myself new connections, to prove that these gems of Black women existed and were just a matter of finding. Some of them I had read about or heard speaking at events, and I approached them myself, requesting their participation. The majority were by networking through friends and contacts, and who in turn referred me to other women. If I had had the budget and the time, I would have flown to various corners of the USA (if not other countries) to include women from other geographic locations and areas of work. But as we know, 2020 was the lockdown. Though I was limited to travel mainly within drivable distances, I saw this as the silver lining, the blessing: I knew that in my own backyard were countless Black women just waiting to be discovered, and though 25 is barely scratching the surface, they represent many others just like them. I deliberately chose women of all ages and career paths, of different life journeys and experiences. I was drawn to how each woman was quietly going about their work, contributing in massive ways to the betterment of communities, and I knew that each has a remarkable life story just waiting to be heard. When interviewing I mainly had two questions: 1) What is your life story that brought you to where you are today? and 2) In the context of the Black struggle in the US, what would you like to share with the world? TPL: Each portrait is presented in a warm monochromatic tone. What was your artistic and emotional intent behind this choice, and how does it reflect the essence of these women? PARVATHI: I chose the warm sepia style for several reasons. Firstly, it is aesthetically pleasing, reflecting the warmth of the beautiful souls of these women. Secondly, when viewing monochromatic imagery, the viewer’s experience becomes interpretive, with focus on form, composition, and content – in this case the person. Viewers can read about each woman, and without the distraction of color can reflect and connect with each woman’s story and message. The various “shades of gray” allude to the many layers, nuances, and facets of one’s life. Another important reason is historical: the sepia tone pays homage to and honors the countless inspiring Black women who’ve come before us spanning 400 years on North American land, from the generations of slaves to the Civil Rights activists to today’s elder contemporaries on whose shoulders we stand, whose sacrifices and toil have brought us to where we are now. In turn, these 25 women are continuing the work, leaving a sound legacy and example for future generations to rely on. Finally, a strong reason for the monochromatic tone is as a subtle reminder that we are essentially the same, that within this shell of a human body with diversity of eye color, height, nose shape, tone of voice, and skin color, we have the same beating hearts and blood types coursing through our veins. We are more alike than not. And, if we truly know our history, understand evolution and the roots of homo sapiens, we are all African. I wanted each woman to be my collaborator, to give their input on how they wanted to best be portrayed in the context of their story. TPL: You conducted personal interviews to accompany each portrait. How did those conversations shape the way you photographed each woman? PARVATHI: Historically, Black women had never had a say in matters, their rights coming last if at all. For this project, while I had photographic control and could direct positioning and lighting, I wanted each woman to be my collaborator, to give their input on how they wanted to best be portrayed in the context of their story. Hence, the photos are generally environmental portraits, highlighting their professions, contributions, talents, and skills. The conversations built an important bridge between us, one of trust and understanding, so the women felt comfortable being photographed. They knew that through this project and its exposure, they were being respected, listened to and heard, something that is a constant struggle for Black women far and wide, especially in the most difficult times as a nation. TPL: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while creating this project, whether artistically, logistically, or emotionally? This was a labor of love from start to finish, from photographing, writing, researching, designing, and self-publishing. While I had previously studied book design and had done my own personal book projects and writings, I was fortunate to have editors help me with reviewing text, photos, and layout. Still, it was an arduous process of finding the best sequence and flow of images, arranging and rearranging mock-ups of pages until it all felt right. Artistically, creating portraiture using the medium of photography is unique and challenging in that from one single vantage point at a time, in a fraction of a second, one must convey the essence of who someone is, reflect their stories, and render them so that viewers may connect with them on a meaningful level. I hope I have done that! Psychologically and emotionally, it was difficult to hear the women’s thoughts on George Floyd and about the Black experience in general. It is hard to reconcile, given all that has happened before and after Mr. Floyd’s death. We have such a long way to go – that’s the burden. TPL: How has your multicultural upbringing and diverse experiences shaped your views on allyship, identity, and the importance of standing in solidarity with marginalized communities? PARVATHI: My parents immigrated from Karnataka (a state in southern India) to Halifax, Nova Scotia in the 1960s where I was born, and later settled in Montreal, Quebec (a predominantly French-speaking province) where I grew up. At home we spoke our mother tongue of Kannada (an official language of India), while being engulfed by French and English. The public schools I attended in Quebec were welcoming, diverse, equitable, and inclusive of students of all backgrounds. I have lived in the northeastern US since 1998. I have thus always resided in generally multicultural, progressive, and open-minded milieus. What a blessing to have learned multiple languages, have friends of all nationalities, and be able to continue honoring my Indian traditions and culture! Multiculturalism and diversity are all I’ve known, what I’ve always appreciated, and am grateful for to this day. As a woman of color, over the years I’ve often found myself to be the only ‘visible minority’ in various groups, activities, and organizations I’ve been involved with, though I’ve thankfully never faced any major hindering discrimination. Hence, I have high standards and expectations on how communities and associations should respect and give voice to all present, especially to visible minorities and those marginalized. Therefore, I will always stand in solidarity with Black women and those who need to be heard most, particularly in the darkest times. Allyship is important, because what affects one affects all. It is our collective experience and history. Black history is our history. Working on this project and documenting the women’s stories further confirmed that ‘caste’, ‘race’, nationality, disability, spoken accent, and other external differences should have no bearing on one’s success. I continue to question, correct, and/or shed my own biases and any wrongly preconceived notions, and realize that there is much I still don’t know! May we be gently curious about one another, and delight in what we discover. Karen Delk - “Stay steady, follow your course, speak your truth and be authentic.” © Parvathi Kumar Morgan Johnson - “Although we are said to be this progressive country, we haven’t come that far from segregation and slavery. And things need to change. I understand that some people don’t believe in protests or think they can’t be a part of the change. Sometimes they are resistant to change because it seems like it’s such a boulder to move. But if everyone does a little bit, we can move it together.” © Parvathi Kumar Kristine Smith - “Don’t be afraid to be different. Take the road less traveled, stand for what you believe in. And even when things seem tough, keep pushing forward. I wouldn’t be here today if I had let people’s words sink in. Stay grounded in who you are, continue to believe and help grow yourself and don’t be deterred by the distractions.” © Parvathi Kumar Susan Hairston - “We have to balance what’s good for one with what’s good for the other because we’re all connected. And if we’ve never seen it before, now is what Covid has shown us. I’m asking for that kind of paradigm shift, because we’ve been driven to be so consumer, so all about me. Let’s be more about us.” © Parvathi Kumar Annette Scott - “I educate the vulnerable population because sometimes they believe they are inferior, and I don’t want that. We are the same, and we have the same goals. Even with labels, you can still achieve. And you can turn around and make a difference for somebody behind you. And that’s what keeps me going. I try to bring a different light to them for the short time that I’m with them.” © Parvathi Kumar Barbara Flythe - “There are lots of places in the world where love happens every day, where people are caring and compassionate. All around us, Covid has increased awareness of our responsibilities to support one another. In the midst of the crisis and suffering of the pandemic, people are creating new ways to live their lives with meaning and purpose. I really am an optimist.” © Parvathi Kumar ingrid alexander - “Find your light. We all have that light within us regardless of what our circumstance may be looking like right now. We all have to try to find it and never let anyone dim it. I always greet each person as the light he or she is.” © Parvathi Kumar Whitney Smith - “If we want this world to be a better place and good for us all, we’ve got to be the change that we want to see, so basically, it starts with us. I can’t blame everybody else. I need to look at myself and check my biases. I often ask myself: what am I struggling with, what are some things that are holding me hostage? I always assess myself first and transform those things to be a better me for this world. We have to be the change we want to see, and that starts with us first. © Parvathi Kumar Alexandra Maye - “As I navigate our demanding health care arena as a Black woman and registered nurse, I place my wellbeing first. I surround myself with positive affirmations and people, confidently speak up for myself, and let my light shine while passionately advocating for my patients and colleagues.” © Parvathi Kumar Kim Gaddy - “I live each and every day knowing that I can help people change their outlook on why the environment is important, why their health and whole existence is connected to the environment. We have an obligation to be better stewards of this land to leave it better off than how we found it.” © Parvathi Kumar TPL: How do you think projects like yours can contribute to broader discussions about race, gender, and equality in today’s world? PARVATHI: There’s no going back in terms of social integration and equality, despite efforts by the current US administration and other foreign governments to do so. It’s simply unconscionable in today’s world. The hope is that viewers and readers would probe into their own history, rationally reflect on any lingering biases or prejudices, examine their surrounding communities’ attitudes and behaviors, and take steps to rectify, repair, and improve; be curious rather than judgmental, open-minded rather than closed, or at least tolerant if not completely accepting – live and let live. Clearly, action is still needed worldwide to let diversity safely thrive. Thankfully progress has been made and there is room for further advancement. Perhaps through this project, others will be inspired to create similar endeavors so we can further be enlightened. TPL: If you could continue this project in a different way or expand upon it, what would the next step look like? Would you consider featuring more women or exploring similar themes in another format? PARVATHI: As mentioned in an earlier question regarding intersectional feminism, I would widen the mix of Black women featured by including those who are LGBTQ+, multi-racial, of other countries settled here, and other layers of identity to get that variety of perspectives. It would also be nice to venture further than NJ, to meet and promote the outstanding women beyond my vicinity. I would add more digital content, with a dedicated website that includes audio and/or video of interviews with the women, behind-the-scenes moments, and other resources. A physical, tactile book is always special, and perhaps another volume would be in order. Or I can revisit these 25 women in the coming years and produce a “Where Are They Now?” special edition! I would love to do a similar series promoting Latina women, Native American women, autistic women, and other minority groups who are overlooked, underrepresented or unfairly represented. TPL: Who, and what inspires your visual storytelling? What do you hope you inspire in others? What do you want other people's takeaway to be? What is your personal takeaway? PARVATHI: There’s something about photography as the medium for visual storytelling and portraiture that is captivating. Photos transcend what is shown. The photographer can portray someone’s likeness yet leave much to be discovered, interpreted, and experienced by the viewer. Portraiture and documentary photography are genres I’m drawn to, for the artful and lasting impressions they leave. The work of many documentary photographers and photojournalists past and present have inspired and influenced me: Elliott Erwitt, Gordon Parks, Dawoud Bey, Raghubir Singh, Raghu Rai, Nikos Economopoulos, Lynsey Addario, Maggie Steber, Graciela Magnoni, and many, many others. In the process of doing this project, I learned more about Black women photo artists who I’d be remiss to not mention! Latoya Ruby Frazier, Carrie Mae Weems, Deborah Willis, Cherris May, Polly Irungu, and the Black Women Photographers collective! I hope people are inspired to achieve, to pursue their goals despite outside obstacles, and to be open to ask for support from those who’ve already overcome similar challenges. In turn, I hope those who’ve found success may pay it forward and help those trying to find their way. Others may feel inclined to join causes for justice, or for building and maintaining peace. Perhaps just learning to quiet the mind and maintain one’s own peace is enough. Inner peace leads to outer peace. The way in is the way out. I hope readers come away feeling less fearful of the ‘other’, to ignore the negative voice in the head that knows nothing, remembering that mutual respect, and simple conversations can offer insight and create fruitful and meaningful bonds of friendship and trust. In my many travels over the years (India, Japan, Nepal, Turkey, Mexico, Morocco, across Europe, and more) and having lived in Denmark for a year in my 20s, staying and meeting with locals in foreign lands is an immediate and delightful way to rewire the brain, step out of the usual comfort zones, and become more creative and accepting of new ideas. No matter how many books one reads on a subject, talking to an individual can often be just as, if not more worthwhile. During the release of my project in 2021, I also learned of the ‘Human Library Project’, which is exactly what we need – a way to remove judgement of others through safe discourse. I’ve also been involved with ‘Servas International’ for over 25 years, a nonprofit member organization that builds peace and cross-cultural understanding through day visits or overnight home stays. I’ve stayed with locals in various countries and have hosted many travelers from abroad, each time delightful in exchanging views, experiences, and learning about our shared humanity. I also hope, with respect to art itself, that people see that one needs no permission to take up space, to create and self-publish a book (or any artwork or project), and share it with the world. It is a matter of taking that first step for an idea that you know is aligned with your Truth, of persevering and finishing, and trusting that good will come of it. I never expected to have the reach that this book had, the beautiful inaugural exhibition and subsequent exhibits, the immense warm response and support. If you follow through with an idea born from the heart, the Universe will step in and lend a hand. I am ever grateful to have been privy to that. We have more in common than not, we are all connected at a deeper level – a fact forgotten and overlooked due to man-made/mind-made madness, causing needless suffering and tragedy. May we learn to see and feel the same Presence within each other. Ultimately there is no separation. In making this project, I came upon beautiful related quotes by Black women writers and poets, and the ones that touched me are: “We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.” – Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” – June Jordan (1936-2002) We’re in this together. If we listen to that unwavering small true voice, we all have deep within, it will lead and guide us to good, for the benefit of all. At the end of the day, we are only here for each other. We are One. As we celebrate International Women’s Month, Parvathi Kumar’s work stands as a powerful tribute to the resilience, brilliance, and unwavering spirit of all Black women. The narrative and dialogue she creates with her subjects gives these remarkable women the recognition they deserve — not as distant figures, but as relatable, inspiring individuals who shape their communities and redefine what leadership looks like. Her book is more than a collection of portraits; it is a movement toward visibility, empowerment, and understanding. It reminds us that history is not only written in textbooks but in the lives of women who rise above adversity, uplift others, and create lasting change. In honoring these women, Parvathi invites us to expand our own perspectives, challenge assumptions, while recognizing the interconnectedness of our struggles and triumphs. This International Women’s Month, let us draw inspiration from these stories. Let us uplift the voices of women who have been historically overlooked, acknowledge their invaluable contributions, and commit to fostering a world where equality, respect, and representation are not aspirations, but realities. Through art, activism, and storytelling, we can continue to illuminate the path forward — one that is inclusive, just, and truly celebrates the power of women. VIEW PARVATHI'S PORTFOLIO Buy book >>> Instagram >>> Human Library Project >>> The 1619 Project >>> Servas International >>> read more interviews >>> GUIDED BY A WHISPER Guided by reflection and the quiet presence of art history, Isolda Fabregat Sanz makes photographs that resist certainty and invite the viewer to remain inside the act of looking. WHAT REMAINS, WHAT EMERGES Laetitia Heisler transforms risk, memory, and the body into layered analogue visions — feminist rituals of seeing that reveal what endures, and what quietly emerges beyond visibility. WHAT WE ARE, WHAT WE DO Culture lives where art and community meet, and in this space Alejandro Dávila’s photographs reveal the unseen labor and devotion that sustain creation. ANALOGICAL LIMBO Nicola Cappellari reminds us that the photograph’s power lies not in what it shows, but in what it leaves unsaid. THREADS OF MOROCCAN LIFE Through gestures of work and moments of community, Kat Puchowska reveals Morocco’s overlooked beauty. IT STARTED AS LIGHT…ENDED IN SHIVERS… Between intimacy and estrangement, Anton Bou’s photographs wander — restless fragments of light and shadow, mapping the fragile terrain where self unravels into sensation. WITH EYES THAT LISTEN AND A HEART THAT SEES For decades, Rivka Shifman Katvan has documented the unseen backstage world of Broadway, capturing authenticity where performance and humanity intersect. DIPTYCH DIALOGUES Through the beautiful language of diptychs, Taiwanese photographer Jay Hsu invites us into a world where quiet images speak of memory, resilience, and hope. UNKNOWN ABYSSINIA In Ethiopia, Sebastian Piatek found a new way of seeing — where architecture endures, but women in motion carry the narrative forward. THE PULSE OF THE STREET Moments vanish, yet Suvam Saha holds them still — the pulse of India’s streets captured in fragments of life that will never repeat. WHAT DO WE WANT? More than documentation, David Gray reveals the human pulse of resistance and asks us to see beyond the surface of unrest. CRACKED RIBS 2016 Cynthia Karalla opens up about the art of survival, the power of perspective, and why she believes each of us holds a monopoly on our own narrative. STREETS OF KOLKATA Ayanava Sil’s reveals Kolkata’s soul, capturing moments with empathy, presence and humility while offering deep insight into both city and self. PERIPHERAL PLACES A project by Catia Montagna that distills fleeting encounters and spatial poetics into triptychs - visual short stories that capture the in-between, where meaning often hides. POINTE-AU-CHIEN IS NOT DEAD Through Wayan Barre’s documentary, we are invited not only to see but to feel the lived realities of a community standing at the crossroads of environmental collapse and cultural survival. QUEER HAPPENED HERE Author Marc Zinaman sheds light on the valuable contributions that LGBTQ+ individuals have made to the cultural and social fabric of New York City. TRACES OF TIME Marked by an ongoing visual dialogue with time, memory, and impermanence, Zamin Jafarov’s long-term projects highlight the quiet power of observation and the emotional depth of simplicity. THERE MY LITTLE EYES Guillermo Franco’s book is an exploration of seeing beyond the obvious. His work invites us to embrace patience, curiosity, and the unexpected in a world that often rushes past the details. VISUAL HEALING BEYOND THE DIAGNOSIS Betty Goh’s photography exemplifies the transformative power of visual storytelling, where personal adversity becomes a canvas for resilience, illuminating the connection between art, healing, and self-reclamation. EVERYDAY BLACKNESS Parvathi Kumar’s book is a profound tribute to the resilience, and contributions of incredible Black women from all walks of life, making it a vital addition to the conversation around International Women’s Month. A VOYAGE TO DISCOVERY Fanja Hubers’ journey in photography is one of continuous exploration, balancing documentation with artistic self-reflection. MARCH FORWARD Through photography, Suzanne Phoenix creates a space for representation, recognition, and resistance — ensuring that the voices of women and gender-diverse people are seen, heard, and celebrated. FLUX: Exploring Form, Luminescence, and Motion Amy Newton-McConnel embraces unpredictability, finding structure within chaos and allowing light to guide the composition. AN ODE TO SPONTANEITY AND SERENDIPITY Meera Nerurkar captures not just what is seen but also what is felt, turning the everyday into something worth a second glance. THAT’S HOW IT IS Luisa Montagna explores the fluid nature of reality - how it shifts depending on the observer, emphasizing that subjective perception takes precedence over objective truth.