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FLUX: Exploring Form, Luminescence, and Motion Amy Newton-McConnel embraces unpredictability, finding structure within chaos and allowing light to guide the composition. FLUX Exploring Form, Luminescence, and Motion March 2, 2025 INTERVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY Amy Newton-McConnel INTERVIEW Melanie Meggs Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link SHARE Amy Newton-McConnel’s photography reinterprets light and movement, constructing a visual dialogue that shifts between the tangible and the abstract. Through the technique of Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), Amy disrupts conventional perspectives, using the camera as a tool for spontaneity and experimentation. Rather than capturing static moments, her work embraces fluidity, where motion dictates form, and light serves as both subject and medium. By dissolving recognizable structures, she invites the viewer to engage with images that exist beyond the constraints of literal interpretation, prompting a reconsideration of how movement shapes perception. Amy’s work has been exhibited in galleries throughout Arizona and is part of the permanent collection at Rosie’s House: A Music Academy for Children in Phoenix. Her photography has been featured previously here on The Pictorial List, and in numerous digital and print publications, including Hintology, ICM Photography Magazine, Spectaculum Magazine, Spotlight Contemporary Art Magazine, and Women United Art Magazine. These platforms have recognized her ability to push the boundaries of photographic storytelling through abstraction. Her series, ‘Flux: Exploring Form, Luminescence, and Motion’, examines the interplay of structured precision and organic unpredictability. Through controlled camera movements, she captures ephemeral moments, composing images that evoke rhythm and energy. Amy’s approach to ICM is grounded in a study of lines, textures, and colors, reshaping visual perception by merging movement and stillness into a unified composition. The blurred contours and layered tonalities in these images suggest an evolving transformation, capturing the fluid nature of time and space. By integrating ICM techniques with a focused conceptual framework, Amy constructs compositions that extend beyond the frame. Her work does not seek to depict reality but rather to reinterpret it, offering an alternative lens through which to engage with the transient nature of experience. In this interview, she discusses her artistic process, the conceptual underpinnings of ‘Flux: Exploring Form, Luminescence, and Motion’, and the role of abstraction in contemporary photography. “‘Flux’ began as an exploration of movement and transformation, without a rigid narrative in mind. I was drawn to the way shifting forms and layered textures could evoke different emotions and interpretations. As the project evolved, I found that themes of energy, fluidity, and impermanence naturally emerged, shaping the direction of the work. It was a balance between intentionality and discovery — allowing the process to guide me while remaining attuned to the emotional resonance of each piece.” IN CONVERSATION WITH AMY NEWTON-MCCONNELL THE PICTORIAL LIST: How do you define the boundary between control and unpredictability in Flux? Do you see motion as a tool to shape the image, or does it become a subject in itself? AMY: The boundary between control and unpredictability is fluid—I guide the motion, but I also embrace the unexpected. Motion is both a tool and a subject; I use it to sculpt the image, yet it also takes on a life of its own, shaping the final composition in ways I can’t fully anticipate. The interplay between these elements is what makes the work dynamic—it's about finding harmony in chaos and allowing the movement to speak for itself. TPL: In this series, how do you determine the degree of abstraction? Were there moments where the original subject remained visible, or was total transformation your goal? AMY: Total transformation was my goal in this series. I wanted to push the original subject beyond recognition, allowing form, color, and movement to take precedence over representation. The process was about dissolving the familiar and creating something entirely new — an image that exists in its own space, independent of its source. By embracing abstraction to this degree, I aimed to evoke emotion and interpretation without the constraints of a recognizable subject. TPL: ‘Flux’ suggests a dialogue between order and chaos — do you find yourself drawn more to one aspect over the other when composing your images? AMY: I find myself drawn to discovering order within the chaos. While the process of creating ‘Flux’ embraces unpredictability, my instinct is to seek structure within that movement — whether through composition, balance, or the interplay of light and form. The tension between these elements is what makes the work compelling to me. Chaos provides energy and spontaneity, but finding moments of harmony within it is what ultimately shapes the final image. 'Distended', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Drift', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Convergence', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Curvature', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Conic', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Celestial', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Bounce', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Bloom', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Passage', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Mosaic', © Amy Newton-McConnel TPL: Light is a crucial element in ‘Flux’. How do you manipulate light sources to achieve the sense of depth and radiance in your images? AMY: I don’t manipulate the light source itself; instead, I manipulate the direction of light through my camera using intentional camera movement. By shifting the camera during exposure, I reshape how light interacts with the scene, creating a sense of depth and radiance. This technique allows me to stretch, blur, and layer light in ways that transform the original subject, emphasizing motion and energy rather than fixed form. TPL: Are there particular types of light—natural, artificial, or mixed—that lend themselves best to the visual language of ‘Flux’? AMY: For ‘Flux’, I worked exclusively with artificial light in an outdoor environment during the evening, where natural light was minimal. Artificial light lends itself well to the visual language of the series because of its intensity, directionality, and the way it interacts with movement. The contrast between light and darkness enhances the sense of depth and fluidity, allowing me to sculpt the image through intentional camera movement. This controlled yet dynamic interplay of light helps create the transformation I seek in the work. I aim to evoke emotion and interpretation without the constraints of a recognizable subject. TPL: When working on ‘Flux’, did you have a consistent technical approach, or was each image a result of experimentation and discovery? AMY: Every image in ‘Flux’ was the result of experimentation and discovery. Each movement of the camera introduced new possibilities, and I embraced the unpredictability of the results. This approach kept the work dynamic, allowing me to respond to the light, motion, and composition in the moment rather than adhering to a predetermined outcome. TPL: Were there any unexpected technical challenges in translating your vision into final images? How did you overcome them? AMY: There were no technical challenges in translating my vision into the final images—only the unpredictability of the outcome. Since ‘Flux’ was built on experimentation, I embraced the lack of control as part of the process. Rather than seeing unpredictability as an obstacle, I allowed it to guide the work, shaping each image in ways I couldn’t fully anticipate. TPL: Abstraction allows for multiple interpretations. Do you prefer viewers to approach your work with an open perspective, or are there specific narratives you hope they uncover? AMY: I want viewers to approach my work with an open mind and create their own stories. Abstraction allows for a wide range of interpretations, and I believe that the beauty of ‘Flux’ lies in its ability to evoke different emotions and thoughts in each person. Rather than guiding the viewer toward a specific narrative, I want the images to be a personal experience, allowing each individual to bring their own perspective to the work. 'Flutter'. © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Entanglement', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Electromagnetic', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Veined Glow', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Whirlwind', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Undulation', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Symphony', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Rebound', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Turbulence', © Amy Newton-McConnel 'Tendril', © Amy Newton-McConnel TPL: Your work has a painterly quality, reminiscent of Abstract Expressionism. Are there particular painters, photographers, or artistic movements that inspire your approach? AMY: I am inspired by all forms of abstract art, particularly Cubism, Expressionism, and Abstract Expressionism. These movements' focus on breaking down form and conveying emotion through abstract means resonates deeply with my own approach. I draw from their exploration of perspective, color, and emotional depth, which I incorporate into my photographic process. The raw energy and freedom found in these artistic styles influence how I capture movement and transformation. TPL: How do you prepare for a shoot? Do you pre-visualize a composition, or do you let intuition guide your movements? AMY: I don’t begin with a fixed composition in mind. Instead, I experiment with different camera movements and let my intuition guide me through the process. Each shoot is a fluid exploration, where I respond to the light, motion, and energy in the moment. This approach allows for spontaneity and discovery, ensuring that each image evolves organically rather than being constrained by a predetermined vision. PORTFOLIO WEBSITE INSTAGRAM read more interviews >>> CONTOURS OF ABSENCE Where concealment unsettles recognition and ordinary spaces turn psychological, the photographs of Serhii Fett suspend identity between presence and absence. THE ART OF ATTENTION Curiosity turns portraits, objects, and places into discoveries as Len Irish reflects on a life shaped by the camera’s attention. WHERE EMOTIONS BREATHE Simple encounters Irina Sedletskaya almost missed become photographs shaped by silence, distance, uncertainty, memory, hope, and resilience. THE VILLAGE A workers’ neighbourhood becomes a living archive as Virginia Cassano photographs the people, streets, and memories that continue to shape Villaggio Piaggio. MUTABLE MORPHOGENESIS By merging scientific methodologies with photographic experimentation, Emma Varga creates images that challenge fixed distinctions between human and non-human, visible and invisible. THE ARCHITECTURE OF CONSCIOUSNESS Chad Coombs’ Polaroids are small psychological scenes where identity, memory, culture, and belief push against each other. WHERE WE BELONG Community storytelling lies at the heart of The Pictorial List’s mission, and Marlon Ramos’ photographs reflects the spirit of the place we now call home. 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.

Photography is an accidental autobiography. FRANK MATAGRANO Photography is an accidental autobiography. LOCATION Florida UNITED STATES CAMERA/S Fuji XT3 and Fuji X100F @FRANK.M___ FEATURES // An Accidental Autobiography

There is a freedom in outward expression. Amplified by the year spent indoors hiding from a deadly virus, freedom, beginning in the Spring of 2021, took on a distinctive aura: a bold, colorful one. There was a vibrancy, a specific mix of joy, defiance, morality, kindness, and a bit of despair, that I like to think was tinged with hope. Underneath the dyed hair and accessories, tattoos, and thigh high boots, stands someone’s son, someone’s daughter, a human with hopes and vulnerabilities. While we’re all trying to find our way in the world, the beauty of these people is in their self-expression. The people here seem to unabashedly bare and present themselves to the world. They tell their truth and what could be more beautiful? What ultimately propels me to ask, “Can I take your portrait?” is a warmth I sense, something soft underneath the shell. Taking these portraits, I get inside, even if only for a short while. Interacting with these individuals, with their persistent youthful energy, I find myself both stimulated and grounded. Perhaps these young people can sense I’m a mother, allowing them ease and comfort when interacting with me. On one occasion, a young person asked me for a band aid, perhaps rightly pegging me as a “nurturer.” Maybe that’s why most comply when I ask for a portrait. I’ve raised three children, now adults, in the homogenous New Jersey suburbs. Individuality and distinctiveness were a rarity there and perhaps that’s why I now document those on the cusp of adulthood in New York City, one of the most culturally diverse in the nation. One of the more interesting things I’ve found is how quickly a connection can be formed between two strangers, with the camera’s lens serving as a conduit. So, when I begin shooting, I direct people by saying, “Okay, look in my eyes, and whatever you do, don’t smile.” Oddly, these words seem to put people at ease. AMY HOROWITZ There is a freedom in outward expression. Amplified by the year spent indoors hiding from a deadly virus, freedom, beginning in the Spring of 2021, took on a distinctive aura: a bold, colorful one. There was a vibrancy, a specific mix of joy, defiance, morality, kindness, and a bit of despair, that I like to think was tinged with hope. Underneath the dyed hair and accessories, tattoos, and thigh high boots, stands someone’s son, someone’s daughter, a human with hopes and vulnerabilities. While we’re all trying to find our way in the world, the beauty of these people is in their self-expression. The people here seem to unabashedly bare and present themselves to the world. They tell their truth and what could be more beautiful? What ultimately propels me to ask, “Can I take your portrait?” is a warmth I sense, something soft underneath the shell. Taking these portraits, I get inside, even if only for a short while. Interacting with these individuals, with their persistent youthful energy, I find myself both stimulated and grounded. Perhaps these young people can sense I’m a mother, allowing them ease and comfort when interacting with me. On one occasion, a young person asked me for a band aid, perhaps rightly pegging me as a “nurturer.” Maybe that’s why most comply when I ask for a portrait. I’ve raised three children, now adults, in the homogenous New Jersey suburbs. Individuality and distinctiveness were a rarity there and perhaps that’s why I now document those on the cusp of adulthood in New York City, one of the most culturally diverse in the nation. One of the more interesting things I’ve found is how quickly a connection can be formed between two strangers, with the camera’s lens serving as a conduit. So, when I begin shooting, I direct people by saying, “Okay, look in my eyes, and whatever you do, don’t smile.” Oddly, these words seem to put people at ease. LOCATION New York UNITED STATES CAMERA/S Nikon Z7 WEBSITE https://dontsmilenyc.com/ @DONT_SMILE_NYC FEATURES // The Authentic Gaze: The Don't Smile Project

BOOK 18 >> 20 October 18, 2023 BOOK PHOTOGRAPHY Elsa Arrais TEXT Paulo Kellerman Excerpt from interview by Karen Ghostlaw Pomarico SHARE Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Elsa Arrais is a photographer living and creating impressive work in Leiria, Portugal. Born in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Elsa has become a beautiful thread in the tapestry of Portugal. With a background in Engineering, her attraction to visual arts emerged almost imperceptibly and gradually photography became her means of expression and artistic object. Elsa is married and the mother of two beautiful children, living and being inspired by the intricacies of the city of Leiria. Here Elsa has forged a path for her photography by embracing the artists and writers that bring life and character to Leiria in new and exciting ways. In 2021 began an important journey in photography contributing to the collaborative group Fotographar Palavras, and becoming an integral part of their project. Fotographar Palavras is a group founded by Paulo Kellerman, that combines the talent of writers and photographers, engaging them to collaborate on translating words into photography. Elsa shares her inspiration. “Since 2021, I have contributed to the Fotografar Palavras project, where I often search the self-portrait for the defining elements of meaning. With a predilection for minimalist black and white, my visual exploration is guided by local and temporal ephemera, transforming the peculiarities of the details that I find, in the streets I wander, into brief windows, fragments or reflections of memories and personal essences.” Despite all these years living in Leiria, Elsa never felt a real connection with the city. As a mother of two children, it can be hard to find time to call your own, to focus on what inspires you as an artist, and to commit to making the time to create work. These disconnections became the motivation for the photographic base concept of this project ‘18>>20’, which was conceived to embrace these challenges, and create meaningful work. Elsa shares the creative and critical thinking processes that helped her breathe life into her project and give it a powerful direction. “This project emerged with the intention of connecting me with the city and naturally with myself. The use of a 28mm lens served to reinforce this aim of proximity and intimacy with the city, both metaphorically and technically. From this reflection of my relationship with the city, capturing both details and subtleties as well as the city's identity marks, at the end of this project I came across a series of images that subtly lead to a city-shelter. This theme ended up being as personal as it was universal and will therefore serve as the basis for a cycle of reflective conversations developed in partnership with the municipality of Leiria, publisher of the book.” With critical thoughts and ideologies in place, the creative process becomes the focus. Elsa was driven to make the commitment to create this work in a meaningful way. “During one year, always at the same time of the day (between 18 and 20 o’clock), I wandered around the city and photographed Leiria freely. I created a collection of hundreds of images, composing a subtle and emotional portrait of the city, capturing details and subtleties, permanence and mutations, the subtle identity marks that define the soul of constructions and nature, of spaces, of people. From each weekly selected photograph by Paulo Kellerman, he created a brief text (amalgamation of fiction, philosophical reflection and poetic narrative) that offers new possibilities of reading for those images. The aim of this collaborative work (52 weeks, 52 photos, 52 texts) was to compose a simultaneously artistic, emotional, poetic and imagery portrait of the city in a predetermined period of time, in an intimate relationship between emotion and reflection, urbanism and privacy, collective and individual, space and time, image and word.” One can make a significant statement through their personal work, while sometimes the power can be amplified by combining artistic energy and vision from another artist to create an entity larger than oneself. This was the dynamic and inspiration for both artists to produce this relevant work together. Elsa explains the relationship between her and Paulo Kellerman, and how effective they have become at exchanging artistic concepts and visions through photography and word. “Fascinated by the various readings, interpretations and meanings that are normally attributed to my photographs by observers, already collaborating at the time in a project that combines literature and photography and being an avid supporter of multidisciplinary and interconnection of various artistic expressions, the partnership with the local writer Paulo Kellerman came naturally. Mutual respect and trust in individual works allowed us both to be free in the process of creating images and texts. And it was from this freedom, trust, interconnection of interpretations, individual complicities with the city and complicities between photographer and writer that a new vision as collective as personal was born, created week after week. This process culminated in the publication of a book where growth and discoveries are shared.” Paulo Kellerman shares his experience collaborating with Elsa on this project together. “The project 18 » 20 was an amazing creative experience, based on the complicity between writer and photographer. We had time for this project, and that was very important to us: to have the opportunity to think about and discuss the project, to experiment, to see how it slowly materialized. Elsa is very enthusiastic, very determined, very challenging, very cooperative, very generous; it was an enormous pleasure to work with her and I think it shows in the book. I'm very proud of the work we achieved and also of the way we did it, the process in itself. It was a perfect example of co-creation: sharing and creating together, harmonizing points of views and aesthetics, learning with the other, putting the best of each one in the pursuit of a common goal.” Elsa has created new pathways she follows through the streets of Leiria with her photography. She has embraced a philosophy and vision that inspires her to utilize photography in meaningful ways to create important work. As an artist and photographer, she works with clear vision, and an open mind to learn more and to be influenced in creating new ways of seeing and understanding the world around her. “We exist in a present where photography is as accessible as it is conditioned. Accessible to everyone at the touch of a cell phone but restricted in many contexts to those who want to use it in the shared space as a form of artistic expression. Based on this dichotomy, Elsa Arrais searches in the commonplace of everyday life for a voice that many times echoes beyond the expressiveness of a face; her search for notable physical expressions, as well as places' identity details, seeks to establish words capable of awakening emotions and imaginary (and imagery) interpretations in external observers, usually keeping the identity and intimacy of those portrayed intact. The result of this balance between technique, emotion and delicacy is the creation of an ambivalent language dictionary, as complex as it is simple, which oscillates between light and shadow, geometry and emptiness, being and its outer contour, the concrete and distortion; between what remains immutable and what continues under construction; between freedom and repression. As an existential metaphor, this dictionary continues its quest for permanent growth and mutation, in the hope that one day it will become extinct or transformed into a grammar that, complete in itself, forms part of the universal language of images of the present in which we exist. The present where photography is as accessible as it is conditioned, and therefore needs dictionaries.” Elsa Arrais has presented in national and international exhibitions and magazines, co-author of the book ‘18 >>20’, and currently contributes to several projects that combine literature and photography. Have a look at her portfolio and follow her links for new ways of seeing and thinking about photography. PORTFOLIO CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and are not necessarily shared by The Pictorial List and the team.

THE FINNS Simo Väisänen's Finnish street and documentary photographs speak to the viewer very directly and sometimes leave room for questions and wonder. THE FINNS October 23, 2020 INTERVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY Simo Väisänen INTERVIEW Karin Svadlenak Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link SHARE Simo Väisänen is a Finnish self-taught photographer. He is mostly interested in people, places and details. His love for old Finnish black and white movies, Italian neorealism and Akira Kurosawa's and Sergei Eisenstein's productions have partly influenced his photographic style. His street and documentary style photographs speak to the viewer very directly and sometimes leave room for questions and wonder. For this interview Simo shared with us some photos from two of his series, "The Finns" and "Almost Photography". “I was born and raised in Kuopio, Finland in the middle of the beautiful Finnish Lake district. After my studies in Oulu, Helsinki and Jyväskylä Universities I got a position in Mikkeli, which is also surrounded by big lakes. Both Kuopio and Mikkeli are situated in Central Finland. I am a Special Education Teacher and Teacher of the Deaf. My interest in photography started as a school boy. Me and my kid brother once got an Agfamatic 100 Sensor camera for Christmas. We really put that camera through its paces and the images we took were pure expressionism. Later, during my studies in Oulu I bought a second hand East German miracle called Praktica Super TL with a 50mm lens. I used that mainly to take photos of my family and friends. After that photography has been an essential part of me.” IN CONVERSATION WITH SIMO VÄISÄNEN THE PICTORIAL LIST: Simo, please tell us what is it that you want to express through your photography? And what are some of the elements you always try to include in your photographs? SIMO VÄISÄNEN: Photography is almost always associated with a reproduction of reality. To me photography is making known my thoughts or feelings. The reality of the world we live in becomes the reality of how I use my visual language or how I feel about a specific idea or subject. Daido Moriyama once said ”Photography is the expression of our desires”. That’s how it is. Light is photography. Photography is painting with light. If the light is uninspiring or dull I just don’t shoot. TPL: Where do you find your inspiration? And do you have a favourite place to photograph? SV: I believe I could say my passion for photography is my constant source of inspiration. I usually shoot for a theme and try to visit somewhere new to get out of my comfort zone. Favourite place to photograph? Could say anywhere. But I could travel to the end of the world and feel frustrated if the light and the environment didn’t inspire me. TPL: Do you think place matters? Do you try to show a sense of place in your photos? SV: Any place is good enough If I find the place interesting and inspirational enough. To me a sense of place is a feeling or perception I hold. That’s why my photographs differ from all others. TPL: Do you have any favourite artists? SV: My love for old Finnish B&W movies, Italian neorealism and Akira Kurosawa’s and Sergei Eisenstein’s production partly explain why I photograph as I do. And if you don’t understand Daido Moriyama or Junichiro Tanizaki you don’t know me. TPL: You have shared with us a story about the Finnish circus. What gave you the idea of doing a photo series on the circus? SV: I’ve always loved circus. It all begun when me and my kid brother hadn’t even started school yet. Our Mum took us to a circus which had come to our home town Kuopio in Finland. It really took me back to my childhood memories when our daughter was old enough to be taken to circus. It was then I realised I must start recording the present that one day will be the past to my daughter. Finland is the most kick-ass country in the world! TPL: The circus is a place of colour and light. How come you chose to use black and white for your photo essay? Especially since your photos in your Instagram gallery are otherwise often colourful. How do you decide what should be presented in black and white and what in colour? SV: If you look closely you’ll notice that only 62 of my 309 images in my Instagram gallery so far are colour images. That alone proves I’m a B&W guy. As you said circus is a place of colour and light. The light, however, is never constant and therefore you must start using high ISO values. That leads to colour noise. I shoot B&W for all classic reasons. It’s a creative choice. When you shoot for black and white, you challenge yourself to remove the distraction of colour. These include colour casts and differences in colour temperature (ambient light sources), as well as specific colourful elements that are strong, which may reside in the background or take away from your story. I even set my camera for B&W. That results in B&W photos on my LCD and in my viewfinder and allows me to better see lighting, shape and form. I reserve colour mainly for travels, family snapshots and random weddings and funerals. The light must really be something special if I otherwise start shooting in colour. Of course I recognise a good colour photograph when I see one. TPL: When you go out on the streets, do you have a concept in mind of what you want to shoot, or do you let the images just "come to you", or is it both? SV: I’ve always thought that the world is full of images just waiting for us to come and get them. When I hit the streets my main target is people, but I won’t spit on any other potential good image either. The more you shoot the luckier you get. And the luckier you get the better images you get. TPL: Does the equipment you use help you in achieving your vision in your photography? What camera do you use? Do you have a preferred lens/focal length? SV: There’s a tool for every task. When I hit the streets I want to be as inconspicuous as possible and use wide angle primes. Getting close to the subject has never been a problem to me. My The Finns Series is a proof of that. When I don’t have to worry about being noticed a 24-70mm f2.8 zoom is my tool of choice. I jumped on the mirrorless wagon very early on. Currently I use Nikon mirrorless cameras and lenses. The future is absolutely mirrorless. I’m a Nikon Z Creator. TPL: Have you ever been involved in the artistic world before photography? SV: Music has always been a part of me. My register in a male choir was Second Tenor but unfortunately I had to leave the choir because of my work. I just couldn’t find time enough for evening rehearsals or weekend courses far away from my hometown. However, I haven’t forgotten singing completely. When the house is empty I turn into an operatic tenor. Otherwise I sing in the shower to my family’s delight. Believe you understand. TPL: Are there any projects you are currently working on that you would like to let everyone know about? What are some of your goals as an artist? Where do you see yourself or hope to see yourself in five years? SV: I constantly add images to my old photo series. Don’t know for sure yet but I’d like to devote next winter to winter images of Finland in black and white. That would also involve going to the woods. I used to be a nature photographer before mirrorless cameras so that won’t be a problem for me. First and foremost photography is something that makes me feel happy. I couldn’t imagine life without it. When I see a good final image on my computer screen or as a print, the emotion is often physical. In addition to this very personal side I want to expose my work in public. All artists need publicity. If my images make people feel even a tiny bit the way I felt when I made the image, I’m happy. I don’t actually believe in photo exhibitions. I really hope I could publish a book at least in five years. Exhibitions come and go. Photo books last forever. TPL: "When I am not out photographing, I (like to)… SV: When I am not out photographing I like to spend time with my family, listen to my favourite music or read books. Sometimes I have to forget music and books completely because of editing my images. But as I said before, post-processing can be devastating, it can be revelatory, it can actually be great fun." PORTFOLIO WEBSITE INSTAGRAM read more interviews >>> CONTOURS OF ABSENCE Where concealment unsettles recognition and ordinary spaces turn psychological, the photographs of Serhii Fett suspend identity between presence and absence. THE ART OF ATTENTION Curiosity turns portraits, objects, and places into discoveries as Len Irish reflects on a life shaped by the camera’s attention. WHERE EMOTIONS BREATHE Simple encounters Irina Sedletskaya almost missed become photographs shaped by silence, distance, uncertainty, memory, hope, and resilience. THE VILLAGE A workers’ neighbourhood becomes a living archive as Virginia Cassano photographs the people, streets, and memories that continue to shape Villaggio Piaggio. MUTABLE MORPHOGENESIS By merging scientific methodologies with photographic experimentation, Emma Varga creates images that challenge fixed distinctions between human and non-human, visible and invisible. THE ARCHITECTURE OF CONSCIOUSNESS Chad Coombs’ Polaroids are small psychological scenes where identity, memory, culture, and belief push against each other. WHERE WE BELONG Community storytelling lies at the heart of The Pictorial List’s mission, and Marlon Ramos’ photographs reflects the spirit of the place we now call home. 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.

MAKING NOISE As a very sociable person and able to talk to everyone, street photography for Noisy Kid is an artistic discipline that he practices simply. MAKING NOISE February 23, 2022 INTERVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY Noisy Kid INTERVIEW Melanie Meggs Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link SHARE Noisy Kid has been around for quite a while; first as a musician, and now as a photographer. His fun, outgoing personality and willingness to talk to anyone make him the perfect street photographer. He's known for his unique style, which he describes as 'Wherever you are, I shoot you!' His photographs capture candid moments of everyday life with an attitude that's both playful and spontaneous. At an exhibition of his work, a lady asked him how he could photograph people so easily. Noisy Kid explained that he has the ability to connect with people quickly and without hesitation. He never waits hours for the perfect moment and instead relies on his instinct and proximity to his subjects. He's an artist with a distinct approach that comes from his experience as a musician, and as a photographer, he has mastered the art of noise in photography. “I played guitar in a punk rock band with which we did a few gigs. I had a tumour on my auditory nerve and after the operation it was prudent to stop playing music. I am a bit deaf on the left side. My nickname as a musician was Noisy Kid, now it is my nickname as a photographer. I was lucky because the notion of noise exists in photography.” IN CONVERSATION WITH NOISY KID THE PICTORIAL LIST: Noisy Kid please tell us about yourself. NOISY KID: I am a 53 year old Belgian photographer. I am very dynamic and very sociable. I live around 40 minutes from Brussels. My house is in the countryside, so it's pretty nice during a pandemic. Only the moment counts for me. I never analyse myself in relation to the past. Today I'm ok in a crazy world, I always see the glass half full, never half empty. I think that my sociable side is reflected in my images. I have a second job as an office worker (administrative expert). TPL: What draws you to photography and art? How did your journey into photography begin? NK: I started drawing when I was a little boy. I think the reason is simple, I liked comics and I wanted to reproduce what I was reading. There's nothing to intellectualise, that's the only reason. When I was older, I gave up drawing for music. I played guitar in a punk rock band with which we did a few gigs. The problem with the band was that one of the members was a drum machine, which never replaces a real drummer (at least at that time, late 90s). As for me, I had a tumour on my auditory nerve and after the operation it was prudent to stop playing music. I am a bit deaf on the left side. My nickname as a musician was Noisy Kid, now it is my nickname as a photographer. I was lucky because the notion of noise exists in photography. To start with, I bought a Nikon D7000 and joined a photo club whose members had a lot of experience and good advice. TPL: Tell us the story behind the series of images that you have sent to us. What do you want to express with your work? NK: I walk, I photograph, I talk to the people I sometimes put in the situation, I laugh. My photographs don't have to tell anything special, by its nature a portrait already gives off a lot of emotion. However, I always look at what is happening in the viewfinder of my camera. My eyes tell me if it's okay. Note that while I like photos that are simply beautiful and decorative, I do not reject those that tell a story. I've stopped photographing the homeless, it's too easy and I have no lessons to give. I prefer to give them $2 or a bowl of soup. TPL: What have been some of your favourite memories or moments in your photography journey thus far? NK: I will tell you about a moment with a London policeman I wanted to photograph. He was very playful and had a typical English humour. I felt that my camera was a remote control for him and only for him. I could ask him to do anything, even to jump in with both feet. I swear it wasn't Mr Bean. TPL: Do you have any favourite artists and photographers? NK: Robert Doisneau, Stanley Kubrick, Frank Horvat, Dennis Hopper, Léonard Misonne, Peter Lindbergh, Brassaï, John Bulmer, William Claxton, Bruce Gilden, Robert Frank, Lee Friedlander, Larry Fink, Walker Evans, Elliott Erwitt, Alice Springs, Chuck Close, René Magritte, Salvador Dali, Renoir, Piet Mondrian, J.M.W. Turner, Victor Vasarely, Paula Raiglot, Driving Dead Girl, Séverine Day, Hammer-Jam-Her,The Kinks, The Ramones, Cosmic Psychos, The Monsters, Ennio Morricone, Frank Sinatra, Rock garage, Punk-Rock, Hardcore, Alternative rock, Tim Burton, Alfred Hitchcock, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, Burt Lancaster, Charles Bronson, Louis de Funès, Bourvil, Jean Gabin, Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Bernard Blier, Brigitte Bardot, Diana Rigg, Benny Hill, Jerry Seinfeld, Rik Mayall & Adrian Edmondson (Bottom), Marc Jolivet, Robin Pourbaix,... I walk, I photograph, I talk to the people I sometimes put in the situation, I laugh. TPL: If you could just choose one photographer to shoot alongside for a day...who would you choose? NK: Peter Lindbergh, just great. I'll watch, I'll listen, I'll learn. TPL: Does the equipment you use help you in achieving your vision in your photography? What camera do you use? Do you have a preferred lens/focal length? How much post-processing do you do? NK: My favourite camera at this moment is the very versatile Nikon D750, perfect for me. I keep an eye on Fujifilm's medium format cameras, not just a dream, I hope. I always look for contact, proximity with people, I always face them. Therefore, a 24-70mm f2.8 lens and a 35mm lens are largely sufficient. I also use the 24-70mm when I take pictures during concerts. A 85mm lens is my maximum limit in studio photography (portrait, fashion photography). A 70-200mm f2.8 lens? Why not but rarely because I don't have this lens. For street photography, I sometimes use a cobra flash if it's absolutely necessary or to satisfy an artistic intention. I have 2 x « Elinchrom ELC 500 monolight studio flash » + many light shapers. I use Lightroom to develop my RAW files, I use Photoshop for retouching and editing. TPL: What are your goals as an artist or photographer? Where do you hope to see yourself in five years? What do you see as the next chapter in your exploration for future projects? NK: Let's just say I'll stop taking pictures when technology allows us to take perfect photos with our own eyes. Just to say, look Blincam in 2016, a wearable camera which attaches to any pair of glasses. It lets you capture the moment instantly by a wink, or a blink. There's already a race to develop technology for the contact lenses of the future. Medically it will be great, but artistically it won't be fun for me. We will be in the world of fast and effortless photography. In five years' time, I will of course still be there. The pandemic is constraining but I want to do new exhibitions. I also hope that my online shop will be successful. The large prints I sell have a really nice quality (piezography or chromaluxe). I don't sell worldwide. For the moment I only sell where I can deliver myself, so mainly in my Belgium. TPL: When I am not out photographing, I (like to)… NK: When I'm not out photographing, I like to listen to music, play guitar for myself...let my imagination go. PORTFOLIO WEBSITE INSTAGRAM read more interviews >>> CONTOURS OF ABSENCE Where concealment unsettles recognition and ordinary spaces turn psychological, the photographs of Serhii Fett suspend identity between presence and absence. THE ART OF ATTENTION Curiosity turns portraits, objects, and places into discoveries as Len Irish reflects on a life shaped by the camera’s attention. WHERE EMOTIONS BREATHE Simple encounters Irina Sedletskaya almost missed become photographs shaped by silence, distance, uncertainty, memory, hope, and resilience. THE VILLAGE A workers’ neighbourhood becomes a living archive as Virginia Cassano photographs the people, streets, and memories that continue to shape Villaggio Piaggio. MUTABLE MORPHOGENESIS By merging scientific methodologies with photographic experimentation, Emma Varga creates images that challenge fixed distinctions between human and non-human, visible and invisible. THE ARCHITECTURE OF CONSCIOUSNESS Chad Coombs’ Polaroids are small psychological scenes where identity, memory, culture, and belief push against each other. WHERE WE BELONG Community storytelling lies at the heart of The Pictorial List’s mission, and Marlon Ramos’ photographs reflects the spirit of the place we now call home. 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.

As a writer/director/editor of television, commercials and political media, still photography has always been a passion. I thought it might be time to share my work as well as invite those interested in displaying my photographs. I am currently engaged in creating mise-en-scenes —groups of photos that tell a story. DEAN GOLDBERG Out of gallery As a writer/director/editor of television, commercials and political media, still photography has always been a passion. I thought it might be time to share my work as well as invite those interested in displaying my photographs. I am currently engaged in creating mise-en-scenes —groups of photos that tell a story. LOCATION New York UNITED STATES CAMERA/S Nikon D70 (past), Fujifilm GFX 50S (present) WEBSITE https://deangoldberg.com/ @DEAN.GOLDBERG @DEAN.GOLDBERG.507 FEATURES // History In The Making Out of gallery

IN FRAMES WE TRUST Gianluca Mortarotti's persona behind the camera brings out his life philosophy of looking for the exceptional in the ordinary. IN FRAMES WE TRUST October 28, 2022 INTERVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY Gianluca Mortarotti INTERVIEW Melanie Meggs Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link SHARE Gianluca Mortarotti is an autodidact photographer who has found his true passion in the art of capturing the beauty of the everyday. Born and raised in London, Gianluca grew up observing the unique quality of his father's work as a wedding photographer. Little did he know that that same passion for photography would be something he himself would pursue in adulthood. After completing his studies in architecture and building engineering, he decided to focus on developing his craft in the field of photography, exploring the life and culture of cities, and introducing a distinct visual commentary to his work. With a unique style filled with painterly qualities, Gianluca's photographs evoke a sense of peace and positivity. His personality behind the camera brings a fresh and unexpected approach, allowing him to capture the exceptional inside the ordinary and effectively conveying a narrative and metaphorical meaning in his photographs. He has been able to create captivating scenes that leave viewers awestruck, challenging them to see the world in a new and complex light. Gianluca Mortarotti is a truly remarkable photographer, capturing moments of beauty and insight through his work and allowing us to explore the world through his eyes. His talent is something to be admired and celebrated, as he continues to explore the world of photography with passion and enthusiasm. “It was a slow process that evolved during the years I would say. There wasn't a real moment in my life when I decided "ok, now I'm going to learn photography or do photography". Photography has always been part of my life obviously, but if I must think of a specific moment, it probably happened with traveling. That is for sure the moment I started to feel the need of having a camera with me wherever new I would go, wherever there was something to discover or document. My love for street photography arose from my moving to London in 2020, and so the two things go hand in hand. That’s absolutely the moment where I felt the switch, where I realised street photography was going to be my biggest passion.” IN CONVERSATION WITH GIANLUCA MORTAROTTI THE PICTORIAL LIST: Gianluca please tell us about yourself. How does where you are from influence your work? GIANLUCA MORTAROTTI: I am from Italy, I was born and raised in Rome and currently, I am based in London where I work as an engineer in the construction industry. I’m not a photographer for a living and I have never really done any study that relates to photography, filmography, etc. I don’t think where I’m from has influenced my work much. It’s rather how I grew up that probably has shaped how I work and take photos today. My biggest influence since a young age was my father and his work as a photographer. Surely spending time with him developing films in the darkroom, shooting at weddings, or just hanging around his shop made photography an integral part of my life. TPL: What is it that you love most about street photography? GM: That it allows you to seize your perception of the world around you like no other medium can. You could tell, write, sing, or play what you perceive, but I think the visual power of images goes beyond all of that because, in the end, you are instantly expressing all kinds of information about your personal view. An image is enriched by your background, your mood, and your feelings so all the emotions connected to that moment are held within each photo you make. Another reason why I love it, and that’s why I used “make” photos, is that it’s a creative moment. I can create the image I like, with total freedom of expression, with absolutely no rules to follow, just using elements of the reality I live in. TPL: When you take pictures, do you usually have a concept in mind of what you want to shoot, or do you let the images just "come to you", or is it both? Please describe your process. GM: I tend to never set a purpose when I go out taking pictures, that would defeat the whole concept of street photography. I do have in mind, based on previous photos or images I saw in books or on media, some basic concepts that will help me recognize when it’s the right moment to take the shot. But I never go out with the intent to take a specific photo. Generally, I would say I let the images come to me. And that’s the beauty of it, right? I mean, the possibility to improvise, capture a scene, or create in the moment just using general concepts gives you the feeling you’re constantly committing to it. For example, I think being able to adapt yourself to the situation it’s very important. As well as letting your mood influence how you’re going to take pictures. As I see it is a very simple process: I go, I observe, I wait, and I focus on what find interesting, and pleasing for my eyes…lights, colours, people, juxtapositions, and layers. TPL: What have been some of your most favorite places you find inspiration to explore through your photography, and what draws you there? GM: I rarely go to specific places to make photos. I just carry my camera with me whenever I go somewhere new and whenever I know I have time to shoot. What I do reckon though is the places I feel most inspired by are the ones that differ the most from my usual surroundings. Out of my comfort zone is the perfect field to exercise what I know and discover what I don’t know. These are the places I find inspiration in. TPL: What role has the digital community played in your photography journey thus far? GM: The digital community and social media can be a great source of inspiration away from the “Masters of Photography”. I mean it’s perfect to connect with people of your niche with which you can easily share your work and create a sense of community. To be honest, it got me started. One day I got curious about different types of photography and suddenly I had tons of channels on street photography and photographers to interact with. Instantly. And you can interact and learn from these people of course. So, good to hold the interest. Other than that, I’m very careful in separating the community aspect of it from the way I do photography. And what I mean is I try to stay out of the loop where you end up adapting your style to the media just to get the most out of it but I’m always on the lookout for groups of photographers to share my vision with. My main goal as a photographer is to be consistent enough to create a body of work I can look back at and be proud of. TPL: Do you have any favourite artists or photographers you would like to share with us, and the reason for their significance? GM: I love colours so of course, Leiter, Webb, and Hass are my favourite photographers. In a different way though. Probably I like more Hass for the pure use of colours and their balance, I prefer Leiter for the feeling that the images transmit through the colours and Webb for the complexity and richness of colours and composition. I also love the work of Edward Hopper and impressionists like Degas, Pissarro, and Manet, as there’s a very long-distance influence between these movements and street photography. TPL: If you could just choose one photographer to shoot alongside for a day...who would you choose? And why? GM: I’d love to spend a day with any of the above but If I really must spend a day out in the street shooting with a photographer, I’d say Bruce Gilden when he was working on his “Facing New York” for two simple reasons: 1. It’s New York. 2. His technique is so unique and bold that I have the impression I’d experience the street like never before and have so much fun. Pure adrenaline rush. TPL: Do you have a favorite photography/art quote that has been an inspiration to you? GM: Saul Leiter said, “It is not where it is or what it is that matters but how you see it”. In its simplicity, I found it to be extremely true and liberating. It doesn’t only describe how street photography should be approached but it embodies the essence of visual arts in general. It’s been and still is an inspiration, a reminder that street photography is the most personal, subjective, and liberating type of photography in which the only goal is to express your vision of life. TPL: What was the first camera you ever held in your hand, brought to eye, and released a shutter on? What is the camera you use now? Does the equipment you use help you in achieving your vision in your photography? What is on your wishlist? GM: I think it was a Kodak compact camera, one of these toys with a lot of integrated filters, panoramic mode, and so on…a Kodak EasyShare maybe was the model. At the moment I use a Fujifilm X-S10 and I’ve got two lenses – an XF 23mm f1.4 and an XF 55-200mm zoom. I’m pretty happy with what I can get out of them. They give me the possibility to cover most situations and yes, to achieve my vision so far. also, I don’t think equipment plays a huge role in achieving your vision, I believe that a camera is just a tool and it’s the eye that makes the photo. On my wishlist? I had a Canon, now Fuji so I’d love to get my hands on a Leica someday. I love their minimal design. And Magnum Degrees, the book. That’s also a piece of fundamental equipment. TPL: Are there any other photographic projects you are working on, or have planned in the near future? What are some of your goals as a photographer? Where do you hope to see yourself in five years? GM: My main goal as a photographer is to be consistent enough to create a body of work I can look back at and be proud of. At the moment I’m not working on any photographic project I’m actually thinking about the next one after Lockdown Street Diary (LSD). I self‑publish in 2021 and the creative process behind was just incredibly rewarding so I will totally do it again with a different project. In 5 years? So much has changed in just one year, it’s hard to predict 5. First, I would like to have continued to refine my skills further and then, I‘d like to work on a commissioned photography project. Big dream? Solo exhibition. TPL: “When I am not out photographing, I (like to)… GM: Chill, hang out, listen to music, cook (better if at the same time), movies…Keep myself occupied and amused.” PORTFOLIO WEBSITE INSTAGRAM read more interviews >>> CONTOURS OF ABSENCE Where concealment unsettles recognition and ordinary spaces turn psychological, the photographs of Serhii Fett suspend identity between presence and absence. THE ART OF ATTENTION Curiosity turns portraits, objects, and places into discoveries as Len Irish reflects on a life shaped by the camera’s attention. WHERE EMOTIONS BREATHE Simple encounters Irina Sedletskaya almost missed become photographs shaped by silence, distance, uncertainty, memory, hope, and resilience. THE VILLAGE A workers’ neighbourhood becomes a living archive as Virginia Cassano photographs the people, streets, and memories that continue to shape Villaggio Piaggio. MUTABLE MORPHOGENESIS By merging scientific methodologies with photographic experimentation, Emma Varga creates images that challenge fixed distinctions between human and non-human, visible and invisible. THE ARCHITECTURE OF CONSCIOUSNESS Chad Coombs’ Polaroids are small psychological scenes where identity, memory, culture, and belief push against each other. WHERE WE BELONG Community storytelling lies at the heart of The Pictorial List’s mission, and Marlon Ramos’ photographs reflects the spirit of the place we now call home. 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.

My journey as a photographer began with a simple fascination—a single photo capturing a pop of color amidst the city's grayness. This serendipitous moment ignited a passion within me, driving me to explore every corner of São Paulo in search of similar scenes, each one a thread woven into the fabric of my artistic narrative. In every image, I endeavor to evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in São Paulo's vibrant tapestry and discover the beauty that lies within its urban chaos. My photography is not just a reflection of São Paulo's colors, but a celebration of its spirit—a testament to the resilience, diversity, and boundless creativity that define this extraordinary city. RAFA ROJAS My journey as a photographer began with a simple fascination—a single photo capturing a pop of color amidst the city's grayness. This serendipitous moment ignited a passion within me, driving me to explore every corner of São Paulo in search of similar scenes, each one a thread woven into the fabric of my artistic narrative. In every image, I endeavor to evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in São Paulo's vibrant tapestry and discover the beauty that lies within its urban chaos. My photography is not just a reflection of São Paulo's colors, but a celebration of its spirit—a testament to the resilience, diversity, and boundless creativity that define this extraordinary city. LOCATION São Paulo BRAZIL CAMERA/S Nikon D3400/D7500, Redmi Note 8Pro Xiaomi WEBSITE https://rafarojas.myportfolio.com/ @_RAFAROJAS FEATURES // COLORS OF GREY CITY

I strive to create images that elegantly articulate the totality of existence, focusing heavily on life’s underlying instinctive, carnal nature in the face of fragility and impermanence. The concept of morality in relation to mortality has possessed a significant presence within the history of art, ranging from altarpieces to the work of the Dutch vanitas painters. Manifesting melancholic, seemingly damning themes with beauty and precision, as these artists did, results in an image that is seductive, forcing the viewer to look, despite its apparent grotesque and morbid nature. Through these images, I aspire to make apparent the restlessness of a life that is knowingly so temporary and vulnerable. I have always thought of my work as theater or as a book, with each series being an act or a chapter. In my prior work, the content was fleshy and lush, using wine and blood as frequent allegorical symbols inspired by Bacchanalia and Christian iconography. I now journey into a new narrative world where the feast has dried up and pleasure has subsided, transformed, and ultimately, transcended. The wine is replaced by dirt and the flesh has withered away to the bone in a seemingly apocalyptic way. Insects, including moths, beetles, cicadas and locusts are significant characters, multiplying throughout the series and eventually overtaking the tableaux. They introduce a heightened sense of the frantic primal instinct that exists within all living creatures, including humans. End of the world imagery and depictions of Hell from art history, as well as literature, such as Dante's Divine Comedy, has been a source of inspiration. These works possess a dramatic, eccentric, visceral chaos, while simultaneously possessing an ornate, sensual and romantic quality. Last Judgement paintings, like that from Michelangelo and Bosch, often depict skies filled with constellations of falling or flying angels, creatures and demons, which has become referential for the composition of the figures. The concept of Hell is varied and open to interpretation. It can be an actual physical terrain or a space within ourselves. As the work continues to evolve, it takes on even more of an earthiness while exploring themes of transcendence through suffering. It is moving toward being focused on the concept of arriving at Paradise as a result of having walked through Hell. TARA SELLIOS I strive to create images that elegantly articulate the totality of existence, focusing heavily on life’s underlying instinctive, carnal nature in the face of fragility and impermanence. The concept of morality in relation to mortality has possessed a significant presence within the history of art, ranging from altarpieces to the work of the Dutch vanitas painters. Manifesting melancholic, seemingly damning themes with beauty and precision, as these artists did, results in an image that is seductive, forcing the viewer to look, despite its apparent grotesque and morbid nature. Through these images, I aspire to make apparent the restlessness of a life that is knowingly so temporary and vulnerable. I have always thought of my work as theater or as a book, with each series being an act or a chapter. In my prior work, the content was fleshy and lush, using wine and blood as frequent allegorical symbols inspired by Bacchanalia and Christian iconography. I now journey into a new narrative world where the feast has dried up and pleasure has subsided, transformed, and ultimately, transcended. The wine is replaced by dirt and the flesh has withered away to the bone in a seemingly apocalyptic way. Insects, including moths, beetles, cicadas and locusts are significant characters, multiplying throughout the series and eventually overtaking the tableaux. They introduce a heightened sense of the frantic primal instinct that exists within all living creatures, including humans. End of the world imagery and depictions of Hell from art history, as well as literature, such as Dante's Divine Comedy, has been a source of inspiration. These works possess a dramatic, eccentric, visceral chaos, while simultaneously possessing an ornate, sensual and romantic quality. Last Judgement paintings, like that from Michelangelo and Bosch, often depict skies filled with constellations of falling or flying angels, creatures and demons, which has become referential for the composition of the figures. The concept of Hell is varied and open to interpretation. It can be an actual physical terrain or a space within ourselves. As the work continues to evolve, it takes on even more of an earthiness while exploring themes of transcendence through suffering. It is moving toward being focused on the concept of arriving at Paradise as a result of having walked through Hell. LOCATION Boston UNITED STATES CAMERA/S Zone VI 8x10 Field Camera WEBSITE http://www.tarasellios.com/ @TARASELLIOS @TARA.SELLIOS FEATURES // Primal Instinct

PICTORIAL STORY TRANSCENDENTS Mariette Pathy Allen’s visual narrative celebrates authenticity, spotlighting Spirit Mediums’ enigmatic presence in both possession and daily life. March 15, 2024 PICTORIAL STORY photography MARIETTE PATHY ALLEN story MARIETTE PATHY ALLEN introduction KAREN GHOSTLAW POMARICO SHARE Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Mariette Pathy Allen stands as a leading figure in contemporary photography, recognized for her profound exploration of human diversity and the fluidity of identity with depth and sensitivity. With a career spanning over five decades, Mariette has established herself as a visionary documentarian, shedding light and advocating for marginalized communities within society. Mariette’s journey as a photographer began in the 1970s, a time marked by social upheaval and a burgeoning awareness of gender and sexual identities. It was during this period that she embarked on a mission to explore the intricate spectrum of gender expression, particularly within the transgender community — an endeavor that would become her life's work. Mariette is a photographer of transgender, genderfluid, and gender variant communities, as well as other continuous series such as Birth and Families , The Face of New Jersey , People with Art , Flowers and Fantasy, Texas, and Scapes . In 1978, on the last day of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Mariette met a trans woman named Vicky West (although, using the language of that time, she identified as a crossdresser). Vicky befriended Mariette and invited her to Fantasia Fair , a transgender conference where Mariette would serve as the official photographer. She traveled across the United States to many other transgender conferences, participated in political activism, and worked for the Transgender Tapestry Magazine . She continues to pursue the work of photographing, interviewing, and advocating on behalf of gender-nonconforming people. Mariette captures moments of raw authenticity, inviting viewers into the intimate lives of her subjects with empathy and respect. Her photographs serve as powerful testimonials to the resilience and beauty found in the face of societal norms and expectations. Whether documenting the joy of self-discovery, the struggles of discrimination, or the triumph of self-acceptance, Mariette’s images resonate with a universal message of humanity and belonging. Mariette shares herself with us, her voice. “I first encountered transgender people at Mardi Gras in New Orleans in 1978. I met Vicky West and was mesmerized. I felt that I wasn't looking into the eyes of a man or a woman but at the essence of a human being. This encounter led to experiences that I could never have imagined. As a photographer, writer, speaker, activist, and ally, I could participate in the evolution of a vital movement to bring understanding and justice to nonconforming people. Early on, anything beyond heteronormativity was considered freakish or immoral. What I saw was different and my intention became clear — to present gender-nonconforming individuals in the daylight of everyday life, alone or in relationships with friends, family, and children. I continue to photograph this ever-changing world. My hope is that during this time of ignorance and violence, my work will move people to reconsider the prejudices that negate what is natural in a world that includes gender-expansive people.” We asked Mariette to share one of her insightful projects with us. “Most people in Burma and Thailand are Buddhists, but there are areas in both countries where Spirit Mediums continue to perform the ancient, animist traditions and rituals that pre-date Buddhism. Although there are differences in the traditions practiced by Spirit Mediums in Myanmar and Thailand, I have combined the images here, as my focus is on the visual mystery of Spirit Mediums when they are possessed, and when going about their daily lives. I am looking at them as human beings who have been part of their cultures for as long as Animism has existed. In the past, most Spirit Mediums were women, but over time, more men have felt called as Spirit Mediums. Those who live as men, dress as women in colorful, flowing garments, wear make-up, headdresses, and ornate jewelry before, during, and after possession. They must adorn themselves as women for the Spirits. Others live as women full-time. They would be identified as transgender in the West. When Mediums are possessed by a particular Spirit, they fall into a trance, and dance for many hours, drinking, smoking, accepting money from the crowd of onlookers who may join in the dance. During festivals when not dancing, Mediums sit in their beautifully decorated tents with altars covered with offerings that may include fruit, flowers, cans of beer, soda, cash, small toys, and statues. People come into the tent to get advice from the Spirit that the Medium channels.” © Mariette Pathy Allen © Mariette Pathy Allen © Mariette Pathy Allen © Mariette Pathy Allen © Mariette Pathy Allen © Mariette Pathy Allen © Mariette Pathy Allen © Mariette Pathy Allen © Mariette Pathy Allen © Mariette Pathy Allen © Mariette Pathy Allen Mariette Pathy Allen continues to inspire generations of artists and activists alike. Her dedication to capturing the essence of human experience, in all its complexity and diversity, reflects the profound power of art and the enduring strength of the human spirit. Through her visual storytelling, she reminds us that true beauty lies in the courage to embrace our authentic selves, unapologetically and without reservation. In addition to her artistic contributions, Mariette has been a vocal advocate for transgender rights and visibility, using her platform to challenge stereotypes and foster understanding. Mariette is the author of four books that have brought visibility to transgender communities across the world including Transformations: Crossdressers and Those Who Love Them (1989), The Gender Frontier (2004), TransCuba (2014), and Transcendents: Spirit Mediums in Burma and Thailand (2017). She has made dozens of slide presentations to a variety of groups, participated in radio and television programs, and been a consultant and still photographer for films. Mariette’s work is included in numerous collections, both public and private, and has been exhibited internationally. Her work is being archived by Duke University's Rare Book and Manuscripts Library and the Sallie Bingham Center for Women's Studies. Mariette is based in New York City and is represented by CLAMP . Mariette also shares with us a portfolio of images, spanning the globe that represents the artist's dedication to showcasing the lives of gender-nonconforming individuals that transcend the boundaries of mere representation. By conscientiously capturing these individuals in their everyday environments, the artist's goal is to illuminate the human essence that exists within each person, regardless of gender identity. She seeks to challenge existing prejudices and inspire a reevaluation of societal norms, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic world for all gender-expansive individuals. The Pictorial List is incredibly thankful to Mariette Pathy Allen for sharing her inspirational photography, it shines a spotlight on her groundbreaking and exceptional work, showcasing the lives of gender-nonconforming individuals. Through her photography, Mariette captures the raw authenticity and resilience of these communities, inviting viewers into the intimate lives of her subjects with empathy and respect. Her dedication to documenting and advocating for marginalized communities, including the transgender community and gender-nonconforming individuals, has been truly impactful. Moreover, Mariette's work challenges existing prejudices and inspires a reevaluation of societal norms, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic world for all individuals. We are honored to be able to share her insightful project, Transcendents: Spirit Mediums in Burma and Thailand and her remarkable contributions to art and advocacy with our audience. view Mariette's portfolio Website >>> 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 and the team. read more stories >>> THE LIFE WITHIN THE MOUNTAIN Ten years after first seeing Larung Gar, Jing Wei returns to a changed mountain, finding continuity in faith, memory and the lives held within it. PROSCENIUM GHOSTS Said Manseur honors these young actors, their courage, and the unseen work they give to keep theatre alive against the odds. REGINA: BOARDING SCHOOL LIFE AND DREAMS A boarding school room becomes the frame for Cleopatra Joint’s portrait of ambition, instability, and a young woman’s search for freedom. LIFE ALONG THE RIVER Along the Hooghly, Shubhodeep Roy photographs Kolkata through faith, labour and memory, revealing a city shaped by water, inheritance and shared life. A HOME OF MEMORIES AND THE PRESENT Davide Santangelo returns to his family home by moonlight, tracing how absence, memory, and love continue to live within place, objects, and atmosphere after loss. THE PULL OF THE EARTH This is more than a record of rural Bengal. It looks at the bond between Sayan Biswas and the place that shaped him, even after distance has changed that relationship. ARE THOSE WINDS Along Istanbul’s northern edge, Ci Demi photographs the last water buffalo herders as they keep working, remembering, and staying put while the city closes in. COLORS OF HÜZÜN Through fragments and gestures, Pedro Vidal traces Istanbul as shared melancholy lingers in everyday life, the city unfolding slowly and refusing to settle into a single, definitive understanding. OUT OF PLAY An exploration of abandoned interiors in which Marco Lugli examines how objects, light, and space carry memory beyond human presence, establishing absence as a condition of material continuity rather than loss. REIMAGINING TALIESIN Form gives way to flux in Amy Newton-McConnel’s photographs, where architecture unfolds as a field of shifting relations and perception moves with light, geometry, and time. 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.

Photography is for me all the things that I do not want to forget in the moment I see them, in the space where I am found, I move, I listen and I observe. It cannot be objective, but it can be a constant reminder that the world is not what we see. It is creation, communication, a narrative. In other words, it is the representation of a truth, a fact that you are aware of at the moment of the click. A reality of your own that you feel the need to share with other people. A reality which can be different for someone else. With this series of my photographs: 'From a Distance', which has also been captured in a photographic book, it is nothing more than an attempt to approach human moments that most often take place subconsciously. An effort that continues. Observing people from a distance, I feel that I am distancing myself and that I am becoming more objective more free! The large horizon, the most complete picture of the space, creates an incomparable sense of harmony and form… a calm. So, many times you get the feeling of changing time with leaps into the past or the future. ANTONIS GIAKOUMAKIS Photography is for me all the things that I do not want to forget in the moment I see them, in the space where I am found, I move, I listen and I observe. It cannot be objective, but it can be a constant reminder that the world is not what we see. It is creation, communication, a narrative. In other words, it is the representation of a truth, a fact that you are aware of at the moment of the click. A reality of your own that you feel the need to share with other people. A reality which can be different for someone else. With this series of my photographs: 'From a Distance', which has also been captured in a photographic book, it is nothing more than an attempt to approach human moments that most often take place subconsciously. An effort that continues. Observing people from a distance, I feel that I am distancing myself and that I am becoming more objective more free! The large horizon, the most complete picture of the space, creates an incomparable sense of harmony and form… a calm. So, many times you get the feeling of changing time with leaps into the past or the future. LOCATION Athens GREECE CAMERA/S Nikon D5300, Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II WEBSITE https://sites.google.com/view/antonis-giakoumakis/home @GIAKOUMAKIS_ANTONIS @AGBGNG FEATURES // The Provincial From a Distance Women's Glances