Anna Balecho

Anna Balecho explores interior worlds as her camera creeps unobtrusively upon her subjects, turning momentary glances into intimate moments. Her images are charged with silent voyeurism, as if the solitary figures believed they were completely alone. Unaware of the camera’s presence, they appear engaged in various states of contemplation, undress and personal gratification.

In a way we all try to create our memories. I’m not a nostalgic person, not even a bit, but I do have a thing about "stuff" that brings along some past

The Portuguese photographer also manages to retain a certain amount of this intimacy in her fashion photography and her portfolio features some striking documentation of Lisbon Fashion Week. Her pictures somehow travel beyond the model’s mannequin like exterior, to focus on an internal space, rife with personality.
 
Dazed Digital: How do you achieve intimacy in your photographs?
Anna Balecho: It's not intentional, in the sense that I don't think about that while shooting, it happens. As much as I can, I only work with what I feel, even doing some kind of fashion editorial, I've done it like I would in my personal work.
 
DD: What's your favourite kind of light?
Anna Balecho: Natural. Not too sunny, and if I can be picky, not directly in my subjects of work. That said... I don't obsess over taking photos. Maybe because I've always used film, or maybe because that's just the way I relate to photography. If 'it’s' there, it’s there - I don't worry about the light.
 
DD: What's your opinion on the connection between memories and photographs?
Anna Balecho: In the end that's what photograph are, right? Memories of your dreams, of what you felt or what you wish you had. In a way we all try to create our memories. I’m not a nostalgic person, not even a bit, but I do have a thing about "stuff" that reminds me of the past...