From the eyes, to the heart and action…
Alessandra Lisistrata Simone, my first name is Alessandra, but I have to say that I feel very attached to my second name Lisistrata. Thinking back to the comedy of Aristophane, I feel a little like her.
I was born in Rome some years ago on 27th January. I have always thought that everything starts from the eyes, to touch our hearts and move us to action, working for something better. I have always been interested in art and which I have grown to love through the years.
Beginning from my studies in Sociology, I see that my path has been widened by my interest in others, by my desire to understand the world around me, the cultural changes that take place, all of which have created a bridge to allow me to empathize with others.
In all this my love for photography has lead me to become more aware and sensitive , with the wish to use this medium to touch hearts and lead to action.
What is the word if it does not tell a story about ourselves and the world around us? Images are part of humanity, we are surrounded by images, symbols of our daily lives. We express ourselves through words, but the language we use returns to us as an image and a vision.
MY PHOTOGRAPHY:
Photography gives us the opportunity to stop time and teaches us that the most important thing is the moment before the photograph is taken, which calls for the art of patience, reflection, and allows us to see through, to go beyond, to imagine the scene that is being composed and decide the makeup of the shot, what to keep inside the frame and what to leave out, by the light and shadow impressed on the scene. All of these factors come together in my interpretation of what I am observing.
Of course it is my interpretation of the world which takes into account an ethical approach to post production, where any manipulation of the image depends on the use of the photograph, be it for artistic, documentary, advertising or journalistic purposes.
When I speak of reportage it is only ethical not to trick the observer with excessive manipulation in post production. In this way I show the viewer my interpretation of the world, but I leave the opportunity to him or her to formulate his own interpretation of the scene, aided, of course, by the caption.
When I take a photograph I try to lead my sight to a particular subject, when it is possible, I try to make contact and get to know the person, talking to him or her beforehand and only then when I have developed a rapport, do I take the photograph. My aim is to move with discretion in the environment, trying to become almost invisible before I start taking photographs.
I think there are some photos that have the strength to record the event and lead us to reflect, touch people’s hearts and raise questions in the viewer.
We do not need recourse to bloody and violence images that are the staple of television, the cinema or the internet where images are quickly seen and then forgotten.
Speed is not what we need, rather we need to slow down to see the invisible.
I wish you a pleasant journey through my photographs…
Lisistrata