The choreography of everyday life with Eleftheria [part 1]

Onfilm.photo: Tell us about yourself, so we can easier understand the photos you shoot.

Eleftheria: My name is Eleftheria, and I'm a ballet dancer and analog photographer from Athens, Greece. I've been dancing with the National Greek Opera for 10 years now, and it's both a passion and a job that has given me the opportunity to work with amazing choreographers. As a dancer, I understand the importance of composition in terms of bodies and objects, lighting, and setting. This way of thinking has fueled my passion for photography, as I've come to appreciate how composition plays a vital role in my everyday life.

Onfilm.photo: When and how did you discover analog Photography?

Eleftheria: I discovered analog photography four years ago, after borrowing a Zenith ET film camera from my mother. Since then, I've been shooting primarily with a Canon AT1. Film photography feels spontaneous and real to me, and each photograph has a unique liveliness that digital images lack. I fell in love with the way film renders light and colors, as well as the printing process. With film, I always have an expectation of what the final image will look like, but it often surprises me in positive ways. Life on film takes on an additional layer of meaning and becomes something different than just a snapshot.

Onfilm.photo: Most of your pictures contain people. Did you ever try landscapes, or other subjects?

Eleftheria: I enjoy shooting people, whether they're friends or strangers. People and their posture, faces, and lives interest me because they're part of the canvas of the choreography of life. Even when I shoot landscapes, I prefer to include human elements in my pictures, such as a hand, a leg, a shadow, or a silhouette.

Onfilm.photo: You're going on a city break in a European capital you've never visited before and you're not allowed to take any digital photos. Choose without thinking: color or black and white / manual focus camera or automatic / wide angle or 50mm?

Eleftheria: If I were to visit a European city for the first time, I would shoot it in color using Kodak Portra 400 and Lomochrome Metropolis 200. I appreciate the unique characteristics of both film stocks, with one being warm and the other cold. I'd shoot manually, mostly using a 50mm lens.

Onfilm.photo: If you could only use one analog camera for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Eleftheria: If I could only use one camera for the rest of my life and money were not an issue, I would choose a Leica M6. It's a mechanical masterpiece and a stunning work of art. However, any camera is better than no camera, and I'm content using compact cameras with flash.

You can follow Elefteria here and also HERE.

Part 2 coming up soon!