Meet Martina, no background in dance, but working in a dance center; no background in economics, but working in marketing. Sometimes the path we take is different from the path we originally thought to choose. Life does that to us.

Not that it is bad though. At the contrary, it can be big fun. Martina told me that now she goes to almost every performance and really enjoys watching dance, contemporary dance.

After finishing her master in art history and comparative literature, Martina worked two years in public relations and marketing. Now she is the PR and marketing director of ZPC (Zagrebacki Plesni Centar, Zagreb Dance Center).

The session I had with Martina was short but fun. I always enjoy the talk during a shoot and get different emotions during the session. To me, the image below is the best, as it shows the nice hour we had, I love the twinkle in the eyes :). Thank you Martina.

Goran got promoted so he dropped by for a regular headshot for his announcement. Ofcourse I’m always willing to do this, but in exchange you must sit still for a while so I can make a long exposure portrait as well.

Three seconds, windowlight and my reflector.

PS: congrats to the new job ;)

While doing the portrait session of Miruna and Simon, I also asked them for a long exposure portrait and happily they accepted the challenge. Both were able to be still long enough to get some nice images (above).

And, since they are a couple, my old habbit as a wedding photographer could not resist to take some couple portraits as well :)

Since finishing the dance conservatory of dance, Guilherme lives abroad. First Zurich, then Helsinki and now Zagreb, where he is the first dancer of the HNK since 2011. The list of performances is long, diverse and impressive. He told me he misses his family

It was Helsinki which changed his life, as there he met his wife, a ballerina, and they are in a very special position as she is a first ballerina at the HNK as well and he explained me they are in a very lucky situation, both being able to chase their dreams in the same city.

Guilherme was nominated by Simon Yoshida because they are good friends and spend quite some time together.

We chatted nicely during the session, sometimes talk just flows, and I really enjoyed it. So much, that in the end I forgot to take a picture with his sunglasses, something I wanted as soon as he arrived with them. I packed half of my gear already when Guilherme asked me, “what about the sunglasses?”

We quickly did some shots, and they just came out perfect. It must be, as he has them since his wedding …

Dance Connection:

3. Guilherme Alves

2. Simon Yoshida

1. Miruna Miciu

About connections

Dance started as a hobby, but then quickly became a dream and the school for contemporary dance from Ana Maletic as well as the dance academy on SEAD- Salzburg (experimental academy of dance) was followed and finished.

However, as with so many children, her parents strongly advised her to do a ‘real’ studies as well, so on top, a degree in economics has been collected as well as some time abroad to gain experience.

Meet Martina Nevistic, a person who combines the artist side with the business side, artistic studies with practical studies, and running the program of ZPC (Zagrebacki Plesni Centar, Zagreb Dance Center).

The first meeting I had with Martina was short and formal, and it left me slightly wondering how things would look like. The second meeting we did the photo session. Styling I left to her, and the photos above perfectly fit with the image I had of Martina after the first meeting. Formal and slightly distant.

But when the session eloped, we had more discussions, more fun, and a much more open style of communicating. By this, and by loosening her hair, a total different style of photos were created…

Contemporary Connection:

1. Martina Nevistic

About connections

As said before, it is time for a new project. A new series. Though it will be an additional project as the previous one (”seconds”) will be never ending.

I’ve been thinking recently a lot of it, as I want it to be special, at least to me, and it should last (again) quite long. Finally, the last month it got some shape, it got a name, it got a subject and I’m slowly ready to start.

The project will be called ”connections” as it will be all about the connections we have, but even more, who is our dearest connection? 

The idea is simple: I will photograph one person. This person will tell me which is her/his dearest connection (s)he’d like to have a portrait of. Than, I’ll photograph that person, and that person will tell me which is her/his dearest connection… and so on, and so on. (however, there will be limits to the connection, their should be a common link: f.e., with the Dance Connection, the connections should have all to do with dance).

The first series within the project will be The Dance Connection, and I sincerely hope that with this project I’ll be able to make a rather complete portrait of the Croatian Dance Scene. Opening portrait of the series will be with one of HNK’s finest first ballerina’s, Miruna Miciu. The latest portrait is from Guilherme Alves.

The second series within the project will be The Contemporary Connection, a serie about the ZPC. Opening portrait of the series will be with the program director, Martina Nevistic. The latest portrait is from Vanesa Petrac.

Though other series are still getting shaped, following I have in mind: the Bikers Connection and the Running Connection, but all these are for late spring …

Since 2016 Simon performs in Zagreb. Before he danced in Paris, Poland and of course Japan, the country where he grew up. For HNK he danced around ten roles, some together with Miruna.

When we met first time, Simon was not able to work/dance due to an injury, which led to an interesting conversation about the Croatian health system and the worry dancers (especially foreigners) can have due to a bad injury. Life as an artist certainly is not easy.

Happily he told me during the photo session that he started to work/dance again and his first performance will be in mid April (Peter Pan under choreography of Giorgio Madia) which is great news and I hope he will do great.

Simon was nominated by Miruna Miciu. When I asked her what she likes about him, she answered without hesitation “his beauty, not only physical but also his inner beauty”.

On top I noticed his calmness, not only from the outside, but also from inside, and I think both reflect quite well in the images. Because of this, the opening image is my favorite, on purpose soft to accent the calmness.

Dance Connection:

2. Simon Yoshida

1. Miruna Miciu

About connections

When Tomislav was working with me, he did not had a beard. He tried several times, but always in the end shaved himself. The last year working for me, he kept the beard, and now, more than one year later, I finally managed to get him in front of my camera. Unshaven :)

Below: 2 seconds, window light and my reflector.

I photographed her one year ago, but she always wanted another chance and during her last day she dropped into our office. Meet Rea, IT-girl working in a finance environment, now seeking a new future at a local company …

Below: 2 seconds, window light and a reflector.

After finishing the National Ballet School in Bucharest, Miruna had performances in Romania, Bergamo, London, Paris and now, since 2010 in Zagreb as first ballerina. 

In Zagreb (HNK) she had numerous roles (more than 25), with - according to me - highlights as Juliet and Odette. Throughout the years Miruna won several awards for her dancing capacities. 

The first time I met Miruna, she was on stage. She was Odette, a role she played so greatly and with so much grace that it touched me and I decided that she should be the opening of my new project, Connections.

The second time we met, it was in a bar, to discuss the project, the concept, the idea and the execution, and happily she accepted my invitation for a portrait. Several weeks later, we met for the third time to do our photo session.

To me, the two opening images shows me how I see Miruna: strong and elegant, with piercing eyes, yet able to close them and still be present, to fill the room.

The serie below was taken at the end of the session, where we all were relaxed and we had some fun. To me, those photos are very dear as they will remind me on a great afternoon where we were able to fully enjoy creating a portrait.

Dance Connection:

1. Miruna Miciu

About connections