Maria has been practicing photography for over six years. She has worked as a film photographer for a streetwear brand and is currently collaborating with a jewelry brand on a creative project.
Film is an important part of Maria’s photographic approach. She appreciates the limitations of a roll of film and the limited number of frames they offer, as they encourage her to be more thoughtful and intentional with every shot. She is also drawn to the unique colors and atmosphere of film — each roll can bring its own character and way of rendering a moment.
Maria especially loves photographing people. She is fascinated by the possibility of capturing something genuine in an ordinary or spontaneous moment — sometimes a random frame can become the most meaningful one. Through her photography, she tries to capture something essential about a person — their character, presence, and individuality — creating images in which they can recognize something that feels genuinely like them.
Although she works on commercial and creative projects, Maria’s favorite thing is still photographing for herself: preserving moments that feel meaningful and turning everyday experiences into memories. A camera is always with her, whether she is traveling or simply heading out for the day. For Maria, photography is not only about creating a beautiful image, but about capturing a feeling and making it possible for someone looking at the photograph to feel something of their own.
Project Statement
I am drawn to photography because of the feeling of capturing a moment that will never happen in quite the same way again. Sometimes it can be something completely ordinary — a gesture, a look, a quiet moment in everyday life — and sometimes it is something truly special. Either way, I want to preserve the feeling of that particular moment.
I am especially drawn to film because of the curiosity it creates. I photograph almost “blind,” never knowing exactly how the image will turn out until the film is developed. I love the anticipation of waiting for the results and discovering moments that I may not have fully noticed while taking the photograph.
I am particularly interested in people and in the way their character can reveal itself through their appearance, expressions, and small gestures. Every person is different, and I find that photography can make these subtle differences especially visible.
Most of all, I want my photographs to make people stop and look. I want the image to hold their attention long enough for them to feel some kind of emotional closeness — as if, for a moment, they have found something familiar within it.
0 comments on “Maria Ivanova”