Spring photo-shoots 2021

What month is this, what season? Both the pandemic and this unusually dark and cold spring have upset my mind, so much that my sense of time seems lost. And here I am, at the end of May, realising I have not posted anything since last year (I have a new writing blog, though, where I share my Italian short stories @flaviacatena.storie)! To say the truth, with the lockdown I was very restricted with the kind of photos I could take (nature still offered me some great subject), and jobs I could do, but let me share something beautiful I still had the opportunity to create a couple of months ago.

The first images you’ll see come from a fashion campaign done for Rasha Kashou Couture. Rasha is an amazing bridal designer based in Oxfordshire. All her dresses are handmade, bedspoke, and sustainable. Next are the photos taken for the talented Ewa for EKProject, a vegan, ethical jewellery brands that, as for Rasha Kashou, I very much recommend you to follow and support.

My gratitude goes to all those people who have believed in me during these months. Life is getting slowly back to normal, but all of you helped me seeing the light behind this still cloudy sky.

Rasha Kashou Couture – Model: Zahra Aliyyah, make up artist: Teryne Make up, location: Primrose hill farm

EKProject Jewellery – Models: Martha Grace, Bethan Ellis

Comfort Station – Looking at the stars

Another chapter about my craft project is going to be open. Today I want to tell you a bit about Comfort Station, a jewellery brand I have discovered a few years ago, while I was visiting Shoreditch as one of those turists that always make the city of London crowded, noisy and happy. As soon as I noticed the shop’s window, I knew I had found something special. I immediately fell in love with all those necklaces and rings inspired by the constellations and the grandness of the universe. Being a real “vintage girl”, I was close to scream of joy seeing how old maps had been used on beautiful pendants, and how books had been hung on the wall to display the jewels. Not to mention the antique instruments, the suitcases, the music paper that were murmuring, together with the bracelets and earrings, words about love and beauty. Since that day I was waiting for the opportunity to photograph the person who was behind that work. And late in January this year I had that opportunity. I was very happy when Amy Anderson, the British fine artist who is the creator and designer of Comfort Station, replied to the email I had sent her saying she was interested in having me in her studio. When the day arrived, and I was friendly welcomed in her own little world (just in the basement of the shop), I was really excited and curious to see her at work. My camera was ready, so my eyes! I always find “behind the scenes” interesting. What can be better than photographing an artist who creates something in front of you? That’s why I want to thank Amy, once again, and leave you with the photo I took that magic afternoon!

Don’t miss to visit Comfort Station website: https://www.comfortstation.co.uk

©2017 Flavia Catena

International Jewellery London

I love jewels and you can guess how happy I was to take photos at the International Jewellery in London, last September, for Source Culture Company (www.sourceculture.co.uk). Great designers, sparkling gems and interesting events (also a catwalk you’ll see below) made our day!

©2014 Flavia Catena, Source Culture Company

(Source Culture owns the exclusive rights on these photos; do not use them without asking for permission)

Art and Craftsmanship

I am very happy to show you, today, some old photographs (only a few months old) I took in Birmingham, for Source Culture Company. It was a great experience, as a photographer, as a person, and as an art lover, to meet the talented Jack Row, a pens, rollerballs, cufflinks craftsman-designer, and the Struthers-London family (lovely wife and husband), refined watchmakers and antique collectors. They worked in front of me, they showed me how to create a piece of art, step by step, but most of all these three artists helped me to understand why they love so much the work they do, the “mission” they chose. I like to think that the photos below will disclose you a part of the answer.

More images here: http://www.joomag.com/magazine/sourceculture-september-2014/0175709001405957135?short

©2014 Flavia Catena

Jack Row

Struthers London

I want to thank Jack Row and Struthers family for their kind welcome!