Anna Balecho

„We grow up trying to create memories, right?“ says Anna Balecho, a photographer from
Portugal, when I ask her why us humans always want to capture everything in pictures.
In her pictures she captures very personal memories and dreams... 

Anna, what does photography mean to you?
Something very personal. It’s an emotional thing, a physical thing, a way to be
represented, a way to represent, a way to express me, sometimes even therapeutic.
I really enjoy my work, and have been able to dedicate time to my projects, to
discover these moments, these characters.

On your homepage it says: „ Anna work's about what she knows and feels; The people
she photographs influenced her in several ways, family friends, boyfriend, and models;
Captures what she feels and sees. „ So photography for your is not just creating
something visual, but create something with a very emotional background, right?
Yeah, I rarely work about something I do not know, something I do not feel…so
almost all of my influences are something personal, even when it’s cinema or music,
it always has that emotional background. My photos are usually as much about myself
 as they are about the subjects being photographed. Right now each one of my photos
are like journeys to me.

Why did you chose photography and not any other creative field?
I grew up in a creative environment, in the sense that my family has always tried
to show us new things. Since my first experience with photography ( I was 14 years
old, in a workshop at Ar.Co) I have never really felt that connection with any other
 creative field, and I still don’t, - so Photography is my tool.

What is a perfect picture for you?
Wow, that such a big question ...I don’t really know what to tell you in this one.
One thing is for sure, I only remember photographs that I can relate to.

Do you have any role model, any big photographer that you admire?
Not so much a role model, except for my mum. laughs. I admire soooo many people…
This is the time where we have got such great visual artists, so many influences,
so much information, I just keep absorbing it all.

How difficult is it to work as a photographer in Portugal?
It’s very difficult to live here from being an artist, you have to have another
income, either in your area of studies/interest or not. I mean, I can work in
the field of photography but still have to do things that I don´t really like -
you have your day job, and then you’re free to do your projects and create your
 world as an artist.

You have just finished your degree in Photography and Visual Culture:) And
you told me that now you want to go to London to continue studying photography,
- what makes you want to go to London?
From the first time I went to London, I fell in love with the place. Everything
happens there, so many different things at the same time with so many different
people, I can only imagine how it will be to live there. That’s why I decided
to take my master in Photography/Fine Art at one of those fabulous schools of
art they have there. Definitely I want to do some work, to spend some time in
London, but I’ve this gipsy feeling, that I want to know the world, so lets
see what’s coming for me.

Do you photograph analogue or digital?
Analogue, as much as I can, but if I only had digital I would do it anyway.

Why do you think the human nature wants to capture everything in pictures?
We grow up trying to create memories, right? It’s a cultural thing, to have
control and “facts” from the past. In my case, I travel between memories and dreams.

And now some typical C-Heads questions:
Your biggest dream in life is...?
Be truly happy! (Sorry for the cliché…)- that includes continuing working in
what I love, with who I love, buy myself a great loft…

5 things you cannot live without?
Loved ones, Clean sheets (is there anything better than luying down in a bed
with clean and white sheets?), my camera, my films, my books/ magazines.

Your favourite place in Portugal is...?
You really have to come here; we’ve our own little paradise over here! I cannot
choose only one place.

The most important thing in life is...?
LOVE:

Many thanks for your time.

Interview by Sigrun Guggenberger 

web: www.annabalecho.com