Note: This interview was originally published on BFellicious.com. Date of interview is 2017. Some facts can be changed by now.
Still life photography
Flowers, they have the power to brighten up your day just by looking at them and smelling them. The little
things in life, but oh so powerful! #FlowerPower. In a world where social media is so present, it is great to be
reminded of the beautiful natural things in life such as flowers.
I’m not sure how or when it happened, but while I was scrolling through my instagram feed one day, I stumbled upon the mesmerizing account of Cristina Colli. If you visit her instagram account, you’ll know immediately what I’m talking about. Every photo Cristina shares, tells a story and that got me fascinated. I visited her website and eventually I reached out to Cristina, and she was happy to answer some of my burning questions.
Cristina Colli is an artist, photographer, and teacher in love with creativity, visual storytelling, flowers, simplicity, and slow living. She’s an introvert and HSP, and when she’s not creating, you can usually find her curled up on the sofa reading a good book, drinking tea, or walking in the countryside. She lives in Oxfordshire, UK, with her husband and two cats. Cristina shares her general musings on her blog, writes a monthly newsletter ‘Creative Notes’ and teaches visual storytelling online.
Hi Cristina, what is still life photography / visual storytelling to you? How did this passion start?
I’ve always loved photography but in the last 6 years it’s become my favorite way to express myself and my vision of the world. I adore flowers, and always have. I love their fragile beauty, they soothe me and they make me happy. I like to create visual stories that capture all the little details often overlooked, like the graceful curves and velvety texture of a flower, and the simple pleasures of everyday life, like a quiet moment spent reading a book, drinking a cup of tea, or putting flowers into a vase… I believe that noticing and appreciating the beauty of something as ordinary as a flower, or objects that we use every day like a teacup or a pair of scissors, is key to happiness and contentment, and I hope that some of that fleeting beauty finds its way into my photographs, and stays with me, and with those who see them, just a little longer.
I like to create visual stories that capture all the little details often overlooked.
Cristina Colli
What makes a perfect composition?
That’s not an easy question…composition depends on what you are trying to express with your photograph, so what works for a picture might not work for another, but in general I like to have enough space in my image to let the subjects stand out, and pay particular attention to colour, textures, and shapes. I tend to use similar colours that go well together, with accents in a contrasting colour to lift the composition. I also work in odd numbers, because they naturally look good together – so three or five objects rather than four or six, and I photograph in natural light.
You use a diversity of flowers in your compositions. Do you have a favorite flowers to work with?
Ah that’s an even harder question! There are so many flowers I love, I don’t think I can pick just one favorite. I have at least a couple for each season, or even more! Tulips, anemones, ranunculus, cherry blossom, magnolias, lilacs, peonies, roses, dahlias, hyacinths, Icelandic poppies…there are just too many.
An advice I often hear is to do what you love. What do you love most about your work?
Many things! First of all, the sense of satisfaction that comes from creating something from nothing, and that’s true not just for my images, but also for e-courses, blog posts, and magazine features. I love that I get to play with flowers so often, of course, and that every day I learn something new about creativity. Finally, I love teaching and sharing what I know with others, and every time I see students grow and bloom I feel a great sense of accomplishment.
What is your mantra/ favorite quote?
My favorite mantra is probably “You are enough” probably because I often need the reminder.
I also love these two quotes:
You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. ~ Maya Angelou.
And above all, watch with glittering eyes the world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.
Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it. ~ Roald Dahl
Thank you Cristina for this interview. Your work is amazing and brightens up my day. You can find more of Cristina’s work on her website.
Copyright pictures: Cristina Colli. Used with permission of Cristina Colli.