Polina and Sky
by Natalia Makarenko (Ukraine)

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This artwork was created in 2022, during the early days of the war in Ukraine. At that time, I had fled to the Netherlands while most of my friends remained in Ukraine. I missed them deeply and worried about them every day. Seeking both solace and creative exploration, I decided to experiment with a new technique: conducting photoshoots remotely.

For this piece, I invited my talented actress friend, Polina, to collaborate. She was an incredible model, conveying a range of emotions through her body language. While editing, I didn't consciously plan every element; instead, I allowed my emotions to guide me. Sadness and worry dominated my feelings, but there was also an undercurrent of hope that I wanted to express.

I placed Polina on a fluffy cloud in the sky to symbolize lightness and ease—representing hope and the freedom of the soul. The connection to art, through music and movement, shines as a theme in this piece. To enhance this feeling, I gave the artwork

The photo represents my friend and actress Polina, who I photographed remotely as we are in different countries now. The photo is done on her phone remotely (was directing her), then I edited it in Photoshop by placing her in the sky, lying on the fluffy cloud. With this image I wanted to show the easiness and freedom that art is bringing to our souls.

shutterstudio, photoshop

remote photoshoot via Shutterstudio, editing in Photoshop