Anna Rakhvalova with the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System

Russian born photographer Anna Rakhvalova wowed us in 2016 with her Daguerreotype Achromat Art Lens portraits. She has recently moved to London so the UK team sent her the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System to test out.

Hello Anna, tell us a bit about yourself?

Hey, so my name is Anna and I was born in Russia, in the capital of Siberia - Irkutsk, but I moved to France when I was 16 years old and spent many years in Paris. But this year I decided to move to London because I fell in love with this powerful and magical city, I hope it will be kind to me.

Your photos always have a soft, gentle look to them, is this something you consciously work towards or does it happen naturally?

Oh thank you, I think it happens naturally, although I'm always searching for the certain kind of ambiences, something melancholic or dreamy.

How did you find shooting with the Neptune Convertible Art Lens System and what did you choose to shoot?

I loved shooting with Neptune Lenses, it has that special quality, it makes pictures look like movie scenes or dreams! I always shoot people, usually artists who need pictures for their portfolios but this time I've chosen to shoot people I really care about, all artists also, but friends over all.

What would your best piece of advice be to someone wanting to start a photography career?

I think the advise I can give is the one I would have listened to when I started photography. Always consider YOUR inner voice and trust your intuition no matter what, what other people have to say might be helpful of course but what really matters is what YOU feel. And also shoot as much as you can, it's the only way to learn - practice!

What are you working on over the next 6 months?

For the next 6 months I have a few video projects coming, I fell in love with video about 2 years ago but was too afraid to continue but I feel like I'm ready now! I will keep the photography as well, of course, it still is and will be my first true love.

To see more of Anna's work, visit her website. or see her Daguerreotype Achromat Art Lens photos here.

2019-01-04 #people #london #uk #paris #art-lens #naptune #anna-rakhvalova