AS IS | Ana D & Noora K

Photographer duo

From Mexico and Finland

Based in Switzerland

Ana and Noora are a pair of photographers whose work is recognisable for its light play and dynamism. They admit that their power lies in having two minds see one work from different perspectives

A: Please, tell us a bit more about yourself. What brought you into photography?

ADNK: We are a multicultural artist duo who have been working together since 2015. What makes working as a duo fascinating as well as challenging, is the constant questioning and necessity for an open mind. We are able to look at things from two distinct view points and that allows us to produce work that has a very unique aesthetic. We have chosen photography as our medium of expression as it permits us to totally submerge into the universe giving us the power to paint with light and movement.

Ana D. Lombard (Mexican/Swiss) comes from a background of graphic design. The need to express herself in a freer and more artistic manner brought her to photography, a medium she had always felt a close relationship with. Noora Kulvik (Finnish/Swiss) comes from a fine arts background having worked for years in painting and ceramics. In her work she uses repetition of human figure, and studies the body almost as an abstract shape. To create her art, she uses photography as a tool.

A: What inspires you the most?

ADNK: Our inspiration comes from nature and humanity. The multiple facets of individuality versus interdependence of us and the environment. As a duo our advantage is the possibility for constant exchange of thoughts on different reflections; considerations that then become source of inspiration.

A: Do you have any specific rituals while working?

ADNK: There is no specific ritual, but we do consider our conversations as such. It is these daily talks, that make the creative process magical, which comes very naturally once we start a photoshoot. As we are working with digital cameras it is the aftermath that is almost like a ritual. We go through the images together and then alone and this will happen multiple times before we choose a final frame.

A: What would you recommend to someone new to photography?

ADNK: We recommend working with a subject that moves you. Observe it from all possible angles and of course take thousands of photographs to find your pictorial language. Do not be afraid to try things that might not be “academically” correct as the beauty of photography is to capture a moment invisible to the eye and sometimes reveal the unseen.

A: Top 3 COMPONENTS for great photography?

ADNK: Top three… hard to say if these are the top but are part of what makes a good photo in our opinion:

1) Emotional connection to the subject matter as in, the message you are trying to communicate.

2) Interesting combination of light and composition

3) Last one, what we do, is print small samples of our photos and go through them after some time, this often allows us to get a fresh take on things and almost like a deeper inspiration for the full potential of the photograph. Meaning that we might not ever use those printed images however they become the “sketch” of our future work that results in the final image.

A: We have never taken pictures of …. but would love to.

ADNK: This is an idea that sparked during the pandemic, as we are looking to express what it means to exist in a specific environments and the increase of solitude and its negative effects on our mental health: we have never taken photos in abandoned and neglected places and would love to use those in our work.

A: Must read books to understand the art of photography?

ADNK: Well, of course it is important to read books, but instead of suggesting specific literature in order to understand photography, we suggest to visit and see as much art as possible. Not just photography, but sculpture, film, painting, as much and as often as possible. Meet people and ask questions.

A: If you could change one thing in the world of photography what would It be?

ADNK: There might still exist a conflict between analogue and digital photography and the opinions on the latter. So it would be to understand that the art of photo is more than just the physical action of “taking a photo” but like in any art form, most of the work is done before that crucial moment. Secondly, to acknowledge that cleaning or adjusting the photo on the computer is not less respectable than working on an image in the darkroom.

A: Please share your favorite quote:

ADNK: Two quotes for the price of one from a duo: “Be the change you wish to see in the world” and “One doesn't have to operate with great malice to do great harm. The absence of empathy and understanding are sufficient”.

Thank you!

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