by Editor Marius Cinteza
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 21st of  June 2024

Eliza Tsitsimeaua-Badoiu, a Romanian visual artist, delves deep within to create captivating self-portrait photography. Born and raised on the Black Sea coast in Constanţa, Romania, her artistic journey began in 2015, fuelled by a desire to explore the endless potential of alternative realities. Unafraid to break boundaries, Eliza forges her own artistic path, drawing inspiration from the depths of her own emotions.  Through a transformative lens, she translates fleeting feelings and internal struggles into visually compelling narratives. Her work transcends the boundaries of genre, often venturing into surrealist explorations of the feminine experience. Awarded iPhoneographer and published author, Eliza's artistic voice has resonated on an international scale. Her self-portraits have not only graced the pages of prestigious publications like Phonographer magazine (Netherlands) and Better Photography (India), but have also captivated audiences at exhibitions in Rome, Budapest, Paris, and beyond. A winner of the prestigious Mobile Photography Awards 2019 (Self-Portrait category), Eliza's unique vision continues to capture hearts and ignite imaginations around the world.

'Tiny Blue Planet'

Eliza, thank you so much for accepting the invitation for this interview! Before we dive in, I'd love to hear a bit about your world outside of photography. What are some things you enjoy doing when you're not creating stunning visuals?

Thanks a lot for the opportunity here created of speaking out my voice! I am a 44 year old Romanian woman, loving and totally dedicated mom, foreign languages teacher and a natural believer on this planet Earth, we are all part of. I enjoy taking time on my own and just be - sometimes without doing anything in particular, just pausing and freezing the flow of time, go outside walking and connecting to whatever blissful moment comes my way.

'nostalgia'

Can you tell us a story about how you first fell in love with creating art? Was there a specific moment or experience that sparked your artistic journey?

The very initial path was back in high school when I first tried photography on a digital camera, I was probably around 16. Then I forgot about it for a while and with 2013 I jumped back into the realm of visual art, this time, exploring the endless potential of alternative realities that I was able to create with the use of the mobile phone. It was just a sort of inevitable synchronicity, I guess.

'girl with watermelon seeds'

Your artistic self-portraits are captivating! Photography seems to be a key player in your creative process. How would you describe your relationship with this medium?

I am a self-taught mobile photographer, who has never read or taken any photography course or tutorial other than my intuitive inspiration. I guess, in this way I have a very sincere and unaltered relationship with the photographic medium. My style is dark and it often deals with delving into depths of the feminine layers, through means of introspection. 

'A ghostly like condition'

What artistic style do you feel your work embodies, and what message do you hope to evoke in viewers?

I only take self-portraits which are to be furthermore edited on an IOS device. I do not have any hopes really while trying to take the shot or while editing the image itself, cause first of all my photography is all mine, it has to do with myself, and only then it is to be delivered to the public. So to say, I create for myself not for the pleasure of others. If there is one big, single thing I hope to manage in evoking the targeted viewer, that would simply be ‘a FEELING’.

'yellow tulips affair'

We all need a creative spark from time to time! What keeps your passion for art burning bright? Who or what inspires you the most?

My imagery is a vivid illustration of certain moments, moods and happenings in my life. It is the expression of my feelings oriented towards that certain time. Therefore, I feel entitled to state that it is life, the inner one, to inspire me and that each and every shot is the manifestation of a distinct feeling I have inside. Inspiration resides both in myself or in the simple, little things that may come my way and I turn them into visuals.

'rojo'

Your surreal, dreamlike self-portraits created with an iPhone are truly impressive!  Do you meticulously plan your shoots, or do you find inspiration striking in the moment, leading you on a path of visual discovery?

Some of the self-portraits I take are initially a bit staged. Whenever there is an element that captures my attention, I play around that element in terms of expressing and releasing a state of mind or FEELING. Most of the times I shoot accidentally or casually and then by the use of the post processing the image, the edit I apply, I can play and re create the world of my own in so many different ways that I choose to. Each edit is a path of self re discovery  or re-conveying certain feelings I taste at that particular time.

'postcard from the ago'

Your artwork explores a fascinating depth of human emotion.  Can you walk us through your creative workflow? How much time and effort do you typically invest in the post-processing stage?

Since the depth of the human emotion is endless so can the process of editing be. I can assure you that I don’t have a certain recipe while designing in post processing. It’s all a matter of feeling, let’s say that it is the image to lead me throughout the editing flow not myself. First, I begin with fixing and adjusting tones, then I play with (multiple) layers, then I add or change some the elements in the image to render a more surreal idea, and lastly I freeze it all in the texture and final editing tones. Lately I’ve been playing a lot with the blur and accentuated colours inside my frames.

'RED'

It is generally accepted that "it's not the camera, it's the photographer." Absolutely true! However, I am still curious: can you tell us a bit about the iPhone model you use and the post-processing tools that help you bring your artistic vision to life?

Technically I have been using an iPhone 11 Pro since the autumn of 2020 and before that I have been taken all previous images on an iPhone 6S. So, not much but still great effect and impact. I mostly edit in Snapseed, PicsASrt, I love iColorama, Hipstamatic, Pixelmator, Mextures and Stackables.

'I pass you by'

AI is making waves in the creativity world and photography is not making exception. What are your thoughts on AI's impact on art like yours? Do you see it as a threat or a potential collaborator?

I’ve so shyly tried it but it’s not my thing. Why? Because I find the image synthetic, lacking the normal touch of an original light inside the frame; it’s not for nothing that we call it “artificial”. So, even though there are tons of pictures I love on social media platforms that have been created by means of the AI, that’s not my language for now. I find it artificial, and not natural in terms of the feel it can generate. Otherwise, great form of art and invention that goes hand in hand with the society and pace we’re living in these days. 

'the feel behind your eyes'

Is there a particular photographer whose work has deeply influenced your own artistic development?

When I started back in 2013 I did not know any big photography names to related to. I do not have one photographer whose work I followed along with that would convey an inspirational meaning to my own imagery. Sometimes people write to me on social media platforms, this looks so…  big name like, and I say thank you, and next I dive into google searching the name, because I am null in photographic theoretical anything stuff. My very own inner experiences were the ones shaping and influencing the development and the manifestation of my artsy visuals. They were the bridge and the translation was my frame and I was inside of it.

'memory loading'

Many artists have a special piece in their portfolio that holds a unique place in their heart. Is there a self-portrait that holds particular meaning for you? Can you share the story behind it and why it's so special to you?

I definitely don’t have an old time favourite because I connect to my previously created images differently in accordance to the memory I have towards them. I will pick up this one (Lilac Scented Emotion) I shot back in 2021 being influenced by a bouquet of lilac flowers I came across while having a common stroll that spring. The image is to be linked to a particular ‘missing someone feel’ I was experiencing at the time. I love it cause it came up as a truly 90’s dark visual because of the sepia tones I chose to play with inside. It could go as the darkened version of selling CK jeans, if you ask me. I played with covering the face with the piece of stone element I layered in iColorama , which stands for the true identity of the feeling I was having at that time. I love it cause is funky, dark, abstract and compelling to the viewer’s eye that could try to investigate the true meaning behind the shot.

'Lilac Scented Emotion'

As we wrap up this interview, Eliza, are there any exciting projects or artistic endeavours you're looking forward to tackling in the future?

Absolutely none. Whatever the road offers me and unfolds my way I am here to take it. No plans leaves me for all possibilities to unwind open and freely.

untitled

'Bubble girl'

'the evil I'

'half the story is no story'

untitled

'the evil I'

'noir nostalgia higher'

'still life being'

'illusionary'