NATURE SAVES US

PAOLA FERRAROTTI

// Paola is from Argentina and now living in Germany. She has loved photojournalism from a young age, but went on to study political science and international relations, putting the study of photography aside after school. The passion returned later, and she is now trying different genres of photography. Her series “Nature saves us” aims to highlight the need to care for and promote the natural spaces that surround us.

Paola says, “In my school days I took photos whenever I could, on special occasions and on trips. Then I studied Political Science and International Relations, which is not that far away from journalism, but I put aside the study of photography although I continued to take photos whenever I could. At the beginning of 2020 I started to approach photography more consciously and realised the passion it can awaken in me. At the moment I am trying different types of photography and styles. As an amateur photographer, my goal is to keep evolving by learning and practising as much as possible. My aim is to master the visual language as well as possible and to find my own voice.”

What draws you to the arts?

“Art has been present in my life from a very early age. I started to get to know different artistic manifestations, motivated by my parents. My fascination for painting, sculpture, music, dance, literature and cinema grew with me. My great-uncle, a professional photographer, passed on his love for photography to me. Art moves me. Art awakens emotions in me. And this perception of emotions makes me feel fulfilled, it makes me feel from the deepest part of myself, from my innermost self.”

What do you like best about creating this series of black and white landscape images?

“Creating a series that reflects the importance and necessity of finding ourselves in nature came to me without thinking about it beforehand. The idea came from my daily walks in the forest and other natural spaces, as I felt that the wilder and more isolated the environment, the more my physical and mental well-being increased. This feeling of general well-being awakened in me the enthusiasm to create images that could awaken in other people the desire to live this immersion and also to transport other people who, for different reasons, could not have a daily contact with nature. This idea of contributing in a certain way to value and give the great importance that our natural environment deserves is what I like most about this project.”

In her series “Nature saves us”, Paola intends to show, share and awaken in others her passion for nature. “Living in a forest area, my images want to show that we depend on forests, trees and other natural spaces to survive. Beyond the many benefits for the environment, people and animals, nature is also a place where we can elevate our mood and deactivate stress and anxiety, while promoting very positive changes in all areas of our existence. It is known that taking walks in the forest improves the state of health of those who walk through it.The ‘forest baths’ or Shinrin Yoku have their origin in Japan and their literal meaning is ‘to absorb the atmosphere of the forest’. With my photographs I try to contribute to awaken the interest in this practice of countless properties and benefits.”

Now, wherever you are reading this, we hope you have a chance to immerse yourself in nature from time to time, because it is quite true what Paola says. Nature saves us — and therefore we need to save it!

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Click on the photos to see the full image with title, some images may be cropped for layout.

ALL PHOTOS © PAOLA FERRAROTTI

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To see more of her photography visit Paola´s Instagram page.