Bettina Pittaluga is a French-Uruguayan photographer and photojournalist currently based in Paris, who obtained a degree in sociology from the Sorbonne and a master's degree from the Center d'Etudes Littéraires et Scientifiques Appliquées (CELSA). She discovered photography at the age of 14, photographing her family and friends, always using photography to discover and explore the natural beauty.
She makes only real emotions visible and finds beauty in the authenticity and simplicity of people often invisible in the media space, regardless of race, gender, age, or body shape.
Hello, Bettina,
First of all, I would like to thank you for taking the time to tell us about you and your work in this interview.
To begin, where are you from? Please tell us about yourself and your passions.
I am a French-Uruguayan photographer and director living in Paris.
I am passionate about literature, music, cinema, sculpture, painting, drawing, all types of creation… the power to share and make people feel.
Tell us a little about your childhood. What made you approach photography?
My childhood was mostly marked by injuries, dissociation and a lot of hope.
I think that what attracted me to photography was the possibility to feel and express myself through others.
No doubt, your characters are very well placed in the environment, in a special light and mood. Please tell us where do you find the inspiration for your photos?
I think my inspiration is drawn from people who have things to show, say or tell.
What photographic equipment do you use?
I only use film, and for the moment mostly medium format.
Your photos caught attention, overcoming prejudices about age, race, sexual orientation and body shape. Do you think a photographer with a bias could bring out the beauty of these people's intimacy?
Maybe a biased one ;)
Your works show the undisguised emotion and naturalness of the authentic people. How does a photo shoot go and how do you make your subjects feel comfortable in front of the camera?
Benevolence and consent are fundamental bases in my daily life as well as in my work. I imagine that naturally I install this bubble during my sessions.
The people in your photos maintain their attitude without giving up their own identity. How is your photography received in a world where people are quite often promoted according to a well-defined model with a specially created identity? How hard is it to break into this world by introducing a classic, non-fashion type of photography?
All my challenge is precisely here, in wanting to continue to deconstruct its models of identity, which are not representative of society, in fashion as in the social sphere.
Please share with us about what you want to convey through your artwork. What is the project you are most attached to?
My only goal is to make people feel, relate, connect. The project to which I am most attached is connected to all the people I love, my family, my friends..
What do you think, could photographers and artists in general, do more to reduce the injustices and inequalities that society inflicts on less visible people?
Stand as much as possible about these inequalities. Say "no" when the project constitutes to maintain its inequalities. Do the best to ensure that the team is also representative of society and does not also constitute the maintenance of its inequalities.
Please tell us a little about your exhibitions last May-June in Paris and Los Angeles. What other important exhibitions have you had over time?
The exhibitions you refer to were organized by The Saint Laurent Rive Droite Stores, simultaneously in Los Angeles and Paris, curated by Anthony Vaccarello last May-June.
On this ocassion, a third issue of the "Fanzine" was launched, featuring 40 pictures of my work.. it was amazing
And I also participated in the 4th exhibition and "Fanzine", with other talents called "Pink Matter" , curated also by Anthony Vaccarello.
In this special issue of his “Fanzine” platform, Anthony Vaccarello invited various artists to celebrate and support the fight for love and inclusiveness at a time when the banner of pride continues the fight for rights and emancipation.
You have almost 200 photos in your "Photo Vogue" portfolio. What did you participate in the Photo VOGUE Festival 2022?
There have been several important exhibitions in which I have participated, such as Photo London at Somerset House, the Nude exhibition for “Fotografiska” in Sweden, Estonia and the United States, the exhibition “Les nouveaux romantiques” organized by Dover Street Market during Paris Photo in Paris, and indeed the three exhibitions in which I participated with the Photo Vogue Festival, from 2020 to 2022 :)
In 2022, the theme of Photo Vogue Festival was "The Next Great Fashion Image Makers" and it was very challenging, I participated in my first talk in English on the theme 'On Being A Woman'.
It's an honor to be selected by the Photo Vogue Festival team and three years in a row! I feel an eternal gratitude to Alessia Glaviano who has always supported my work since my beginnings and was one of the first to support me.
The viewer's eyes linger on your works. What do you think is the main attention grabbing ingredient?
Sincerity and authenticity, I hope.
Do you have in mind a photographer whom you admire and who inspired you in your work?
There are really a lot of photographers who inspire me, Zanele Muholi, Mary Ellen Mark, Susan Meiselas, Sophie Calle and so many others...
Can you tell us where readers who want to see more of your works can find you? Do you have any published photographic album?
Unfortunately I can't really guide you on this question, I'm lucky to have some exhibitions planned, I hope to have the chance to publish books in the future! And my website should be launched in a few months :)
How do you imagine the evolution of your artistic work and your figure as an artist in the future?
I strongly believe in the importance of time, what I like is building projects over time. As I told you a little earlier, my ambition is to make books, exhibitions where emotion would have the central place, and make films too.