In a sea of self-proclaimed photographers, it has become rare to have a particular photographer catch your eye. That is Adriana Roslin for us - a half Spanish and half Italian photographer and art director raised in Madrid. At only 23 years old, she's worked with IG style star Maria Bernad and has been published in i-D Spain, Sicky Magazine, and Vogue Spain, among many others. Adriana's unique ability to capture the diverse personalities of her subjects and represent their identities visually is inspiring, which is why we couldn't have been more excited to chat with the photographer and art director and ask her about her own journey into photography, what her favourite cameras are, and why she thinks slow fashion is important.
Who is Adriana Roslin
Adriana Roslin is a seeker and a researcher. She looks to impact people with her pictures; not through controversy but through beauty. With her eye she tries to transform what is known as ugly into something appealing and with personality. She wants want she calls the “Helmut Newton effect”, and it’s about while fast reading a magazine or looking at a photography book suddenly stop because of a shockingly beautiful image stop to take a moment and enjoy it.
How did you first get involved in photography and art direction in the fashion and music industry? What do you love about working in these industries?
I was always attracted by aesthetic more than a story. There is something about it that make culture and people completely different and by that beautiful and in the end it always carries a story with it. Even if similar no one is the same, we all have our own eye and point of view. That’s what made me get into the fashion and the music industry through out photography. Even though photography is only the representation of something already existent, inside these industries you have to constantly create images from nothing, infinite ideas can be talked about and so represented.
Where do you turn to for inspiration for your work?
Everywhere, anywhere, from whoever. I’m never looking for it, it just appears. Some days ago I was watching Sex And The City for the third time while I was editing an editorial and from nothing I just came up with an idea. So I stopped it and worked. I can’t be forced to create something if the surroundings don’t inspire me. Internet is also an intense source of inspiration but in the end we all have similar references; that’s why for me, human beings and experiences are the key.
How would you describe your own relationship with clothing and how has it evolved over the years?
I’ve never cared too much about my clothes. I always wear black or white o beige or something extremely neutral. It’s more about the cut of a piece of clothing but yeah, I’m not like my stylists for example, or influencers whom take care of they’re clothes in a very serious way (also because it’s their passion). I feel like I have no time for it. But in the last few months I started to care more about it and it’s been even fun. I look for total looks and damn, there is some impressive clothing out there.
The fashion industry is far from perfect. As a photographer and art director looking at the current fashion industry, what do you believe needs to change and why?
What a tough question. I love it. Yes, the fashion industry will never be perfect but it’s getting to a point in which it’s democratisation has made it evolve so fast that it is even scary. Nowadays many shapes, skin tones, people, ideas, trends… that maybe 3 years ago we wouldn’t even think about are being the main theme in editorials or campaigns and this will normalise things that people used to even disgust. That makes me happy. What scares me is how mainstream fashion has become. Instagram has made fashion become a trend follower, not a trend setter. Trend setters are now influencers or radicals. Let me explain myself. The Internet has become a popular court; everything is black or white, there is no grey. Yes or no. Love or hate. Nothing in between. And this is scaring people off; the violence we’re in right now if you don’t speak out is hardcore… If you’re a feminist you should do something explicit enough to show that you’re a feminist or people are going to question you (just an example, but real). But maybe this is the way we’re learning and the way that will make us normalise feminism in a positive way or make us end racism or discrimination. Who knows. Even though it’s scary.
What have been the greatest lessons you have learned since beginning your career?
Work hard. Embrace your insecurities and transform them into something positive. Be professional by being on time, making everybody in a team know what’s going on, listening to people and putting everyone at your same level. Existential crisis regarding your art are the perfect moment to analyse it and change if necessary. Respect human beings, we’re all different and will never have the same exact opinions. Accept changes in your personal life and don’t let them eat you. And many many other incredible things. I feel wiser every year. However I’m still 23 years old.
Can you describe your personal style for us?
I’m very natural, minimal and a bit of a tomboy. I love to show my sexuality through my clothes and sometimes that can be uncomfortable cause I’m often showing a lot and people stare; but I will never change my style because of that. Me, myself and I. And my boobs.
Is slow fashion important to you? Why?
Very. Apart from the fact that it is an essential factor on the environment is also the representation of quality. I would say it’s also the representation of hard work but I wouldn’t be exact cause people in Bangladesh and many other countries are busting their ass for fast fashion businesses that don’t care about paying them enough to make a living or keeping them safe. So yeah, for us, people with enough money to buy clothes it is important to invest in slow fashion but fast fashion is also important for many other human beings that don’t have enough money to buy certain qualities. Some of the many problem of fast fashion are the toxic materials they use that help destroy the planet and the treatment workers receive followed by their absurd salaries and work hours. I feel like we should ALL stop buying fast fashions to stop enterprises such as Inditex or terrible H&M take over the planet but I’m sorry, that’s completely impossible. We can yet, as I said before invest little by little in long term clothes and that will maybe change a bit our world.
How are you sustainable in your day to day life?
I recycle, try to always throw stuff in the bin instead of in the middle of the street, buy slow fashion as much as possible (when money lets me), also I don’t buy many clothes… Reuse bags and water.
You’ve worked with a plethora of publications and clients - what has been your most memorable project to date?
It’s more about the people I’ve created these projects with. First is working with the unstoppable María Bernad (influencer and stylist) with whom I’ve started creating recently. Thanks to her and my own evolution I feel like every editorial we do together is a very curated project, very singular, each one has it’s own personality and we try to make it to paper every time. And secondly my help creating Sisyphe’s visual campaigns for years. This brand and its creator, ElPablo, changed my life completely and over the years helped me build my personal and artistic mentality with wonderful references and experiences. Right now it’s on hold but the proof and memory is there, forever.
What’s your favourite camera to use when shooting?
I really don’t know. I use digital and film. Both of them are extremely special because it’s more about how you treat the image afterwards more than the camera per se. Two Canons. The film one is a Canon TX (I think), I got it from my grandfather and the digital is a Canon 5D Mark ii which I should replace soon…
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
I usually have a tiny panic attack so I try to calm myself down and breathe peacefully.
Favourite city to travel to?
New York for sure. I’ve been there twice. First time I was 13 years old but I went back for three full months when I was 21/22 and it was a crazy experience. I’m European so having the best and worst of both American and European vibe is fucking amazing.
Makeup or skincare product you couldn’t live without?
A mixed face cream for skincare. I still haven’t found the one but I had so many cool ones. The thing is that your face gets used to a lot of products sometimes so the effect is not the same anymore; just like life experiences. And for makeup either a red lipstick or my blush.
What does a typical day in the life look like for you?
I really can’t tell. All of them are different. And I’m thankful for that.
@adrianaroslin
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