Eva Abeling Invites Us To Step Into A World Of Introspection And Wonder

Her editorial reminds us of the beauty within and around usFueled by her passion for storytelling, Abeling possesses a remarkable ability to capture images that resonate with emotive power. Through her unique lens, she masterfully freezes moments in time, evoking a range of emotions and having a lasting impact on viewers. For years, her dedication to the art of analog photography has allowed her to create compositions with a distinct raw quality that adds an extra layer of depth and authenticity to her work. Capturing landscapes, the intricate details of nature, and the grace of human bodies, her latest series invites us to connect with the profound emotions she skillfully captures while tactfully reminding us of the beauty within and around us. In our chat below, she elaborates on this and more.

Where are you based, and what creative endeavours are you pursuing?

I’m originally from Bremen, a city in the Northeast of Germany. However, I moved away at a young age and have since lived and created mostly in Spain. In recent years, my photographs have been exhibited in New York, London, and Barcelona, and my work has been published in various magazines worldwide. I’m currently working with brands in the United States, Australia, and across Europe. I have also created safe spaces in the form of classes and workshops where clients can share, connect, and create dream-like images using analog photography.
“My stories revolve around moments, feelings, tears, the sea, our hearts, and love”

What drew you to photography? What do you love about it?

I have always been fascinated by the art of storytelling. I find endless inspiration in the various ways to tell a story: through different languages, sounds, and symbols. After studying lyrics and poetry, I became increasingly intrigued by the idea of telling a story in silence. Instead of showing feelings through rhythm, I started expressing them through colours, light, and textures. Translating emotions with shapes and lines. Expressing pain through softness. Writing with light.

When deciding what stories to tell, what pops into your mind? How are these decisions made?

My stories are always about something I don’t fully understand and probably never will. They revolve around moments, feelings, tears, the sea, our hearts, and love. They explore fears I haven’t accepted or desires I can’t stop thinking about.

Can you talk about this editorial? What was the intention behind it?

The editorial explores the idea that boredom might just be peace. It suggests that silence may be the most important thing to listen to. That there might be a unique intimacy in stillness. That we may never arrive in paradise if paradise is not already within us.

“The most important essential is the ability to be completely present. Letting go of any attachment to the past or the future”What would you say are the five essentials for a successful photography experience?

Besides having a camera you fully trust, the most important essential is the ability to be completely present. Letting go of any attachment to the past or the future. Not judging a photograph already taken and not fearing the outcome of a photograph yet to be taken. Really noticing and observing the present moment before it becomes the next. Hair flying in the wind. Waves crashing on the shore. A teardrop falling.

You experiment with colour, texture and light. Can you tell us more about the importance of these in your composition?

Every story relies on being understood. To be listened to. A composition suggesting the beginning. A line guiding to the ending. The lighting unfolding a secret. Clear spaces for pauses. Thoughts and emotions.

What intrigues you about the island of Mallorca?

The hidden coves and its secrets. Having the mountain by the sea. Watching the ocean from high above and from all angles. The rain. The smell of pine with sea salt. The sound of waves breaking.

What makes you most comfortable when you’re photographing?

“Through composition, light, and texture, I intend to write my own poems”Creating outside. Creating with the sun. Letting the present moment be. Authenticity.

Why do you think your work succeeds so well in leaving an image imprinted in the viewer’s mind?

A poet plays with a handful of letters, symbols, and spaces. They find the right combination and correct characters, the blank lines and empty rows. Through composition, light, and texture, I intend to write my own poems. I strive to awaken a certain feeling—an emotion with endlessly possible interpretations. I hope to travel with the reader, sometimes through moments, days, or years.

Outside photography, what brings you great joy?

The sun. The sound of waves breaking. Rain. Dancing. Long summer evenings. Swimming in the sea. The moon. Shells. The stars. Sunrises. Sunsets. Listening to music in stillness. Long mornings in bed. Leaves falling.