Five years ago, a 19 year-old girl took a long sea-ride to cross the Otranto straight and join the thousands of Albanians studying in Italy. Disappointed with the five consecutive refusals of her American visa application and hence not having the chance to pursue her old dream, a computer science education in the States, Klodjana Dervishi took her second best option: computer engineering in the “La Sapienza” University of Rome. With time she discovered that Italy despite many challenges and difficulties offered her a new range of opportunities and ultimately changed her life through several metamorphosis first in her career plans and then in her civil status. Klodi is now a self-taught free-lance photographer currently married to an Italian system engineer. At the beginning of what promises to be a real artistic career in photography she talks to Tirana Times about finding art as a new passion in life, the joys of married life and carrying around a 5000 euro 2-kg SLC CANON camera so as not to miss any shot.
From computers to computers
Klodi has always been a wiz kid with computers. In high school all her friends knew her passion for computers, servers, networks, Internet tricks and even a bit of hackering on the side. When she picked her high education profile in computer engineering, it was something expected. So no wonder everyone was a bit shocked to see her grab the camera and become a free-lance photographer. Klodi explains that she could never abandon computers anyways. Since photography has turned mostly digital, a lot of her editing work is done with computer software. “Whatever process had to be done in the dark rooms with traditional photographs now is done through Photoshop or similar programs, she explains- so I still have to sit for hours in front of my laptop and correct the colors, adjust the contrasts and the like.” She has done photo services for the fashion industry. Her next service will be for Sabine Valente, a wedding-dress designer. For Sabine, Klodi is her favorite photographer and she trusts her with the coverage of her important event.
Her website (www.klodianadervishi.com) categorizes her work thematically where her favorite part are the close shots of people faces. “The point is to capture something from a person’s personality, that’s when you get a real feeling of accomplishment. People transmit you an organic impression that things cannot. Their eyes are very expressive, the portraits establish a bond between photographer and subject. They tell a story.” Klodi recounts instances where shy people see the camera as a challenge, and of people who just feel good with themselves so are at ease with their image. “The camera either loves you or you it doesn’t. And it’s not only a matter of external beauty. Even your daily mood can affect your portrait shot,” she concludes.
When she starts taking pictures she is absolutely involved, frantically trying to discover the best angle the best lighting the best shadow effects, adding up the tricks up her sleeve as she goes, learning in the process. Very demanding on her self Klodi is also equipped with a good practical sense and an acute intuition for acquiring necessary skills.
From demonstrative
to conceptual photography
The progress lien of her work aims at combining the right elements at the right timing. Hence we come to the subject of conceptual photography as an art, which targets more than the often-commercial demonstrative effects of photography. It is not very easy to achieve conceptual photography in the medium she currently works in, fashion. Nevertheless it is not impossible. Good photographs need an excellent relationship between the photographer and other actors involve din the process such as the stylist, the model, the technicians of the lighting, it requires full inclusion of the photographer himself in the setting of the stage. “Models can adapt to radical requests and create dramatic effects,” she explains. What she is planning is to experiment with unusual shots that would tell a story between the lines. An example could be a model eating furiously as to indicate the sometimes aggressive diet demands of the fashion market upon the models. In general she is eager to engage in conceptual photography which highlights a certain aspect of reality with a light that is disproportionate to reality itself.
From single to married
Marco is definitely one of the most important things in her life. He made her discover the magic of photography. “In the beginning, I could not even turn the damn thing on,” she laughs.
She sports a white gold ring, the symbol of their union, which was finalized in October last year with a wonderful wedding in Cascina Boscaccio. Her parents were refused a visa so could not attend. She designed her own dress. They met randomly but it was love at first sight. She moved from Rome to Milan to live with him. Marco has been instrumental in encouraging and supporting her even in times when dire economic conditions would not permit her to afford the best equipment for her work. And as Klodi says equipment can be everything in her trade. It is very important not to give up in the beginning, not to get discouraged, and Marco helped me go through that,” she asserts. For her birthday her husband gave her the website she posts her work on and currently he manages the technical aspects of it.
She maintains that their relationship is based on mutual trust, honesty and friendship. “Hence I miss nothing from being single,” she chuckles. They have a third house member, the wonderful Filippo, the family’s cat. When they move to the States Filippo is going with them.
From Albanian to European to American
Going to Italy and trying to become part of the European life is not the last stop of Klodi’a life as far as destinations are concerned. As an Albanian she has felt the pain of discrimination quite heavy on her shoulders especially in matters of free movement. She also observes the discrimination of her compatriots everyday in the neighboring country, something she is not afraid to speak up against. Since her husband has been offered an important position with a firm in the Silicon Valley she is hoping to move soon to California. She dreams of having her own studio at the garage of some villa overlooking the Pacific. “All the big computer businesses like Yahoo, Google etc started out in humble garages,” she explains. The fighter ambitious spirit in her is restless. There is something serendipitous in her quest fro the United States and adventure started as a high-school student and hopefully being finalized as a professional artist. Klodi’s plans include a degree in the San Francisco Academy of Arts. When visiting her family and friends in Albania she is optimistic over the changes that she observes. “There are new things every time, things are on the move perpetually, it has to be a good sign,” she comments.
The story of Klodi is a charming discovery of an artistic passion that starts as a curious exploration of a hobby and progresses gradually into a process of self-discovery. “Photography has taught me to be self-critical about myself,” she says.
