Meet Bianca Paulescu, the Photographer who Brings Vivid Color into Focus ‣ CVLTARTES

Bianca Paulescu is a photographer who was born and raised in Romania, a location that has influenced her photographic style since she first picked up a camera several years ago. After first experimenting with photography, Bianca devoted herself to the craft.

We caught up with the Romanian artist to learn about how she became interested in photography and film, what elements she considers most important in her work, or what draws her to the dark – mainly spooky, paranormal genres.

Can you begin by explaining how you first got involved in photography and film?

As a child, my parents encouraged me to try various hobbies such as painting, karate, dancing, and so on. Being both a perfectionist and versatile, I would get better at each one of them but also bored which ended up with me refusing to attend the lessons. However, on my 12th birthday, my parents gifted me the first compact camera, a small BEN-Q. As such, photography turned out to be way more liberating for me than anything I tried before. Soon, everyone observed my fascination and passion for imagery so at the age of 14 I got enrolled in two workshops and courses with admirable photographers who helped me refine and ground my technical skills. At that time was when I finally understood the basics of film and photography, to which I started to apply my aesthetic vision and creativity using the newly gifted DSLR Canon.

Tell us now a bit about yourself.

I am a 24-year-old graduate of BA Media Production and MA Cinematography from Bournemouth University. So far I haven’t had the luck to decipher myself, nor did I find someone who can pinpoint or help me understand my true self. I believe it’s in my nature to be always changing or searching for new ways of approaching life and its meanings through different lenses. These are the philosophies, psychological theories and artistic beliefs.

Funny enough, my name is Bianca which symbolizes purity and white, but looking at the aesthetics of my work, there is a clear irony. As much as I like to produce content that depicts happiness or moments in life for various clients, I always feel attracted to the other side of my soul. One that likes to tiptoe around darkness, the unknown, and peculiar scenes. This medium is my outlet, and the only wish I have is for more time, resources, and people who will help me achieve producing every single vision that resides in my mind. For this very reason, I’m working towards the day when I am the director of a content creation platform that serves artists like me.

What are some of the biggest challenges and difficulties you face when starting new film/photography projects?

I believe that evolving as an individual means adapting to the inconvenient situation. This belief has helped me approach challenges within my area of interest differently; always trying to make the most out of it. This is why I want to emphasize the fact that my skills and knowledge are also the product of every obstacle I had to face.

One difficulty I have to face constantly is the impulsive creative flow, which generates too many ideas, leaving me being indecisive between which project to start with. Because of that, I try to be more selective with the work I wish to produce.

Another challenge I face is my lack of experience with 3D modeling and CGI software, which limits the visual complexity of the work I envision. Currently, I am dedicating time to learning new skills within this domain.

Your short-movies, as well as your photography, are dark – mainly spooky, paranormal genres. What attracts you to this style?

My consciousness is the core engine of my creativity. As people, we learn about reality and what is considered beautiful from social circumstances and already existing categories of colors, sounds, objects, and the like. However, who is to say that we cannot redefine our realities? When it comes to my art, I try to blend realism with elements of surrealism through my unique use of color, composition, and effects. My aesthetic vision is simply based on how I perceive the world around me. However, I don’t deny that it can often be interpreted differently. I hope my work evokes many emotions for each viewer.

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I know it may seem like a very broad and difficult question, but can you roughly outline your creative process – from the beginning of an idea for a film/photo series to the point of production?

When it comes to my creative process, I approach production in two different ways. Sometimes, I find myself having unwary bursts of creativity, where I just pick up the camera and start producing content. On other occasions, the process takes weeks until the product is finalized. For my smaller projects, I use the Canon 5D Mark IV and one RGB LED light. I then edit by focusing on the harsh explosion of colors and the details during post-production. However, my vision for the bigger productions is bigger than me. I end up using expensive equipment and spend a lot more time planning. Additionally, the scale of these projects means that I work closely with people who believe in the same creative vision, collaboratively executing a sometimes very complex project.

Who are your favorite directors and why?

My approach to this question will be different. This is simply because I rarely favor big-name directors or artists, since I find myself being inspired by elements and fine details of work itself. For example, Euphoria is a TV series that has amazing cinematography which stands out due to its energetic camera movements, colorful lighting, and meaning behind each element of mise-en-scène. However, I am most enthusiastic about work that resembles my own. These are the kinds of work from any creative who manages to express their raw emotions through their aesthetic.

Many of the images in your series have a strong red tone—can you say more about this choice?

I want to create a sensation, I want my work to make the audience feel something. Red is dual, the philosophy is that it can be the sign of both danger and attraction. I want to evoke juxtaposing emotions within the audience; a sense of confusion and curiosity.

You truly get to know me more, you can see how I see, you feel what I feel. I want people to lose themselves even for one second when they stumble upon my work

Each of your images, besides being masterfully lit and composed, evokes a feeling of interruption—as if we’ve stumbled upon a surprising scene. Can you say more about creating this effect and aesthetic?

I think this aesthetic is strongly related to my spontaneous approach to creating content. As mentioned before, being impulsive and having a well-established style so far, is the perfect recipe for what you see in my work. You truly get to know me more, you can see how I see, you feel what I feel. I want people to lose themselves even for one second when they stumble upon my work.

Have you learned anything about yourself through your photos?

I learn about my deepest desires, insecurities, phobias, and so much more. My work describes a big part of who I am, one that is continuously expanding and learning. Therefore I wish to keep exploring, and allowing anyone who wants to be part of my projects to get on board in this journey of searching.

What are you working on currently?

It’s liberating to say that I am now working on various projects for myself; some are photographic, and others are video graphics. I am also working as a content producer for various smaller companies to establish a professional reputation. At the end of the day, I try to stay true to who I am and work to build towards my dream. This is a dream where I create a place that other artists can access. A platform where creatives can share their work in meaningful ways that challenge the status quo in how art is shared across social media today.