Nature is like a woman who enjoys disguising herself, and whose different disguises, revealing now one part of her and now another, permit those who study her and assiduously to hope that one day they may know the whole of her person” (Diderot) This series of portraits explores my own connection to the natural world. Women and nature are aligned in a variety of ways, from symbolic to the material. The concept of connecting women with nature dates back to the times of ancient classical mythology, with several goddesses being strongly connected to the earth, animals, and different stars and planets. In this project, I look at women and different parts of the experience of being a woman through the rawness of nature. My goal is to show the raw nature of our beauty, of our resilience, endurance, power, gentleness, and vulnerability. The project “And then I remembered” is about bringing back memories from a long time ago, from deep inside women’s DNA, from the times when we were free to worship the forces of nature, sexuality, and beauty. It is time to claim our powers back, to accept our sacredness and our important role in this world for the benefit of all beings and Mother Earth.

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About
Gala Semenova is an award-winning Fine Art Portrait Photographer who lives and works in San Diego, California. She was born in Tula, Russia, in 1981 and relocated to the States in 2009. Her journey to discovering her own femininity revealed a deep connection to women as the subject of her artistic expression. Every expression of femininity—a woman’s personal story, her cultural context, every defeat and victory—sheds light on the complexities of her own womanhood. Semenova’s work strives to capture the true spirit of women, amplifying and revealing something absolutely personal that oftentimes is shared by many yet hasn’t been acknowledged or exposed. With each self-portrait, she aims to reveal the vulnerable woman inside to allow space for recognition, healing, and empowerment. Semenova’s photography presents her story as a woman and documents her life in such a way that is feminine, powerful, and touching. Each self-portrait she takes reflects a certain part of womanhood, connecting her to all women in the world through vulnerability and strength.