Gabriel Ponzanelli Photography

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to photograph Valerya. She's from Russia and is studying film in Sydney at the moment. We did the whole thing in about 30 minutes, a quick and informal shoot.

As with all photographs for the People of the Globe project, I asked her to come wearing whatever she felt comfortable with and to do her own hair and makeup in whichever way she preferred. I want these photographs to be about the person first and foremost and I feel it's important to let each model come as they truly are. Her dreadlocks are really cool.

We shot these under the Harbour Bridge in Sydney and I thought it'd be cool for her to have a photograph with the Opera House behind her to remember her time in Sydney whenever she moves on.