The beauty of the Swiss Alps is captured beautifully by photography duo, Arnaud Ele and Nadia Tarra. Their photography has a whimsical and youthful feel; capturing the world in muted, yet breathtaking photos with a vintage feel that brings upon a sense of nostalgia. In a world of overly edited and fine-tuned photography, Arnaud and Nadias work feels like a breath of fresh air. Recently, the pair partook in a road trip to the Swiss Alps to capture photographic moments and spend time with each other. We got a chance to speak with the duo about their photography, their trip, and their lives behind the lens.
Lola Who: In what city are you currently living?
Nadia & Arnaud: We currently live in Wallis, Switzerland. Nadia is from Portugal and Arnaud is from Cameroon. We’ve been living and doing photography together for one year.
Lola Who: What prompted your trip to the Swiss Alps?
Nadia & Arnaud: We live in the Swiss Alps and we’re used to exploring new places during our free times.
Lola Who: Where exactly were these photos taken?
Nadia & Arnaud: We took our new car for a ride. Its an old-timer from 1975 and a good way to explore our environment. These photos were taken in Wallis, between Martigny and Sion, in the plains and mountains.
Lola Who: Is seeing the Swiss Alps as breathtaking as your photos suggest?
Nadia & Arnaud: Yes. The Swiss mountains are really impressive. They’re so beautiful to the naked eye; its always a pleasure to photograph the lights and the colours of this mountainous region! When we moved in together, we realized how lucky we were to live in such a beautiful place, and capture every moment that this epic landscape has to offer us.
Lola Who: What music were you listening to in the car on your way there?
Nadia & Arnaud: We spent this journey the drummer of the band The Last Moan. He made us listen to his new EP; a garage and blues-rock style that fits well with our universe. On a day to day basis, we like several kinds of music; hip hop, soul and new wave. We like to discover new artists!
Lola Who: What was the highlight of your trip?
Nadia & Arnaud: We met with a couple of friends. Once there, we went to a small lake. The snow had fallen and the atmosphere was peaceful. The scenery was simply magical. We were enjoying taking snapshots of this simple and authentic moment.
Lola Who: Can you tell us a little bit more about your city and how you like to spend your days?
Nadia & Arnaud: We live in Sion, the capital of Wallis. We are fortunate to have a micro climate. We always have beautiful weather, and when it snows, the atmosphere feels so soft. It’s a quiet little town, but rich in creativity. We have many musician friends, painters, dancers and designers… Nadia manages a concept store with clothes, pictures, art and photography. It’s a way for her to put these concepts forward. Arnaud spends his days creating images and working on independent films. When we have time, we like to work together because it brings a different dimension to our photography.
Lola Who: How did you find your love for photography?
Nadia & Arnaud: Arnaud studied film in Geneva. He loves to photograph life and natural lights. Nadia attended an art school. After getting her degree in illustrations and paint, she delved into the world of fashion and photography. That appeared as an obvious move! Were very complementary, and it’s a strength to be two! Together, we developed a characteristic style that celebrated youth culture in analogue images and double exposures, in rather muted colors. We want our pictures to be simple. Every portrait or landscape must convey a “true moment.” We hope our pictures make people dream of a sweet reality!
Lola Who: What are your main occupations?
Nadia & Arnaud: Arnaud is currently working on a documentary film about a young hip hop dancer. Nadia is preparing images for the store about their new collection. We are also organizing our next exhibition with new exclusive series. Every day, we explore a different road and embark on a new journey with pictures!
Lola Who: Do you travel a lot to take photos? Where are you going next?
Nadia & Arnaud: Last summer Nadia explored California and Nevada. Arnaud, for his part, traveled to Iceland. Soon we are going to invite some photographers from so that we can let them discover this country full of beauties. Even for us, who live here, theres still a lot to discover! For our next road trip, we want to go across France and Spain, and go to the coast of Portugal.
Lola Who: What are your other interests, aside from photography?
Nadia & Arnaud: Travel, music, nature, art, friends and family! All the good moments of life!
More photography from Nadia Tarra and Arnaud Ele on Tumblr and Flickr
