The photography world has lost one of its most distinctive voices. Elena Iv-skaya, a Russian-born photographer who had made La Réunion her home, passed away from breast cancer, leaving behind a vibrant, bold, and profoundly feminine body of work.
Formerly a model herself, Elena established herself behind the camera with an unmistakable aesthetic: saturated colors, graphic compositions, and sculptural silhouettes. Her work, which bridged fashion and pictorial art, celebrated femininity in all its power and diversity.
An Ode to Female Beauty in All Its Dimensions
Elena didn't simply photograph women – she revealed them. Her approach went far beyond static images: she created experiences where each woman could reconnect with her own power. She selected clothing with particular attention, always with the goal of enhancing bodies and personalities. Each outfit became an extension of the model's identity, a way to tell a unique visual story.
Makeup, far from being a mask, was for her a tool of expression. She used it to accentuate features, play with colors, and above all, highlight what made each woman unique.
But what was most striking was her way of guiding her models. Through caring advice, precise words, and sincere listening, Elena helped each woman feel strong, beautiful, and confident. "She didn't just photograph faces, she captured presences," testified Floriane, one of the young women photographed by Elena, who has since become a lawyer based in Paris.
In La Réunion, she captured plural and authentic beauty. She enhanced Cassandre, Florianne, Marie, and Azuima by revealing their grace through artistic compositions. She also transformed women she encountered on the street, at markets, or in neighborhoods into visual icons. And she helped propel the international career of Oulimata Galet, capturing her charisma and power with rare precision.
Then there's Oulimata Galet, whose modeling career took an international turn thanks to Elena. She knew how to reveal in her a power, charisma, and aura that few had been able to capture before. "Elena had this rare ability to make us feel beautiful, powerful, and united. She embodied true sisterhood," the kind that elevates, unites, and reveals.
International Recognition
Her photographs were published in Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and L'Officiel, exhibited at YellowKorner, and used by brands such as Avon, Lalique, and Naturella. Through each image, Elena told a story – that of a free, strong, magnified woman. "Beauty is not in what we see, but in what we feel," Elena Iv-skaya reminded us.
A Tribute and a Warning
Elena's death powerfully reminds us that breast cancer affects women from all walks of life, sometimes in the midst of their creative prime. It's essential to talk about it, prevent it, and screen for it. Regular self-examination, medical checkups, and mammograms are simple actions that can save lives. Let's not wait for symptoms: vigilance is an act of self-love.
In memory of Elena, and for all those who are fighting or have fought, let's make awareness a priority.
