Alessa Grande
The human spiral #3, 2022. © Alessa Grande & Stefan Stöger
Text and Images by Alessa Grande
Interview by Ora Heard
How did your series The Human Spiral come to be?
The series was a lot inspired by the magic shooting place Irrsee in Austria. I know the shooting spot already from a long time ago and recently I was there again with my partner Stefan and the idea came up to form a human spiral there and do a collaboration together. We thought about how we can do it and tried it first out with our own bodies. When we organize a shooting it’s not only about the finished perfect picture, we want to connect with other humans. I believe that the naked body provides a powerful and intimate platform for fostering this sense of connection. We had the honor of collaborating with 16 amazing individuals who fearlessly embraced vulnerability and trust. Together, we created a visually captivating human spiral that symbolizes unity and togetherness for us.
The Human Spiral project was a celebration of our shared humanity and a proof to the power of human connection. Through a deeply collaborative process, each participant contributed their unique energy and presence, resulting in a collective masterpiece.
The human spiral #1, 2022. © Alessa Grande & Stefan Stöger
Were there any challenges that came up while working on this project?
Yes. It was the first big project for us on this scale and I was a bit nervous and excited about it. We knew that the weather would not be so great but we wanted exactly that special mood in the photoshoot. The challenge was to get a time window without rain to start the drone. It was pouring rain when we all met at the shooting spot and it didn’t stop. We decided to go for a short coffee/tea to warm up and waited for a short window without rain. We were really lucky because when we got back we had like 10 minutes to do the shooting. We were all so happy it worked out.
The human spiral #5, 2022. © Alessa Grande & Stefan Stöger
Describe your creative process in one word?
intense
The human spiral #2, 2022. © Alessa Grande & Stefan Stöger
What inspires you to pursue image-making?
Photography is my biggest passion and I love to create pictures and take the audience to another world. Photography is my way of expressing feelings and sharing my inner world. I love to show my perspective on certain topics and my view of the world through the photographs I take. It feels like it’s the biggest part of my life and my life purpose. Therefore, it feels very natural to me – I just have to do it. The ability to be creative in this certain way fulfills my soul with so much love and joy and I am very thankful for it.
The human spiral #6, 2022. © Alessa Grande & Stefan Stöger
What was the last book you read or film you saw that inspired you?
Book: The mountain is you by Brianna Wiest
Movie: Call Me by Your Name from Luca Guadagnino
What advice would you give to people just starting out in photography?
Try everything out and do it like a child would do it. Play a lot and never stop with it. What inspires you the most will come to you. Be patient and enjoy your journey of exploring this exciting field of photography and how I call it study of the eye and light.
The human spiral #4, 2022. © Alessa Grande & Stefan Stöger
What is your favorite podcast to listen to?
I really like the Austrian Podcast: The Stevie Schneider Show.
How do you take your coffee?
I have to admit I don’t drink coffee. I absolutely love the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of Italian coffee machines. But unfortunately, I am hypersensitive to caffeine and can't tolerate even small amounts of it.
