Series - FotoSlovo 2026 - Category « Fine Art »

Artist Statement:

During my photographic process, I experience a sudden pull toward certain scenes from everyday life that evoke emotional responses and carry me into other realms. In these moments, perception stretches and time slows, allowing me to immerse myself fully while keeping one foot anchored in reality.

I photograph spontaneously, guided by a pre-image forming in my mind, while embracing chance and the influence of the environment. Water, mist, lens smears, or accidental glitches can alter the image, creating unexpected forms beyond my immediate intention. These surprises are part of a practice developed over many years, valuing intuition, experimentation, and the thrill of the unknown.

Through this approach, I explore overlooked moments and hidden emotions, using photography as a way to process and travel through feeling. The act of image making acts as a form of meditative escapism, transforming the ordinary into experiences that can carry us briefly out of reality.

Artist Bio:

Lara Clarke‑Wardle is a visual artist and photographer based in the UK. She works intuitively, exploring charged moments where everyday experience slips into the surreal. Her practice creates immersive spaces that reveal texture, form, and quiet poetry. Lara studied Fine Art Photography at the University of Derby, UK, and UJEP University in Czechia, developing her practice over many years. She works across photography, mixed media, text, and illustration, blending observation and experimentation to capture unexpected and overlooked moments.

Instagram: @laraclarke_wardle

Location: Nottingham, England, UK