Single - FotoSlovo 2026 - Category « Conceptual photography »

"The Balkan Mermaid is a visual exploration of the clash between personal ambition and stubborn reality. The photograph captures an elderly woman’s attempt at a professional underwater photoshoot—a medium typically reserved for the youthful and the 'perfect.'

Submerged in the dark, oppressive waters of a local pool, the subject is physically hindered by her own form and the alien environment. Yet, within this tragicomic struggle, a flicker of hope remains. Her subtle smile reveals a poignant belief that the 'professional photographer' will transform her into a star, transcending the grotesque nature of the scene.

Through the high-contrast black and white medium, the darkness of the pool becomes a metaphor for the limitations of age and geography, while the bubbles of air represent the fleeting, buoyant nature of human dreams. It is an honest, raw, and humorous ode to the desire to be seen, even when the world—and the water—pulls you down."