Wadadli Feminine is Italian photographer Angela Lo Priore’s striking new book – a series of portraits of Antiguan women photographed in nature that celebrates freedom, pride and connection to the earth. What began as a personal response to the island’s beauty and spirit has become a love letter to womanhood, and a cultural milestone for Antigua.
What is Wadadli Feminine and what inspired it?
Wadadli Feminine is a tribute to the island of Antigua and to the strength, grace, and spirit of its women – a love letter to femininity.
The book features portraits of over 30 women of all ages. Each image is accompanied by poems, testimonies, and reflections, exploring themes of healing, sisterhood, self-acceptance and the rediscovery of the body. The result is a work that combines fine-art photography, anthropological insight and visual poetry.
I’ve known Antigua for years and always wanted to create a project here. Eventually, I decided to focus on capturing the essence of its femininity. What inspired me most was the uniqueness of these women and seeing them carry their bodies with pride, expressing a non-stereotypical, free and authentic presence.
How did you choose the women who appear?
All the women were chosen spontaneously and almost none are professional models. I wanted to portray natural bodies, genuine beauty and women in their authentic selves. Some were friends, others women I met by chance: an astronaut, a housewife, an artist, a singer…
I approached women on the street or the beach simply because I sensed something special in them, such as truth, strength or presence. There was no search for perfection, no direction or expectation, only the desire to represent real, unfiltered beauty.
I wanted bodies that would feel like an extension of the natural world, like flowers, like branches. Every woman has a different, unique body, and it is through that uniqueness that she must affirm her beauty – a lesson that nature itself teaches.
What moment from the project stands out most for you?
The first shoot was the most intense for me, as I was setting the foundation for the entire project. That day, in the heart of the rainforest, there were about ten women, both participants and crew, and this sense of sisterhood made me feel fully supported and protected.
How important was the natural landscape as part of your storytelling?
Nature was essential to this project and was what initially inspired me. It isn’t just a background; it’s an active presence, a living entity that breathes with the women. I imagined a dialogue between body and land, where both merge into a single ecosystem of beauty and harmony.
What’s next for you?
Since I love this island so deeply, I hope to spend as much time here as possible. I would like to become a point of reference for anyone who wishes to experience portrait photography, because I truly believe that standing in front of a camera and allowing yourself to be seen can be a powerful act of liberation from taboos and self-doubt.
I believe the women experienced a process of release and acceptance of their bodies, their individuality and their beauty. I think this kind of experience can resonate with anyone.
I want to thank all the women for trusting me and allowing me to bring this wonderful project to life.
To find out more:
www.angelalopriore.com
Instagram: @angelalopriorephotographer