Oana Baković

Country where you live:

United Kingdom

City where you live:

Robertsbridge

Website:

https://www.mrv23.photography/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mrvitze23/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/oanambakovic

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/oanambakovic/

Statement :

Flowers are more than just beautiful—they are symbols of femininity, strength, and resilience, deeply rooted in our culture, history, and the health of our planet.

My photography seeks to move beyond their decorative value, capturing flowers as they exist within their own natural rhythms. I allow my emotions and anxieties to guide me, photographing them in situ to reveal their essence and the delicate interplay of elements that shape their uniqueness and fragility.

Driven by a fear that humanity is losing its connection with nature, my work celebrates the overlooked beauty and intricate microcosms of the natural world. Rather than altering or arranging my subjects, I embrace their imperfections, letting nature’s ‘flaws’ speak for themselves.

The only artificial tool I use is flash lighting, which illuminates the extraordinary details of these small worlds. Working during magic hours, I chase fleeting light, dynamic angles, and wind-driven motion, creating images that highlight the raw beauty and vulnerability of nature. Through my art, I hope to inspire a renewed mindfulness of the environment we share.

Quote:

I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring. - David Bowie

Fiesta

Flower assembly represent the cosmic celebration of nature. Featuring Gladiolus communis & Papaver orientale, 2021.

Intergalactic

Stunning display of flourishing plants, unveiling uncharted galaxies of beauty. Featuring Allium hollandicum, 2021.

The Band

Red poppies set the scene on the desolate land of the nature reserve. Featuring Papaver somniferum, 2022.

Atomic Bunnies

Turbulent winds awaken the radiant fields of the nature reserve. Featuring Lagurus ovatus @Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, 2023.

Supernova

Photograph of Prunus serrulata (Cherry Blossoms) exploding in radiant pink against a soft spring sky. A celebration of renewal and the ephemeral brilliance of a blossoming season.

Bio:

Oana M. Baković is a contemporary fine art photographer whose work celebrates the beauty and fragility of wild flora, endangered plants, bodies of water, and natural motion

Born in Constanta, a port city along the Black Sea, her multicultural roots—Croatian and Romanian—have inspired a deep connection to the natural world, reflected in her uniquely vibrant and emotive images.

Initially working in advertising, Oana began her photography journey by capturing family moments, eventually leading her to pursue her artistic passion full-time.

In 2020, she redirected her focus to fine art photography, exploring nature’s complexities and honing a distinct style that combines flash photography with ambient light and ND filters.

Using her Fuji X100V camera, Oana crafts immersive images that blend technical precision with a painterly aesthetic.

Oana’s break came with a first-prize win at a local photography contest, where her photo of a vintage Morris Minor garnered local acclaim.

This milestone propelled her forward, and by 2022, her work had earned a prestigious accolade at the Sony World Photography Awards.

Aesthetica Magazine lauded her viewpoint on floral photography, stating.

“Romanian artist Oana Baković presents hyperreal depictions of flowers and plants. In the above image, bright purple petals stand against an endless sea of lurid green stems. Taken from intriguing, low-down perspectives, Baković offers a fresh take on floral photography. The results are almost alien, highlighting the natural world from the inside. Seemingly small plants become towering giants before Baković’s lens, rendered in rich and saturated colour palettes.”

Deeply committed to environmental preservation, Oana aims to depict nature’s imperfections and resilience, revealing its inner worlds and delicate ecosystems.

Her approach goes beyond simple aesthetics, using her signature techniques to uncover the often-overlooked aspects of the natural world.

She experiments with flash, ambient light, and special effects in natural settings and her garden, often capturing scenes during the magical hours to convey nature’s transient beauty.

Her work has gained international recognition, receiving awards from The Independent Photographer, Fine Art Photography Awards, British Photography Awards, and International Photo Awards. Major publications, including CNN Style, Amateur Photographer, Forbes, and Aesthetica Magazine, have featured her collections.

Oana’s art has been exhibited in respected galleries globally, including Willy-Brandt-Haus in Berlin, MOPA in San Diego, and The Other Art Fair in London.

Select pieces are available as fine art cards in museum and gallery shops, including the De La Warr Pavilion in the UK and venues in Zürich.