Marika by Andrei Kovalev: a woman stands alone in a golden wheat field, holding white papers.

Marika

In August 2015, I met Marika: Georgian, mother of three, a winemaker’s wife, writer, playwright and muse. Over the next few years, I photographed her again and again.

Marika’s portrait on black, light catching her hair.

Marika’s portrait on black, light catching her hair.

I made my first portrait of Marika after photographing her husband, the Georgian winemaker Jimmy, for a cover of Simple Wine News magazine.

Marika in a long black coat and white shirt stands on a hillside above a lake.

Marika in a long black coat and white shirt stands on a hillside above a lake.

In 2016, we made a series of photographs of Marika as a huntress, and a short video portrait.

Marika walks through tall dry grass by a lake, a shotgun in her hand.

Marika in a black hat and coat stands in a field by a bare tree, a gun on her shoulder.

Marika holds a shotgun upright, close up, in soft evening light.

Marika walks through tall dry grass by a lake, a shotgun in her hand.

Marika in a black hat and coat stands in a field by a bare tree, a gun on her shoulder.

Marika holds a shotgun upright, close up, in soft evening light.

In 2017, I shot a series of 19th-century English-style portraits of Marika to help promote her upcoming book.

Marika in a black fur collar and white cuffs holds her collar, on a dark background.

Marika closes her eyes, hands at her fur collar, on a dark background.

Marika holds her fur collar with one hand and looks into the camera.

Marika in a black fur collar and white cuffs holds her collar, on a dark background.

Marika closes her eyes, hands at her fur collar, on a dark background.

Marika holds her fur collar with one hand and looks into the camera.

The same year, we went back to the huntress.

Marika in a long black dress stands on a forest slope, holding a shotgun.

Marika aims a shotgun from behind a pine trunk.

Marika stands in a smoky pine forest, sunbeams falling through the trees.

Marika laughs in a red dress by a concrete wall, the wind throwing her hair across her face.

Marika in a long black dress stands on a forest slope, holding a shotgun.

Marika aims a shotgun from behind a pine trunk.

Marika stands in a smoky pine forest, sunbeams falling through the trees.

Marika laughs in a red dress by a concrete wall, the wind throwing her hair across her face.

More of my work with writers and publishers →