About Elena Marchi

My work explores where the city meets the dog. I create fine art black and white portraits that place dogs within the geometry of urban architecture. The result is imagery that is elegant, minimal and quietly atmospheric, capturing the meeting of structured lines and organic shapes.

I have always been drawn to the small details. The way light falls across a curve of fur, the soft shadow that defines a paw on stone, the texture of weathered walls against a smooth coat. Every composition is considered, every frame an invitation to look more closely.

After several failed greyhound adoption attempts, I found myself returning again and again to photographing sighthounds, especially ex-racing greyhounds. Their sculptural silhouettes seem made for the city. Through these portraits, I challenge the idea that these breeds need endless space or cannot adapt to busy streets. I show them as they are: adaptable, elegant, and entirely at home in unexpected places.

Animal welfare is the quiet current running through everything I do. My portraits are not only about aesthetic contrasts but about the resilience and dignity of the dogs themselves. By placing them in the heart of the city, I aim to honour both their beauty and their place in the modern world.

My work has appeared in exhibitions and publications, recognised for its blend of architectural precision and emotional storytelling. Each image is an invitation to pause, to observe, and to connect. These are lessons my subjects have taught me, and I am still learning.