Shalimar is a photographic series that reconsiders portraiture as a collaborative and attentive process shaped by time, trust, and shared presence. The title, derived from Persian and historically linked to places of care, devotion, and quiet delight, suggests an atmosphere rather than a subject. Centered on Ksenia, a 27-year-old woman from Kazakhstan, the work develops through an ongoing exchange between photographer and subject, resulting in images that reflect both her presence and the perspective behind the camera.
Created within a traditional studio setting, the series grows out of everyday life without staging or rigid structure. Schlegel worked with large- and medium-format film and, for the first time, produced albumen prints—a historically significant and technically demanding process requiring precision and patience. This approach shapes the visual language of the work, defined by soft light, restrained tonality, and a focus on clarity and attention, emphasizing not only what is shown but the conditions under which each photograph is made.