She captured the Nobel prize-winner in an everyday setting – in her flat, with bookshelves in the background, sitting at a glass-topped table. Szymborska is holding her ever-present cigarette, and a cup of black coffee or tea stands nearby.
This multiple portrait resembles notes from a memorable meeting. Instead of taking one fixed frame, we can observe the portrait changing as she puffs on the cigarette, exhales smoke, and smiles. Thanks to this simple trick, Helander managed to record changes, motion, and – taking it further – time.
Next to the images on the perforated negative we can also see the last three numbers from the roll of film – 34, 35 and 36. This means that the photographer selected the four last shots from their meeting. The final photograph on the roll has no number and is the first in the sequence, in the top left. When we look at each image separately, from left to right, we symbolically travel back in time.
By selecting the last shots from the film, Helander confirms what she stated in the interview: