Lisbon Wasn’t Ready for Boudoir
Yuliya Strips Down Tradition with Boudoir on the Streets of Portugal
Boudoir with Konica Auto S2 Directed by Yuliya Panchenko.
This time, the Forbidden Frames challenge brought Yuliya Panchenko and her boudoir vision to the charming yet conservatively spirited city of Lisbon, Portugal. Armed with a Konica Auto S2—a 35mm rangefinder known as the "poor man's Leica"—Yuliya set out to break taboos, spread art, and photograph bold femininity in a country where boudoir is still quietly whispered about.
About the Camera
The Konica Auto S2, released in 1965, is a robust and elegant rangefinder camera with a sharp Hexanon 45mm f/1.8 lens. Its built-in light meter and parallax-corrected viewfinder made it a favorite among street photographers and journalists. Compact, fast, and intuitive—perfect for capturing fleeting, intimate moments in the wild chaos of city life.
Yuliya Panchenko Holding a Konica Auto S2.
Boudoir in a Conservative Culture
The goal? Create boudoir art in a city where it is still considered scandalous. But from the very start, this Lisbon episode proved to be one of the most difficult.
Yuliya’s model backed out just before the shoot, fearful of being recognized or judged in her own city. With the challenge already technically failed, Yuliya did what she always does—she turned the setback into a statement. She became her own subject and made Lisbon her stage.
Boudoir with Konica Auto S2 Directed by Yuliya Panchenko.
From Rejection to Celebration
Street Photography: Wearing her signature green lingerie under a blazer, Yuliya began her shoot in the heart of Lisbon. Reactions were mixed. Passersby stared, whispered, and one onlooker even criticized her for “showing panties in public.” Still, the Konica Auto S2 clicked, capturing the tension between boldness and tradition.
Hotel Drama Turned Art Session: Yuliya sought refuge at the Lisbon Art Stay Hotel. Initially stopped by the manager in the lobby, the story took a cinematic turn. Once the hotel’s creative team learned about Yuliya’s project, they not only allowed the shoot—they embraced it. Room 24 became an experimental boudoir studio. The space inspired her to push creative limits and produce avant-garde images unlike anything she’d done before.
Rooftop Revival: The final scene took place at the Ruby Rose Rooftop Bar. With Lisbon’s skyline behind her, Yuliya posed in her green lingerie, capturing raw, elegant defiance on Kodak EKTAR 100. These rooftop moments became the episode’s soul—bold, free, and cinematic.
Boudoir with Konica Auto S2 Directed by Yuliya Panchenko.
Boudoir with Konica Auto S2 Directed by Yuliya Panchenko.
Boudoir with Konica Auto S2 Directed by Yuliya Panchenko.
The Film Trifecta
Kodak SFX200: High-contrast infrared-style images brought surreal depth and texture to the hotel session.
TMAX 100: Used for controlled black-and-white street work, offering crisp tonal ranges even under Lisbon’s sharp sun.
EKTAR 100: For vibrant color shots on the rooftop, a perfect match for Yuliya’s vivid personality and the city’s pastel skyline.
The Impact
While she technically "failed" the challenge by not photographing her original model, Yuliya succeeded in creating history. Her self-directed boudoir series with the Konica Auto S2 sparked a ripple in Portugal’s photography scene. The reaction? Thousands of local photographers joined the Believe in Boudoir movement, many inspired to explore a genre once hidden in shadows.
Boudoir with Konica Auto S2 Directed by Yuliya Panchenko.
DreamBooksPro & Portuguese Love
To end the trip, Yuliya visited DreamBooksPro in Marco, Portugal—The Boudoir album company. There, she celebrated the project with warm, kind-hearted locals who reminded her why she does this work: to connect, to create, to challenge norms, and to believe in boudoir.
"I have never been inspired to do boudoir in a city where it’s still a taboo. Boudoir photography is perfect for Portugal and its people—they just don’t know it yet. But they will. And when they do, they’ll love it, cherish it, and welcome it more than any other genre." Said, Yuliya.
Boudoir with Konica Auto S2 Directed by Yuliya Panchenko.
Conclusion
This wasn’t just a film photography challenge. It was a social statement, a creative risk, and a personal revolution. Yuliya proved once again that boudoir belongs everywhere—even in cities that aren’t quite ready for it. Watch the full uncensored episode and behind-the-scenes journey on BIB TV.
