17. 03. 2013.

The photography as a lifestyle

Photo : Milan Josipović

Light. Beauty.

The first thing is a subject selection. If we are talking about photographing people – it is some face which is incredibly interesting to me. It is hard to explain, because it is subjective, bur as soon as I see that face, I already imagine it in certain ambient, space, certain light. The photography is just an execution then.

You could say that… but, I do not have „pre-sets“, it is more „wow!“, I am just fleshed, and I see that person in certain styling, environment.

I prefer photographing men than women, although I am not „gay“, it is maybe because I grew up in the cinema, and there had always been some „hero“. Heroes were John Wayne, Clark Gable, not Marilyn Monroe… Women are, especially today, very hidden behind their look, those nails, artificial eyelashes… It is hard to bring out the character.

At first – I try to find out as more as possible about the person I shoot. It is easier to work after an introduction. Somehow, when I know aspirations, I blend colors better… Other thing – visually, compositionally, every face needs something different.

People. Primarily. Although I like to make landscape, it cannot be sold, unfortunately. That’s why I work „report of the fashion“ mostly.

When it comes to fashion, the styling has to be correct, luxurious and simple in order to meet my criteria… form, material and color should be dominant, and not everything! When it comes to women – famous little black dress which had celebrated Chanel and Audrey Hepburn, contrasts today’s situation – where it is impossible to put all that in cadre.

Lady Gaga? Well – I don’t like her. I think she exaggerates. She may have a style, but exaggerates all the time.

It would certainly be someone from group of famous models which showed with the term „super-model“. Tatjana Patitz and Christy Turlington… and probably Linda, and Naomi. That was a really good team. There was another one, but she had lost, Yasmeen Ghauri, a girl of Indian origin. And one more, Italian with short hair, of Moroccan origin… I’ve never been thrilled by Cindy Crawford… however, when it comes to women, I would prefer photographing Tilda Swinton, the actress with „crazy look“, because she gives something, she has the character…

Serbian women are great! They are so brave, braver than men. Starting with politics. Characters like Vesna Pesic… I won’t list. As people, they are much better than us.

Christopher Lee, an English actor. An unbelievable gentleman and professional.

No. I did work with „top models“, but their names are not recognizable here. Really, I’ve shot few models in New York and Miami, but I cannot remember even their names, and those are the faces I’ve seen on Vogue’s covers.

My favorite shooting is analog, with film, but – digital photography term: I’ve liked a process very much, because it is much easier. I’ve lately worked with digital camera, like everyone.

Nikon. Nikon is really better. I’ve shot with all cameras.

Nikon D300. Nothing special, but – if I need some for shootings, I rent. There is a saying (a friend from America sent me it): „Amateurs think about equipment; Professionals think about time; Masters think about light“. I come from the generation which studied at Ansel Adams School, from his seven books… He is the best, the king of landscape photography. Everyone who is interested in photography has to see documentary movie about him. He is „the father of photography“. His entire book are just – negatives. You learn from him. He had invented zone system. From white to black, shades of grey… magnificent! I look at his books, and – tears appear! I almost start crying…

Eni Lebovic? Long time ago… I respect her work very much. I had attended promotion of her book in Miami where she gave a lecture, for photographers mainly. She had talked about her work. She had even spoken of her love life (!). Since she is a lesbian, she talked about her partner’s death, which was, by the way Susan Sontag, writer… After that we asked questions, talked and hung out, super cool…

But, much more impressive is Albert Watson, he has very great role…

I missed a chance to meet him in New York, just because I didn’t want to go to some party late, and he was there… I liked his story for National Geographic, which generally doesn’t go with some his…

Yes… but there is a trick which he made the first, and very good: some portraits, but almost with a wide-angle objective. He shot them with 50/35, he came closer, so the deformations appeared. And, people do not look pleasant. They even look ugly. When you see his serial of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie… all of them look pretty unpleasantly. And, he didn’t do „retouching“… And, he worked with „kino-flo“ lights, if you know… Those are big fluorescent tubes, movie light, in fact; he puts two pieces very close, and symmetrically… he has also one good serial with female bodybuilders… and so on. He is great, great!

There are so many of them…

Someone of younger photographers? I like one English which is not so famous, his name is Koto Bolofo, fashion mostly, poor, grew up in London, in the margin, and he has become very good photographer. When you see his photos, how he does styling, locations… He takes contribution to fashion from London’s ghetto.

I’ll tell you exactly what happened: something was mentioned in RePhoto, I saw it was an interesting magazine and I literally sent a message to the editor, that I’ve just returned from South Africa and that I have some editorial with kids… I had sent it, and they published the story, not just an interview, it was on many pages, with 16 photos…

Nothing good.

Too much of „post production“! Too much of client’s influence on photographers. And the people who are making fine art photography don’t have any reason to exhibit when no one wants to buy a photo.

Those stories are rare.

At first: he is not bad photographer at all. There is a photo he made in Kuwait, on the stock – madness! Formula 1 circuit in Abu Dhabi – madness! And then, this unfortunate photo with a little bit of river and little bit of grass… Well, I think – that is just decadence more of modern society.

Oh, I like her! She shoots herself, portraits, she is great…

She deserved it, unlike previous one… This girl has her style, strong story… And this one, which shot supermarket, and 99 cents, it was a famous photo, the first which passed million dollars… OK… The story, exaggerating to increase the price… Photo of nature, two flat lines: green, green and blue sky above? Hallo? People, „the emperor is naked!“.

That is a modern society. People don’t know photographers, their photos. I was incredibly happy to see Athens’ library. I’ve spent two – two and a half years. Every existing photographer. Madness! It has it all! That doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world, not New York, not London, not Paris… Ansel Adams: everything. Like Alexandria in Egypt. I have read each book six times… The first time I analyze light, then this, then that… And now, someone is telling me I do not see…

Sad možeš da kupiš Ansel Adamsa neke veličine za 60 000 dolara, što je džabe u poređenju sa Gurskim…