Milan Josipovic
The photography as a lifestyle
Photo : Milan Josipović
What is the most important to you in the creative process?
Light. Beauty.
Please, try to explain us your emotion, which details you especially pay attention on while modeling light, light experience, how it flows over models…
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.
As if you already have identified mental maps which activate when you recognize right subject?
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.
Which objects are your favorites? Do musculature and form determine your choice?
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.
Do you have some tricks of your own to bring out model’s character, to get what you want others to see?
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.
Which are your favorite subjects?
People. Primarily. Although I like to make landscape, it cannot be sold, unfortunately. That’s why I work „report of the fashion“ mostly.
What kind of fashion is the most interesting to you? Is there any model or genre which inspires you more than others?
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.
Do you like Lady Gaga?
Lady Gaga? Well – I don’t like her. I think she exaggerates. She may have a style, but exaggerates all the time.
Is there any woman that would be perfect for cooperation?
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…
And anyone from our region?
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.
Have you had any opportunity to photograph someone who impressed you, until now?
Christopher Lee, an English actor. An unbelievable gentleman and professional.
Did you have any chance to cooperate with recognized and well-known models abroad?
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.
Which equipment you work with?
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.
Do you prefer Canon or Nikon?
Nikon. Nikon is really better. I’ve shot with all cameras.
Which model?
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…
What are your experiences with Eni Lebovic?
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 am impressed by Eni Lebovic’s student which works a lot now, German Martin Schoeller, with his serial of portraits and…
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…
…About tribes?
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!
Which else photographer would you single out as your favorite?
There are so many of them…
Who comes first to your mind?
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.
What is your experience with „Blur“ magazine?
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…
What do you think it’ll be important in the photography in the next period?
Nothing good.
Which direction is it developing in?
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.
And what do you think about German who is selling a photo for 4,3 million euros? Andreas Gursky. (http://dvrcty.com/ANDREAS-GURSKY)
Those stories are rare.
Yes, they are, but what do you think about that photo?
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.
Cindy Sherman?
Oh, I like her! She shoots herself, portraits, she is great…
…her photo cost million and a half dollars…
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…
Jedno su pravila struke, a drugo tržišta. Znači – budućnost je ipak u marketu?
Sad možeš da kupiš Ansel Adamsa neke veličine za 60 000 dolara, što je džabe u poređenju sa Gurskim…