LANGUAGE OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND LABYRINTH OF MEMORIES – INTERVIEW BY CARLA COULSON
Finding friends and like-minded people is something we wish for every day, but not something we can plan. And when it happens, we know it is the real thing.
That's why you can only imagine how delighted I was when recently the distinguished photographer, an inspirational coach and mentor Carla Coulson asked me to answer few questions and share with her my views on work, life, and inspirations.
I think you might enjoy this interview. Here you can get a little taste of it:
IN YOUR IMAGES THERE APPEARS TO BE REAL SENTIMENT AND ASSOCIATION WITH FOOD AND THE RITUALITY OF MEALS FOR YOU. IS THIS A BIG PART OF YOUR STORY? COULD YOU ELABORATE MORE ABOUT YOUR CONNECTION TO FOOD AND THE INFLUENCE IT HAS HAD ON YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY?
So many meals, so many simple ingredients can strike an instant reaction in me as if I see a whole motion picture rolling in front of my eyes. It is the motion picture of my early years where food and its preparation were an event in my home and everything was made with its purpose and deep meaning. We were poor and we were thought to respect what we’ve got and make the best of it. Many times we would hear the older women in my family referring to food, let's say – bread, as to some person of high status. As a matter of fact, my paternal grandma would often say, “Nobody is higher than the bread on the table”.
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HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR WAY TO PHOTOGRAPHY AND DISCOVER A PASSION FOR IT?
It started with a bittersweet memory of a moment long past from my very early childhood when everything was carefree and full of love...
I could still feel the sneaky morning sunrays jumping through the leaves, caressing my face and perching on my shoulder. I could smell mamma’s cooking coming from the kitchen. Light and smell still tickle the nostrils of my memories.
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YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS ARE EMOTIONALLY RICH AND EACH CONVEYS A STORY. COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROCESS OF TRANSLATING A STORY INTO A PHOTOGRAPH AND HOW YOU MAKE THAT HAPPEN?
I could never relate to food photos only as a consumer. To me, food is not a one-night-stand or forgettable quickie. I have a relationship with it and always give it a life when building my image. In that relation, I don’t shoot a food, I tell a story.
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MANY OF YOUR IMAGES ARE VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE IMAGE WITH THE SCATTERED PILLS AND THE LONELY MAN'S LUNCH. ARE YOU CHALLENGING THE NORMS OF FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY OR RECOUNTING A PARTICULAR STORY?
I have to admit, I like to stir a bit the placid lake of the set rules of the food photography genre and like to engage the viewers. What I mean is, I don’t only try to take a food photo that will make you want to reach and eat the food from the photo. I actually want to bring a smile, to speak to the audience, to strike a chord. The only way I can involve them in my visual world is to challenge their expectations and to offer them my side of honesty. When we talk about breakfast rituals, I don’t want to lie to them.
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Read the full interview HERE
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