"Medusa"
Oleg Birioukov, first feature
You'll find Oleg Birioukov's work on his official site and deviantART
Written by Crina Prida,
photographer and UdA Editor
photographer and UdA Editor
Art Model Anna
Today I will introduce you to a Toronto-based photographer with a Russian heart.
His photographic journey has started a few decades ago, back in his home country; from old Soviet cameras to the digital world, his photographic journey has stopped for quite a long time.
From the series "The Dark Hall"
"Dance I"
When I first saw his photos, I fell in love with the underlying feeling of restlessness - the female subject is never taken for granted, but looked at and presented as a work of art. Then again, apart from his love for women portrayal, Oleg has a unique and mysterious way of showing ordinary scenery - his series The Dark Hall, has been among my top favorite galleries on Pbase, and I always go back there only to like it more.
Now, I let Oleg introduce himself.Thank you, Oleg, for your wonderful eclectic art and inspiration.
"Birthday Gift"One of his favorite quote :
"The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives." Albert Einstein
"Infinity"Art Model Ava Ainsley
"Frost"Oleg Birioukov by himself :
I was born in 1963 in Novorossiysk, RUSSIA. My father occasionally was taking family photos. Due to the lack of available photo lab services in the USSR he was processing film and making enlargements in the make-shift "darkroom" in the family washroom.
For my 12th birthday my parents got me a LOMO camera "Smena". At the time LOMO wasn't cool (or hot) as it is now. It was a plastic cheap camera manufactured using parts unfit for the main LOMO products: optics for the Soviet military. I quickly became bored with taking pictures of friends and cats and began experimenting, trying to recreate and capture scenes from my imagination.
"The show must go on"
Art Model Polina
"Gallery II"
Art Model Heather
"Dance IX"
Art Model Polina
Art Model Polina
I was born in 1963 in Novorossiysk, RUSSIA. My father occasionally was taking family photos. Due to the lack of available photo lab services in the USSR he was processing film and making enlargements in the make-shift "darkroom" in the family washroom.
We spent many nights in that room yelling in unison : "Don't turn on the lights!" at the people trying to use the toilet.
For my 12th birthday my parents got me a LOMO camera "Smena". At the time LOMO wasn't cool (or hot) as it is now. It was a plastic cheap camera manufactured using parts unfit for the main LOMO products: optics for the Soviet military. I quickly became bored with taking pictures of friends and cats and began experimenting, trying to recreate and capture scenes from my imagination.
"The show must go on"Art Model Polina
"Gallery II"Art Model Heather
"Composition SH2"
Art Model Shawntal
Later, while completing my education in Marine College, I got access to the semi-professional photo lab and had a chance to advance my technical level.
After graduation I got my first SLR "Zenith" and met several members of the local photo club, who taught me appreciation of the photography as an art and shared their vast technical expertise of survival in total deficit of photo materials and equipment. I became a pro.
Being a pro in the USSR meant taking mostly wedding and funeral pictures, capturing "outstanding" (inevitably boring) events of the local social life and in spare time trying to make something... different. After Perestroika things changed a little and I had opportunities to work for advertising and fashion industry.
The desire was coming from a desperate attempt to capture and preserve something which isn't going to last. (80s - 90s works and another site I had built in late 90s as an exercise in web design, yet hasn't updated since then, sorry for the outdated look).
I want my images of nude models to be non erotic. I don't want women in my photos to be the objects of sexual desire. I simply don't.
Art Model Shawntal
Later, while completing my education in Marine College, I got access to the semi-professional photo lab and had a chance to advance my technical level.
After graduation I got my first SLR "Zenith" and met several members of the local photo club, who taught me appreciation of the photography as an art and shared their vast technical expertise of survival in total deficit of photo materials and equipment. I became a pro.
Being a pro in the USSR meant taking mostly wedding and funeral pictures, capturing "outstanding" (inevitably boring) events of the local social life and in spare time trying to make something... different. After Perestroika things changed a little and I had opportunities to work for advertising and fashion industry.
I think at that moment I've noticed that capturing female beauty was what I really wanted to do.
"Chair"
The desire was coming from a desperate attempt to capture and preserve something which isn't going to last. (80s - 90s works and another site I had built in late 90s as an exercise in web design, yet hasn't updated since then, sorry for the outdated look).
I want my images of nude models to be non erotic. I don't want women in my photos to be the objects of sexual desire. I simply don't.
I want the viewer to feel what I feel : my admiration of the form, texture, interplay of shades and colors. Nothing else.
I prefer developing ideas with a particular model in mind. Novelty attraction wears off rather fast. When I'm working with a new model I almost instantly recognize if we ever are going to work again or not.I don't have a good reaction. I'm slow. I need plenty of time to plan a photo session and even more time to post-process. I've never been and never will be a street photographer, a paparazzi or a reporter.
"Enigma"
Art Model Sury
I'm a lab guy. My darkroom is my kingdom, even though now it's completely digital and not very "dark".
"Enigma"Art Model Sury
Simon Loach
Some wonderful photographies by Simon Loach.
You'll find Simon Loach, from UK, at his official site, his blog, Model Mayhem, his first feature, and all about him here inside.
"Beats somewhat antique"With Art Model Ms Tun
" Last one of the night"
" More fallen angels..."
"Ms Judd"
Richard Biardeau, first feature
You'll find Richard Biardeau, from France, and his imaginative work at his official site, his blog, and this one.
Eclectic, humoristic, authentic, full of a delicious and warm kindness.
Drawer, painter and philosopher...
Crazy, poetic, symbolistic, the universe of Richard Biardeau is full of surprises ! And laughs. I love his (self) dérision. As much as the message he gives us.
Fan of Max Saucoand Anton Solomoukha, there is no hazard, Richard has a vision I deeply like.
You know me, I won't talk about his ways to do. I saw and I love. It's the famous wow! factor. But if I could, I'ld say that Richard makes me proud to have called this site "Univers d'Artistes". With him, we enter again in another dimension. The fourth or the sixth ? Who knows ? Anyway, a strange one full of truth.Richard, you're now a Contributing Artist. Welcome on board.
Keep in touch ! ;)
His bio :
"When I was a little child I used to spend all my time drawing , growing up in an artistic environment. When I was 20, I (stupidly) used to consider photographs like potential documents for my drawings.
A few time after in an art-school, I made some friends. A lot of them were photographers and introduced me to famous artists I never saw : Les Krims, Duane Michael, Sandy Glosgun, Jan Saudek, Helmut Newton. Then came Max Sauco, I love his work !, Anton Solomoukha. Also Frédéric Fontenoy, Gilles Berquet, Mirka Lugosi who I met. And more (never ending list !).
An evening, dining with my best friend, I asked his girl friend to pose for me. I just thought I had to use my pencils and paper, but he told me :
"If she agrees, it's the good occasion to teach you photography".
And he initiated me to the art of argentic photography. As early as I began to learn photography, I had the privilege to work with a model !
Later someone gave me the Minolta SRT 100B (which belonged to his dad). I bought my labotory, and so on, this were 30 years ago ! Now I use numeric, computers and photoshop. I've just offered myself a Leica X1.
Today, I can't consider my life without my camera and my models !"
From the editor : Images and words. I love that. It's my writer's dream.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)