7 lectures from photographers of the magnum agency. Best of the Best: Magnum Photos. What advice would you give to young photographers

Magnum Photos, founded in 1947 on the initiative of Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa and their fellow colleagues, is an association of renowned professional photographers and photojournalists that not everyone can get into. Election as a permanent member of the agency is a recognition of the talent and outstanding achievements of the photographer from the masters in this field.

In this compilation, Magnum Photos doesn't necessarily give advice on how to best take photos or how to make a name for yourself, but their workshops are sure to inspire you to pick up your camera.

Mark Power

British photographer Mark Power is a professor of photography at the University of Brighton and a permanent member of Magnum Photos since 2007. In his master class, he talks about how to approach a photo project correctly and how to keep motivated when it stretches over many years. About the works that once inspired him, about the sea and the weather. He explains why you can't plan photography, but you can and should plan ideas. He shares his experience of working in Poland and, by his example, shows how important it is to try yourself in another, non-native country.

Jonas Benediktsen

Jonas Benediktsen is a Norwegian photojournalist, author of books and holder of several international photo awards. He became a permanent member of Magnum in 2008, and two years later was its president. Speaking in Russia at the invitation of Leica Academie, he talks a lot about his connection with our country: about his ancestors, Russian emigrants, about how he came to Moscow and worked there as a freelancer, about how and for what he was expelled. Explains Kenya's slums, climate change and why you shouldn't chase a sensation.

Thomas Dvorak

A member of Magnum Photos since 2004, Thomas Dvorak grew up in Germany, on the Czech border, during the Cold War. Since childhood, he was afraid of war and at the same time could not help but be interested in it. He did not want to be a soldier or a mercenary, but dreamed of seeing and feeling historical events. So he became a war photographer. Dvorak talks about his career, the photo books he published, about life in Russia and Russian literature.

Alec Soth

The famous author of Sleeping by the Mississippi talks about the people who inspired him, how he became interested in photography, and shows his most early works... He talks a lot about the fact that you can live a different life, choose your own path. Often his works are simple photographs with a big story behind them.

Georgy Pinkhasov

The only Russian member of Magnum Photos, Georgy Pinkhasov, shares his experience of his work in different parts of the world: Georgia, Japan, America. Photography for him became anthropology - the study of people, the study of the world in which these people live. He talks not only about his photographs, but also about photographic films, as well as the need to be very sensitive to the people who are being photographed by the photographer.

Zhang Qianqi

The theme of Zhang Qianqi's master class is "Visible and Invisible Chains." He displays his work, which depicts the inhabitants of a temple in Taiwan. They are all sick - and chains connect those who are very seriously sick with those who are doing well, in the hope that the one who is worse will get better too. These are visible chains. Invisible chains connect other heroes of his photographs: Chinese men who leave for America to work in order to work without sleep and rest, and their families, who remained in their homeland.

Christopher Anderson

The author of four monographs on photography, Christopher Anderson, tells how he almost gave up his life's work, almost burnt out on the set of the war in hot spots. He was saved by an old camera, which did not allow setting any frame parameters. Pictures on her became his outlet, and the birth of a son and his father's illness forced him to reconsider his attitude towards the role of a photographer. Anderson shares his most intimate: the story of how he almost died at sea and for the first time realized what the photographs are for.

"Magnum "is a community of thought, common human qualities, curiosity about what is happening in the world, respect for what is happening and desires, to convey it visually". (Henri Cartier-Bresson)

Magnum Photos is the first ever photographic agency. Created as an international cooperative association of photographers, Magnum Photos has since become the most famous and prestigious documentary photography agency in the world.

May 22, 1947 (according to other sources November 22, 1947) in Paris (Robert Capa), George Rodger (George Rodger), Henri Cartier-Bresson (Henri Cartier Bresson) and David Seymour (David Seymour) founded a photo agency, following the idea of \u200b\u200bdistribution reportage pictures in the press. The legend of the birth of the name "Magnum" says that it coincides with the name of champagne, a bottle of which was drunk by the creators of Magnum Photos on the day the agency was founded.

This cooperative association of photographers made it possible to retain the rights to photographs with the authors themselves, and not with the print media, as it was before.

But a young promising enterprise, at first, was forced to work for this very perspective. The 40s were a difficult time for the agency and its first director, Robert Capa. He did everything to ensure that Magnum could survive, even played at the races. The money won was used to pay bills and work as secretaries. All the photographers of the agency understood that now they need to do everything and even beyond their capabilities to save their brainchild. And they went to those places where the spirit of war was still fresh. The reward for this was the excellent images provided to the agency upon returning from business trips.

Over time, more and more talented photographers joined Magnum Photos. The agency gradually got on its feet and gained an excellent reputation.

Henri Cartier-Bresson said this about the agency "..." Magnum "was created with the aim to allow us - or rather oblige us - by virtue of our ability and ability to tell the truth about the modern world ..."

As of 2009, the agency employs 79 photographers.

Being a talented professional is not enough to become a Magnum Photos photographer. All members of Magnum Photos are recognized geniuses with their own unique style and amazing sense of the moment.

Once a year on the last weekend of June, photographers meet to resolve organizational issues. One day is completely devoted to discussing new potential members of Magnum Photos. Applicants must submit their portfolio of 80 images to one of the company's four offices located in Japan, USA, France and England.













Magnum Agency is one of the oldest photo agencies. It was founded back in 1947 on the initiative of the most famous photographers of that time - Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Cap and others. The creators tried to make Magnum not just an office for the production of reportage pictures, but practically a club for the elite, to get into which is one of the best awards for photographers.

Therefore, there never were a lot of people in Magnum - always less than a hundred photographers at a time. We will publish biographies of the most famous photographers of the Magnum agency, and now we suggest that you familiarize yourself with brief overview fifteen best, whose biographies are worthy to decorate the conventional "honor roll" of the photo agency.

Bert Glynn was an American legend reportage photography... The man whose pictures practically illustrated herself Cold war - in those years, the American man in the street not least perceived events in the world through the prism of Bert's photographs. For example, he filmed Fidel Castro during a parade in Havana in 1959 and Nikita Khrushchev during his visit to the USA .

Of course, Bert did not limit himself to politics - over the decades of his work, he filmed many different events around the world. Both movie stars in Hollywood and hungry children in India were caught in his lens.

It is not surprising that he has amassed an impressive collection of various awards and has earned a huge reputation among magazine photographers around the world.

Peter van Agtmael

With his photographs, Peter van Aggtmael tries to show the gravity and pain of people who have become victims of the war machine. And not only civilians caught up in the epicenter of the fighting, but also the soldiers themselves, forced to turn life into death.


For his project "If It is Willed", dedicated to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, he received a grant with a telling name "W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography " , that is, an award for humanistic photography.



And in 1954, he went on his last journey - at the age of 38, Werner Bischoff died in a car accident in Peru.



His most recent projects are dedicated to mysterious worlds. buddhism and hinduism.

Raymond Depardon

Raymond Depardon became interested in photography in early childhood, and since then he could not imagine himself without a camera. It so happened that from the very beginning his career was associated with photography.


Faya-Larjo, Republic of Chad. 1978.

He traveled around the world, sometimes finding himself in the most dangerous places - for example, in Cambodia, where then one of his colleagues disappeared without a trace.

The milestone was a series of reports from Chile, for which he received robert Capa Medal - perhaps the most prestigious award for reportage photographers.


Beirut,1978. Photo: Raymond Depardon

It is difficult to find significant events that would not be filmed by Raymond Depardon. He is also passionate about documentary films, he has already shot almost two dozen films and won considerable authority in this area.


Photo: Beirut,1978. Photo: Raymond Depardon

Cornell Capa

Cornell Capa - famous American photographer, brother Roberta Capa, founder International Center for Photography in New York and a person who documented the most important milestones of the second half of the 20th century in his photographs. He filmed election campaigns Adlai Stevenson and John F. Kennedy, revolution in Argentina, "Six Day War" and even life orthodox Church in the USSR .


At the same time, Cornell deliberately separated his work from what is commonly called creativity. He argued that he was not an artist, and the main thing that he strives to achieve with his photographs is to convey the essence of the events, therefore he placed the value of the report as a whole above the beauty of a particular photograph in it.




Already at the end of the Soviet era, in 1988, Georgy created a series of photographs "Tbilisi Baths", after which he was invited to the "Magnum" agency, becoming the first and so far the only russian photographer in this agency. He continues to work actively today, living in France and shooting for leading publications, for example Geo and New York Times.



Taiwan. "My niece (left), on a new suspension bridge" 2003. Photo: Chang Chen-Chi

It turned out that the Americans had absolutely no idea of \u200b\u200bthis closed world, located in a huge metropolis, but living according to the rules that have been formed in peasant families in Asia for generations. Zhang's reports made a splash.


New York, USA. 1998. "An immigrant watches a Chinese soap opera on his day off." Photo: Chang Chen-Chi

But the project "Chains" made an even greater sensation: a series of photographs from the Taiwanese monastery Long Fa Tang , at which the largest poultry farm in Taiwan is located, where mentally ill people, chained in pairs, work in appalling conditions. Not so long ago, Zhang also made a rare report about North Koreans sneaking into neighboring countries in search of escape from the regime.

Bruno Barbie (Bruno Barbey)

Bruno Barbie is a French photographer who was born in Morocco. Since the 1960s, it has consistently been at the center of the most important events - filmed student riots in Paris, events in Poland, wars in Nigeria, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Kuwait.


But his native Morocco became one of the most important topics for him, and the series of pictures from there showed that color can be an independent creative object in reportage photography.


Portugal, 1993. Photo: Bruno Barbey

Bright colours Morocco in his photographs, they talked about the country no less than the people and events themselves depicted in the pictures.


Morocco, 1985. Photo: Bruno Barbey

Eve Arnold

Eva Arnold is the first woman who managed to become an employee of the Magnum agency, and one of the most famous women-photographers. She started shooting professionally quite late, but after a few years she was a fairly well-known photographer.

Haiti, 1954.

She joined Magnum in 1951 and worked there for over half a century.


USA. 1955 year. Marilyn Monroe. Photo: Eve Arnold

As a photojournalist she had to visit many countries of the world. She worked in Russia, where her parents are from, in China, South Africa, Afghanistan.


But the greatest fame was brought not even by the reports, but by the shooting of famous women, and above all - Marilyn Monroe, with which she was associated not only professional activitybut also personal friendship.

Jonas Bendiksen

Jonas Benediksen became the youngest employee of the Magnum agency, in which he came to train when he was not yet twenty. And his first serious experience as a reportage photographer, which brought him fame, was a trip to Russia and countries the former USSR... Jonas chose the least tourist routes and tried in his photographs to rethink the life of a country that had gone through a complete breakdown of the way of life.


Jonas' subsequent projects focused primarily on sprawling slums Latin America, Africa and Asia: their inhabitants and the rules of life. And often in his photographs there are not degraded creatures at all, but normal people who work, pay taxes and take their children to school.


It's just that their life is harder than that of the townspeople in rich countries - this is exactly what Jonas Bendiksen tried to show.

When preparing the material, photographs from site agency "Magnum" and its pages in

The world's first photo agency with the goal of distributing reportage images in print

It was created by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, George Rogers and David "Chim" Seymour on November 12, 1947 in Paris. According to legend, it was the bottle of champagne ("magnum") drunk that evening that gave rise to the name of this photo agency. Now working in it is the best recognition of the achievements in reportage photography.

1. "Try not to take photographs that just show what something looks like."

“Your manner of comparing the elements in the frame shows what no one has seen before and will not see it in the future. And remember, capturing the moment makes the image even more unique over time. "

2. "Try everything: photojournalism, fashion, portrait photography, nude - whatever"

“You don't know which photography genre is right for you until you try it. If you are bored or don't like your subject, it will certainly show in the photo. If deep down you love taking pictures of kittens - do it. " -

“Work every day, even without a job or for money, work disciplinedly for yourself, not for publishers or awards.” -

4. “Take pictures because you love and have to do it, and the main reward for you will be the process of filming”

“Other awards - recognition, financial rewards - come to only a few and are very short-lived. Make photography your hobby, not your career. " -

5. “I myself do not mind using good advice…»

"The first thing that comes to mind is Bob Dylan's catchphrase:" Have a bright head and always carry a light bulb with you. " -

6. "Dedicate a minimum of 5 years to it completely and then decide if you have a calling."

“A lot of talented people give up at the very beginning. A large black hole opening in front of them as they leave the cozy walls educational institution or the university is the main killer of future talent. " -

7. "Be open to criticism, it can be helpful, but stick to your core values."—

8. “Today, when everyone is able to take technically excellent photography with the help of mobile phone, you need to be the "author". It's all about authorship and it's all about authorship. "- David Alan Harvey

9. "Never Stop Enjoying Photography"

“Try, but do not“ look for ”images, but always be open, unbiased and let everything that offends you motivate you. Work towards a goal - whether it's a book or an exhibition, but more importantly - work to find your own voice, object and approach. " -

10. "Don't become a photographer, unless that's what you 'should' do."

“This choice can hardly be called simple. If you become a photographer, you have to walk a lot, so buy yourself some good shoes. " -

11. "Young photographers should study hard and not rely on a steady income from photography."

“They have to follow their inspiration, take the time to look for topics that indicate their concerns, big or small. In photography, it is important, first of all, to make a clear image. " -

12. "Stop talking about theory when you pick up the camera, and don't think too long about the image."

“Drop your own self and let photography find you. Observe how life moves around you like a river, and realize that the pictures you take can become part of the collective history of the time in which you live. " -

13. "Learn this craft (which is not very difficult)"

“Take a close look at the work of photographers of the past and classic artists. Watch movies and learn from them. Find a place where you can get a "commercial" photographer. " -

14. "Read a lot and create your own world"

“Learn how to build and create photo series. Don't be overwhelmed by other works. Try something innovative or just be yourself. " -

15. "My advice to photographers - go out into the field and take pictures."

"But also, if you are a student, finish your studies, learn as many languages \u200b\u200bas possible, go to the movies, read books, visit museums, expand your horizons." -

16. "Explore the work of such great photographers as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Andre Kertesz."

“Try to travel to different parts of the globe to understand how diverse the world we live in is.” - Hiroji Kyubota

Magnum Photos is the world's first photo agency and agency of photographers, aiming to distribute reportage images in print. Created on November 12, 1947 in Paris, at the initiative of Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Cap, George Rogers and David "Chima" Seymour. According to legend, it was a bottle of champagne (magnum) drunk that evening that gave rise to the name of this photo agency. The foundation of the photo agency was the desire of photographers to preserve and protect the rights of their own photographs and to have a central bureau.

Being the ideological inspirer of the agency, Henri Cartier-Bresson put forward the principles of photography, the most important of which were: use a Leica camera, take pictures for the Magnum Photo agency, not allow staged shooting, cropping photos.

The agency enjoys a well-deserved reputation, it includes well-known professional photojournalists, mainly from Western Europe and America. Working for this agency is one of the highest acknowledgments for achievements in reportage photography.

In 1981 the photographer Georgy Pinkhasov, who worked with Tarkovsky as a photographer on the set of the film "Stalker", was selected by the agency. For 2012, this is the only Russian representative in Magnum.

In 2004, the agency launched a new project - Magnum in Motion. The project implements a multimedia form for presenting photographs. A team of photographers creates an essay story, which is a photo slideshow with soundtrack and a photographer interview.

As of the end of 2007, the agency has 66 photographers and about 100 technical personnel.

Headquartered in Paris, editorial offices are also located in New York and London. In addition, 15 sub-agencies work for the agency.

So what advice do the legendary Magnum members give to young aspiring photographers? Let's read it and wind it up!

"Buy yourself a good pair of walking shoes and ... fall in love."

“Try not to take pictures that just show what something looks like. Your manner of comparing elements in the frame shows what no one has seen before and will not see it again. And remember, capturing the moment makes the image even more unique over time. Attend seminars for photographers whose work you enjoy, but learn about them first to make sure they are as good teachers as the photographers. Take off nice photos - easy. Taking very good pictures is difficult. Taking great photos is almost impossible. "

________________________________________ ____

“Try everything: photojournalism, fashion, portraits, nude, whatever. You don't know which photography genre is right for you until you try it. During one summer vacation (in college) I took a job with a new faith subject photographer. All day long we took off our socks and listened to a religious radio wave.

Then I concluded that I am neither a studio photographer nor a believer. The next year I got a job at a small newspaper publication and was surprised when I realized for myself that I liked taking pictures on assignment. Here pleasure is important. You should like the process and what you are shooting.

If you are bored or don't like your subject, it will certainly show in the photo. If deep down you love taking pictures of kittens - do it. "

________________________________________ ____

“I would recommend reading a lot of literature and looking at the work of other photographers as little as possible. Work every day, even without an assignment or for money; work disciplinedly for yourself, not for publishers or awards. And also collaborate with people, not necessarily photographers, but those you admire. The main thing is to learn how to join! "

________________________________________ ____

“Take pictures because you love and have to do it, and the main reward for you will be the process of shooting. Other awards - recognition, financial rewards - come to only a few and are short-lived.

And even if you are famous, there will certainly be times when you will be deprived of your attention or regular income, and more often than not, both. Of course, there are still other ways to make a living ...

Turn photography into your hobby, not your career. "

________________________________________ ____

“I myself do not mind taking good advice ... The first thing that comes to mind is Bob Dylan's catchphrase:“ Keep a good head and always carry a light bulb ” ). "

________________________________________ ____

“Completely devote at least 5 years to it, and then decide if you have a calling. Many talented people give up at the very beginning. The big black hole that opens in front of them when they leave the cozy walls of an educational institution or university is the main killer of future talent. "

________________________________________ ____

“Forget about the profession of“ photographer ”itself. To begin with, just be one, and perhaps this profession will come to you later. Don't chase to become solvent with your camera.

Jimi Hendrix did not pursue the profession of a professional musician until he learned to play the guitar. He loved music, creating something beautiful, and this later became his profession. Larry Towell, for example, was not a “professional” photographer until he became famous. Taking photography by force, you may, and make it your profession.

But focusing mainly on your career will only take lousy photos that you don't care about. "

________________________________________ ____

"1. Never assume photography is easy. It's like poetry - it's easy to compose a couple of rhymed phrases, but that's not enough for a good poem.

2. Study photography, look at the achievements of other people, but for educational purposes, do not try to be like them in terms of photography.

3. Take pictures of those things that are not indifferent and really interesting to you, not what you should be shooting.

4. Take pictures as you see fit, not as needed.

5. Be open to criticism, it can be helpful, but stick to your core values.

6. Study and theory are useful, but for the most part you learn by doing. Take a lot of photos, be dissatisfied with them and keep taking pictures, practice your skills and go out into the world to interact. "

________________________________________ ____

“You must have something to say. In this, you must be extremely honest with yourself. Think about history, politics, science, literature, music, cinema, and anthropology. How do these disciplines affect each other? What drives a person? Today, when everyone is capable of taking a technically great photo with their mobile phone, you need to be the "author". It's all about authorship and nothing else.

Many young photographers tell me they aspire to become photographers in order to "travel the world" or "make a name for themselves." In my opinion, these are the wrong answers. All these are just accompanying circumstances or, perhaps, even disadvantages of the profession of a photographer. Without clear ideas, thoughts, feelings and something that could be “literally” added to the “discussion”, the modern photographer will simply be lost in a sea of \u200b\u200bmediocrity. Photography is a language today. And, as in every language, knowing how to pronounce and write grammatically correct "sentences" is a must.

And even more importantly, modern aspiring photographers must be “masters of the visual word” with a pronounced didactic or esoteric imperative. Be a poet, not a simple "writer". To put it simply, find your own project that is close to your heart. Set yourself a “task” that you would like to receive from someone else.

Please, remember that only you, and no one else, are able to control your destiny. Believe it, know it and tell yourself this. "

________________________________________ ____

“Never stop enjoying photography. Try, but do not “look for” images, but always be open, unbiased and let everything that offends you motivate you. Work towards a goal - be it a book or an exhibition, but more importantly - work to find your own voice, object, and approach. Recognize that your work tells more about yourself than about what you show on it; try to achieve balance in this without resorting to shooting your own feet!

In other words, try to translate your own experience into a collective one. This is feasible, and I think the main quest in any art form (read Michael Schmidt's "Waffenruhe") is to explore the work of great photographers. Start from the beginning - early American, German and French photographers, then carefully examine the work of artists who used photography in the 60s, for example, Ed Ruscha and others.

Don't let yourself be immersed in theory, but respect it at the same time. Read what Robert Adams writes about photography, in general, “absorb” it all, and you will learn a lot.

Read literature, especially early Russian, French and modern American (as well as Irish, in particular, Joyce); travel literature as an art form is similar to photography in terms of describing and presenting reality. Don't rely on style for style's sake, if you have your own subject, you can use other people's styles if that helps you.

Or vice versa - if you shoot what the others do, develop a style, a manner of performance that is inherent only to you, and over time you will achieve both, you will find your own voice, but this takes time. Read the book “How You Look at It” carefully, the important considerations in it will help you. Always try to be honest with yourself ... For example, if the idea of \u200b\u200bbeing a photographer is more interesting to you than photography itself, then think about an acting career ... If you really love photography, don't give it up.

Realize and enjoy the fact that photography is a unique medium of expression. Respect and work within it and you can go far. "

________________________________________ ____

“Don't become a photographer, unless that's what you 'should' do. This choice can hardly be called simple. If you become a photographer, you have to walk a lot, so buy yourself some good shoes. "

________________________________________ ____

“Young photographers need to study hard and not rely on a steady income from photography. They need to follow their inspiration, take the time to look for topics that indicate their concerns, big or small. In photography, it is important, first of all, to make a clear image. "

________________________________________ ____

“Stop talking about theory when you pick up the camera and don't think too long about the image. Drop your own self and let photography find you. Observe how life moves around you like a river and realize that the pictures you take can become part of the collective history of the time in which you live. "

________________________________________ ____

“Learn this craft (which is not very difficult). Take a close look at the work of photographers of the past and classic artists. Watch movies and learn from them. Find a place where you can get a “commercial” photographer.

By "commercial" I mean working for others, creating a custom-made product. But most of all, protect your personal photography as a separate hobby. If you are very diligent, it can pay off and bring results. "

________________________________________ ____

“Read a lot and create your own world. Learn how to build and create photo series. Don't be overwhelmed by other work. Try something innovative or just be yourself. "

________________________________________ ____

“My advice to photographers is to go out into the field and take pictures. But also, if you are a student, finish your studies, learn as many languages \u200b\u200bas possible, go to the movies, read books, visit museums, expand your horizons. "

________________________________________ ____

"Be yourself, don't copy anyone."

________________________________________ ____

“Explore the work of great photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Andre Kertesz. Try to travel to different parts of the globe to understand how diverse the world we live in is. "

________________________________________ ____

“Don't stop doubting yourself (this will make you less self-confident). Push, scrape, dig - deeper and deeper. And if it no longer brings you pleasure, stop ... But the most important thing is to show respect for those you photograph ... "

________________________________________ ____

"Be yourself and seek outside yourself."

________________________________________ ____

“Although there are many more people wanting to 'become photographers' today than in the tumultuous 1980s, opportunities have also increased significantly. Fortunately, gone are the days when a commercial order or even a photo in a newspaper could get in the way of your chance to get featured in a gallery.

However, it is clear that a large number of “good shots” are no longer enough - today the ideas and design of the work are important. If you have something to say, or better yet, you have a new way of saying it, then the possibilities are open to you.

In my opinion, photography again addresses the problems of reality. For some time it seemed that she existed in many for her own sake, and although this was even interesting, the real vocation of photography lies in something else. Understand this as you read the rich and wonderful history of our habitat. Be proud of her, of what she has, and of what she is capable of. Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Be inspired. Try and recreate, so to speak (because no one else can).

Find an object that is dear to you - what moves you, awakens your true emotions. Then be patient. "

________________________________________ ____

"Find something that you truly hold dear and elegantly work your way through this attachment with photography, then you potentially have a great project."

________________________________________ ____

“Do one project for a long time. Keep working on it through many stages of learning, even if it feels like it's already finished. This is the only way to go through what I believe is a series of important lessons that teach storytelling through photography and how to combine images in a series. "

________________________________________ ____

“My main advice for young photographers who have just graduated from college is to get away from such centers of photography as London and New York. There are so many photographers touting their portfolios in these places that they end up fighting over orders they really don't want to do to make ends meet.

Such an environment is not conducive to anyone's creativity (at least in most cases ...). My advice is to do what you really want to do before you get tied up ... Without taking risks in the beginning, it will be much more difficult for you to start doing it again later. "

________________________________________ ____

“I believe that photography, like many other things in life, is an accurate representation of who you are at the moment: every time you compose a picture and release the shutter, you voice your thoughts and beliefs about the world around you.

So besides having obvious patience (photo - complex remedy expressions, a voice that takes time to develop), as well as perseverance and mandatory restraint when working with others, I would recommend working on yourself to become a more developed and informed person, a more knowledgeable and attracted citizen. This will lead to a deeper and more complex understanding of the world around you, and, ultimately, even more meaningful photographs. "

________________________________________ ____

“You have to fight to be a photographer! But more seriously, my advice to young people is to go to exhibitions, look at photo books and try to create a personal project for which, in their opinion, they have a unique approach, because they are close to the subject of photography and they need to express and understand its essence.

Photography should do something for me, as in the case of Diane Arbus, with myself through others and the unconscious (meaning the psychoanalytic approach). I will answer the third question because it is related to what I said above: "Why did you become a photographer?" I became a photographer because I have no memory.

It took me a long time to realize that through personal research (books "Investigation of identity or a Jew in search of his memory", "Chile. Roads of memory", "Memory of my father", etc.) I was looking for "missing" pictures. While writing the book Investigating Identity, I learned that my aunt, the sister of my father, who was a Nazi concentration camp prisoner, kept a photograph of my grandparents deported and killed in Auschwitz at home, which my father never showed us.

Through the photograph, I saw my father's parents, whom I never knew. This is what I love about photography. It helps me understand myself and the past through the prism of the present. "

________________________________________ ____

“Be yourself, get up early, and don’t try too hard, because everything that should appear will come without any effort; learn to trust your instincts and don't think too much about what others might think or about the process itself. Work hard but have fun. "

________________________________________ ____

“If you want to be a photographer, you have to photograph. If you look at the work of photographers you admire, you will see that first they found a specific place or object, and then they began to dig deeper into it and as a result they engraved something special. It takes a lot of dedication, enthusiasm and hard work. "

________________________________________ ____

"Follow your heart and never give up."

________________________________________ ____

"Dive head first into the business and follow your instincts, and trust your curiosity."

________________________________________ ____

“Try to live intensively - at home, abroad ... no matter where. There must be passion, ardor. And when you know the basics, forget about photography. "

________________________________________ ____

“Avoid any kind of photography schools and photography courses. Most of them will give you an idea of \u200b\u200blofty ideas and twist your mind, forcing you to think in one direction. Find your own path to photography, no one will ask you later if you have a degree. Visit as many museums as possible. The images you see (drawings, paintings, prints or photographs) will stay with you for your entire life. They will help you identify good shots for yourself later. Suppress your silly ambition to become the "greatest" master. To be good photographer - quite difficult."

________________________________________ ____

 

It might be helpful to read: