Rodion Rubin / Members Interview

Rodion Rubin

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About I've been shooting since 2010, having started with landscape and later switching to studio and indoor Later I went into love story, wedding and child photography. I learned most of professional tips from webinars and works by Jerry Ghionis, Ilya Rashap. Also I attended courses in basics of composition and color studies delivered by certified artists.
Location

Moscow, Russia

What inspired you to become a photographer?

There are aesthetic feelings and longing for beauty in every human being. I've always been into lanscape photography and art, but then I've discovered many other genres by widening my horizons gradually. Because of my passion to nature I started with landscape genre and later decided to try my hand at portraits. Perhaps a love for life and elegancy was the strongest motivation for me to become a photographer.

Tell us about your first photo that really validated your interest as a photographer.

My very first photograph was a view of autumn forest. I learned out that I'm able to feel and portray its charm, although it couldn't go without some difficulties.

Back when you were just starting out, what was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome that?

While trying to produce a well-composed shot I felt a lack of experience and knowledge. That appeared sad since I planned to become a proffesional photographer from the very beginning, not considering photography only a hobby.   It seemed to me that the key was to combine commercial and artistic sides. Promoting myself by all means was conserned necessary as well. All in all, I’ve achieved it by doing things that seemed attractive to me.

What do you enjoy photographing the most?

Definitely the elegance in every aspect; its aesthetics, passion, impulse and sensuality. If talking about genres, portrait, nude and wedding photography are deeply appropriate to me. The strongest incentive is a possibility to create true masterpieces with the help of only light, model and some gear .

What has been your proudest moment as a photographer?

In my humble opinion pride is attractive and destructive at the same time, but I unconsciously realize that there's isn't a place in my heart for it. In November 2012 a friend of mine attended Jerry Ghionis’ workshop and managed to show him some of my pictures. Jerry told that he had been impressed by ‘such beautiful works’ and gave me regards through a friend.

Tell us about time in your photographic journey where you failed at something and how did you pivot to overcome this? 

There are always lots of difficulties. I think that most of them appear as a result of careless preparation. Once I had to shoot outdoors on cloudy day and I took only gear nedded for it . But nature gave us a surprise and soft light rapidly turned into hard one. Therefore I had to change the whole concept of planned photo shoot switching to fashion-beauty genre, and ended up with totally different result: instead of delicacy of detailed midtones we’ve dramatic light that helped to underline all the model’s benefits. It’s easier for me to cope with such cases now, since right desicions come in a flash after years of thorough practice.

We all have weaknesses, what is yours relating to photography?

My main weakness in maximalism. I enjoy shooting vivid and captivating photographs, that are like oil-painted pictures, but actually customer’s requirements can be the way lower. That’s why point of view sometimes doesn’t coincide with customer’s one while discussing the upcoming commercial shooting. I tend to provide something innovative and high-quality and consumer preferences often don’t much my taste, but even fulfilling them I manage to keep му own original style.

Finding time to get out and shoot is another challenge for many. How do you find the time in your busy schedule to get out there behind your camera?

It’s not a single trouble considering my life style and I always have spare time for shootings. However, getting the act together while working with a crew and managing all the things to appear and to in the right place in right time is far not easy.

Nailing a composite right can be a challenge. What do you think the trick is to mastering composition?

Composition is a kind of language spoken by watcher and artist. A language that is extremely difficult to understand. Learning history of art played a great role as well as all the artist who used to give me lessons in composition, color etc. There are also great but not easy-to-get books that can enkighten you the basics of photography. It took me around 6 years to understand all the rules and difficulties of composition, and, despite of inspiring masterpieces I still feel my ignorance and need for improving my skills.

There are many photographers starting out, who don't have the money to buy the camera gear they want. What advice can you give to them?

My very first shots were captured with the simpliest camera, though there's no difference between them and those made with reflex one. Composition, and some balance of lights and shadows are still of primary importance. It's necessary to see and represent the beauty by yourself since Vincent van Gogh and Monet had no tools which are available nowadays. Talking about commercial photography, there's still need of specialized, but not always expensive camera. For now I use Canon 5D released in 2005, the one I like best since it lets me feel the inspiration and a dialogue between the model and photographer. Nothing will do in wrong hands.

How do you feel photography has impacted the way you see the world?

Beauty will save the world. I guess there's a chance to light up the world for everyone. Learning an art of photography not only improved my taste but also helped me to earn money and to go for charity. Developing my business would fulfill my dream of donating to charity funds or even fo setting up one.

What do you see photographers doing today, that if done differently tomorrow would improve their success?

I wish there were more skilled photographers around here, in the country I live in. Unfortunately, so-called Iron Curtain still remains if we talk about cultural tendencies: there aren’t many people with a good taste in photography and able to alternate decent shot from poor one. If I had a chance to implant some feeling to amateurs and make them appeal to classics of photography art and learn the basics the situation would change for the better.

To get your creative eye focused, where do you draw your inspiration from?

I look through various photography blogs, both of classic and modern genres, and sure I'm keen of art and cinematography as well. Literature, poetry, music and the world around us in total is full of undiscovered surprises.

What is your best photography related tip?

The ways I go and the deсisions I take always depend on the situation. There are no all-purpose hints or advices. It’s all about thought-out light and instinctive creativity.

What would you like for people take away from your work?

Even though everyone to his taste, I believe that my works represent true woman’s beauty as well as my own view of classical impressionism. I try my best to expose the balance between highlights and shadows with the full range of emotions as well.

What are some ‘must have’ items in your camera bag?

As a rule, these are lens 70-200 and 50 mm and also wide-angle one. All that gear lets me to work normally. The rest depends.

If you were stuck on a deserted island, what is the ONE photography book you would want to have with you?

Henri Cartier-Bresson's book I guess.

Final question, and it’s a fun one: Life has been found on another planet and none-other than Sir Richard Branson is piloting Virgin Galatica and has put together a team of engineers, scientist, doctors and has asked you to come along to document the journey. The challenge is you can only bring two lenses and one camera body and two other items. What would you bring.

I’d choose Canon 5D with lenses 70-200 2.8 and 16-35 2.8, and also memory card and battery.


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