 | Anna Poprotskaya is a quite young and impressing photographer based in Winnytsya, Ukraine. Already in the age of 12 years Anna started photographing. We had the pleasure to get some background about her work and how she became a photographer. Read our interview with her and take a look at her beautiful photos. |
Anna, please tell us a little bit about yourself to begin with. (How old are you, Where were you born and where do you live now, What is your profession and do you have other besides photography?
My name is Anna Poprotskaya, I am 21 years old. I was born in a beautiful city – Vinnytsia, Ukraine. I still live, study and work here. I am a fourth-year student of Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University and a future English and German teacher. Photography is my style of life, my obsession, my hobby and job at the one time. I also try myself in making short films about my journeys abroad and throughout Ukraine. It is a new and a very interesting experience for me – to make my own story about precious moments of my life.
Have you been involved in the arts in some form other than photography?
I believe that happiness only real when shared. I am inspired by people, places, nature, art and everything that surrounds. I am just taking pictures of things I find beautiful, that’s all.
My name is Anna Poprotskaya, I am 21 years old. I was born in a beautiful city – Vinnytsia, Ukraine. I still live, study and work here. I am a fourth-year student of Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University and a future English and German teacher. Photography is my style of life, my obsession, my hobby and job at the one time. I also try myself in making short films about my journeys abroad and throughout Ukraine. It is a new and a very interesting experience for me – to make my own story about precious moments of my life.
Have you been involved in the arts in some form other than photography?
I believe that happiness only real when shared. I am inspired by people, places, nature, art and everything that surrounds. I am just taking pictures of things I find beautiful, that’s all.
 |  |
Seeing your remarkable work, I am curious where your creativity comes from?
Everything started from a curiosity. I was interested in the process of photographing, how it works. I saw beautiful things around me, I communicated with different people around me and travel a lot and i wanted to save every moment, every single smile and emotion, which were unique and precious to me.
Could you share with us how you first became interested in photography?
My father taught me everything I know. Photography is his hobby. He even had a Film processing laboratory at home in his youth. He bought me my first digital camera when I was 12 or 13. I don’t remember exactly the model of it, but I am absolutely sure it is Canon. Since that time I could hardly imagine myself without taking pictures everywhere.
What equipment are you using now and with what did you get started? what is your favorite lens?
My first reflex camera was Canon EOS 450D and a few years later we bought Canon EOS 5D Mark II. I still use it. It is a masterpiece, really. I love and worship my camera! Speaking about my lens, I use three of them: Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L, Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 II and Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L. And I can’t say which one is my favourite, because they are absolutely different and each lens I use for a certain idea or location.
Can you tell us about your work flow from the point you first step onto the street until you showcase the developed picture?
I start preparing to the photosession by choosing a style and idea. I have a team who help me to create an interesting make-up and hairstyle for the model. We always choose something very extraordinary and uncommon. Then I choose the exact location, which suits our idea perfectly. I should say, that it is a very difficult part, because I live in a quite small city and it is very hard to find something new here. Fortunately, we have a wide range of photo-studios, but I prefer to take pictures outdoors. I like street photosessions more, because there is more freedom for both me and models, more place and, of course, because of the natural light. It seems to me that sometimes nature even helps you to make a beautiful picture, for example wind or the lights of the sun, shadows…all these things bring life to the picture and make it more sincere and true. I always start working by finding a common language with a model. It is very important for me to make a model feel comfortable and free while shooting, then I can be sure that pictures will be great! In fact, it is very hard to choose the best picture. I usually edit photos in Lightroom and Photoshop and it takes me a lot of time to develop a final variant of the picture. As for editing photos I am a perfectionist. Color, tone, skin, brightness and contrast – everything should be perfect.
Do you see a particular influence, be it a photographer or school on your work? Any subject that attracts you?
There are a lot of photographers whose works I admire! Though my favourite is Marat Safin and Ivan Troyanovsky. Every their work is an exquisite masterpiece. I like everything in them, general mood, colours, models, composition. Sometimes you look at the certain picture and wonder how genius should be the author to catch that very moment. Their works are an inspiration for me. I can’t say that the pictures of these authors influenced my style, because my pictures are completely different. I try to find my own style and make my works as much recognizable as possible.
What would you say characterizes your work in comparison to other photographers?
There are a lot of photographers whose works I admire! Though my favourite is Marat Safin and Ivan Troyanovsky. Every their work is an exquisite masterpiece. I like everything in them, general mood, colours, models, composition. Sometimes you look at the certain picture and wonder how genius should be the author to catch that very moment. Their works are an inspiration for me. I can’t say that the pictures of these authors influenced my style, because my pictures are completely different. I try to find my own style and make my works as much recognizable as possible.
I start preparing to the photosession by choosing a style and idea. I have a team who help me to create an interesting make-up and hairstyle for the model. We always choose something very extraordinary and uncommon. Then I choose the exact location, which suits our idea perfectly. I should say, that it is a very difficult part, because I live in a quite small city and it is very hard to find something new here. Fortunately, we have a wide range of photo-studios, but I prefer to take pictures outdoors. I like street photosessions more, because there is more freedom for both me and models, more place and, of course, because of the natural light. It seems to me that sometimes nature even helps you to make a beautiful picture, for example wind or the lights of the sun, shadows…all these things bring life to the picture and make it more sincere and true. I always start working by finding a common language with a model. It is very important for me to make a model feel comfortable and free while shooting, then I can be sure that pictures will be great! In fact, it is very hard to choose the best picture. I usually edit photos in Lightroom and Photoshop and it takes me a lot of time to develop a final variant of the picture. As for editing photos I am a perfectionist. Color, tone, skin, brightness and contrast – everything should be perfect.
Do you see a particular influence, be it a photographer or school on your work? Any subject that attracts you?
There are a lot of photographers whose works I admire! Though my favourite is Marat Safin and Ivan Troyanovsky. Every their work is an exquisite masterpiece. I like everything in them, general mood, colours, models, composition. Sometimes you look at the certain picture and wonder how genius should be the author to catch that very moment. Their works are an inspiration for me. I can’t say that the pictures of these authors influenced my style, because my pictures are completely different. I try to find my own style and make my works as much recognizable as possible.
What would you say characterizes your work in comparison to other photographers?
There are a lot of photographers whose works I admire! Though my favourite is Marat Safin and Ivan Troyanovsky. Every their work is an exquisite masterpiece. I like everything in them, general mood, colours, models, composition. Sometimes you look at the certain picture and wonder how genius should be the author to catch that very moment. Their works are an inspiration for me. I can’t say that the pictures of these authors influenced my style, because my pictures are completely different. I try to find my own style and make my works as much recognizable as possible.
| Among your works, which is your favorite and why? Though this picture was taken nearly 2 years ago, it is still one of my favourite. As for me the girl looks like a beautiful fairy or nymph from some dreamlike forest. This photo is very lively for me. It seems that in a moment the girl will turn her head and smile and her hair will fly in the wind. |  |
Tell us your funniest or most awkward photography story.
Well, judging from my own experience there are always some funny moments in every photosession. I remember once I forgot to put the battery back into my camera and went rather far from home, because we chose the location in the countryside. Can you imagine all that terror which I felt, when I realized that my camera was without battery? Fortunately, my friend brought me his camera and we had a session that day.
What would you tell a newcomer who asks for your advice on how to start?
I will advise every person who tries himself in a photography to practise, to practise and to practise, because only by constant work you will achieve success in this field. Take your camera with you everywhere you go and then you will be ready to catch every moment you like. Don’t afraid to violate rules, remember, that you create the picture, so you create the rules. And, finally, love what you do! It is the most powerful and true advice. Love people, nature and your work and then every photo will become a masterpiece.
Well, judging from my own experience there are always some funny moments in every photosession. I remember once I forgot to put the battery back into my camera and went rather far from home, because we chose the location in the countryside. Can you imagine all that terror which I felt, when I realized that my camera was without battery? Fortunately, my friend brought me his camera and we had a session that day.
What would you tell a newcomer who asks for your advice on how to start?
I will advise every person who tries himself in a photography to practise, to practise and to practise, because only by constant work you will achieve success in this field. Take your camera with you everywhere you go and then you will be ready to catch every moment you like. Don’t afraid to violate rules, remember, that you create the picture, so you create the rules. And, finally, love what you do! It is the most powerful and true advice. Love people, nature and your work and then every photo will become a masterpiece.
 |  |
RSS Feed