Interview with Photographer Maxim Chelak.

MONOmoda : Your portraits all contain a level of familiarity, intimacy and emotion.  What are some of the ways in which you manage to evoke such genuine reactions from the people you photograph?

Maxim : There is no simple way to describe how it happens. I just take my camera and photograph. Lots of pictures are taken by chance; sometimes it’s reaction to me in the working process or it could be a real feeling or an act, when a model needs to get into the role. It depends much on what idea needs to be expressed on the photo.

In many photographs I see in some way myself, just like how I represent myself through the prism of other people, in this case certainly I try to open and understand who I’m photographing, to show people what they can be, open them up to a new perspective.

In reality, it’s only necessary to feel the moment when you take the shot.

MONOmoda : How did you develop your style? How would you describe it?

Maxim : I don’t want to call it my style  in order not to restrict my creativity.  My ’style’ isn’t formed yet. I could only note that the square as a format of pictures and black-and-white film were chosen on purpose. Both things make it possible for people to concentrate at the emotional content of the work. Subsequently I will develop my visual feeling, and certainly wouldn’t  want to limit it to what you can see at any given moment.

MONOmoda : What equipment do you use?

Maxim : I mostly use different medium format cameras, pinhole cameras; some times it’s 35mm. I think it’s doesn’t matter what cameras you used  it’s really down to your own experience, which camera you choose based on which one pleasing and is convenient for each use. Soon I want to try large format.

MONOmoda : How long have you been a photographer?

Maxim : I have been taking photos for 4 years. At first it was just hobby but after some years I found it to be a serious interest.

MONOmoda : How did you get into photography? What do you like about it? How did you learn?

Maxim : When I was a child, there were some simple cameras and polaroids for family photos, but at that time I had no great interest in it.

But during my studies at the university I got carried away by photography. Digital photography was only just being developed. One day my father gave me my first camera, it was the Olympus C-40, a small digital camera. Although I started with digital camera, now I photograph only with film cameras. Only after I tried it, began my passion for photography. I didn’t have teachers and I haven’t finished any art academies, I study by myself, sometimes I reject all accumulated material and start from the very beginning. I develop my aptitude for the vision, and besides the shooting I prove different methods of printing.

Looking through the works of classics (Brassai, Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon and others) it’s clear that it’s necessary to study much more, develop your personal vision and certainly my better shots are in future.  I feel we need to work a lot to discover yourself.

MONOmoda : Do you have any interesting projects coming out? Any books etc?

Maxim : This year I plan to hold an exhibition of my works. It will be a portrait set. All photos will be printed in a large format. Now it’s difficult to tell where it will be held and what works will be chosen. At the moment I’m looking for good exhibition space in Moscow.

So I plan to make theatrical series soon, I’ll let you know soon, all this will be seen on my personal site!

I’m not sure I have not enough materials for publishing books just yet but  it’s one of my long-term aims…

MONOmoda : Do you have any tips or advice for new photographers?

Maxim : Photograph as much as possible, walk to the exhibitions, examine the works of other photographers and the artists, constantly to be developed and personify your ideas.

Visit Maxim Chelak’s site online:

www.chelakmaxim.ru

Tagged as: black and white, Film, Photography, portraits, portraiture