Photographer of the Month - Olesia Kim
Olesia Kim is a street and documentary photographer based in Tyumen city, Siberia, Russia. After the graduation the Moscow School of Visual Arts (the Maximishin’s course ’Photographer as a storyteller’) she started photographing Tobolsk city over a span of three years beginning in 2016, connecting the images with significant global news events, which were later published in her book of the same name. Additionally, she has been a finalist in numerous street photography competitions, including the Miami Street Photography Festival, the Brussels Street Photography Festival, and more.
Hi Olesia, please tell us a little bit about yourself, where you come from and how did you get started in photography?
Well, I was born and raised in a Central Asian country, where street life is common. The colourful patterns and fascinating lights were all around me, as if they were a part of me. Central Asian people are known for their warmth and hospitality, which made me feel safe and comfortable in the streets. Now I live in Tyumen, Siberia, Russia, where the palette of colours is different and the street life is less vibrant. I travel a lot, trying to capture the best moments of my journey with a camera.
However, I never thought about delving deeper into photography until one day, when I met a group of professional photographers. They shared their stories and showed me some of their amazing images, which inspired me to create something similar.
Through street workshops and documentary classes, I have received formal education in photography.
As a competitive person, I enjoy taking part in photography contests and winning awards.I also collect photo books and often attend photography festivals as a visitor or an art speaker. In addition to photography, I enjoy visiting art museums, watching good movies, and going to the theatre. I consider myself an avid art lover.
What drew you to street photography as your primary genre? What messages or stories are you hoping to convey through your work?
Actually, I don't really pay attention to the specific category or genre of my photo, or its technical aspects. Whether a photo is good or bad is all that matters to me. Also, I'm not particularly concerned with the decisive moment in a photo or the sense of humor in my work. Instead, I prefer to focus on the atmosphere and patterns in my photography. I try to create either "loud" (stunning) photos that stand out as single shots, or "calm" shots that work well in a series or book. My street photography is about finding harmony in the chaos of everyday life.
What inspires you to do what you do? What experiences shaped your photography style?
First and foremost the eye has to travel! This doesn’t mean an expensive flight to Australia. A day trip to the suburbs or countryside with a camera could be a great option. A good film or art exhibition is also an opportunity for your eyes to travel.
How do you manage to support yourself financially through your photography? What tips would you offer to those just beginning their journey in this field?
Street photography is a skilled form of photography that combines elements of reportage, travel, and even fashion. It allows photographers to capture the essence of a place and its people in a unique way. You can offer your images to travel or news media to earn money. The lifestyle portrait (staged in the streets) is becoming increasingly popular. How about taking paid shootings?You can sell prints of your work or enter contests to win cash prizes. For the beginner street photographer, I would recommend watching as many good photographs as possible, trying to take your own, and thinking about your own style at all times. Don't worry too much about the number of likes you get, just enjoy the process of taking pictures!
Having traveled to various countries, how have you found people perceive you as a photographer in different locations such as Istanbul, Japan, Portugal, and Cuba? What has been the most fun place to explore and where do you wish to go next?
After traveling to various countries, I have noticed that some photo shoots are easier because of the abundance of cameras and open-minded locals. However, coming up with something unique can be a challenge in places like Istanbul or Cuba. I would love to visit colourful Mexico or windswept Normandy. Nevertheless, I am pushing myself to find interesting spots where I’m now.
Your book 'TOBOLSK' came out a few years ago, how was it received by the audiences? Do you think people are still interested in the print medium?
When the first car appeared, people thought that the era of horses was over. But horses are still in our lives.
I still enjoy reading paper books and buying photo books for inspiration. As someone who buys photo books, I would like to say they are a great investment. Photography books/albums are not published frequently and in large quantities.
Also they look awesome on the shelves! As a book author, it was a great way to summarize my photos from the time period and to understand the process of creating a book. I also submitted the photo book to several book contests and Tobolsk made it to the shortlist. Not bad for my first attempt!
Lastly, any new projects that you are working on currently?
I would like to tell you that one project about the Siberian Youngers has been completed. The project ‘Russian modeling’ is moving forward from time to time. I often find myself revisiting my previous shootings. While I enjoy taking pictures, I don't always organize my shots in the best way. Besides, my art vision is constantly changing, and some of my uninteresting past photos are now catching my eye. That's why I would advise you not to delete your old photos. Keep them, and take a look at them sometimes!
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Beautiful work, Olessia. Love the colors!