11 questions with Sanan Aleskerov
1. How did you realize that photography is your field?
I guess I just felt, it was a sense.. Once when I looked through Photo Review magazines I saw the things that had never seen before and had not understood. Then I realized that it was what I need. Here all my cravings joined: literature, cinema, and something personal at the same time. Many people thought that photographer occupation requires traveling. But photographer Duane Michaels filmed in his bedroom. In order to say something he did not have to travel, he could tell it by two models and the place where he was filming. It removes all visual and philosophy stereotypes. That is why I decided to devote my life to photography. They say the person who makes something with hands is a worker, the person who makes something with hands and head is a master, the person who makes it with hands, head and heart is an artist. He can not only think and feel but he can also show it through photography, painting, music.
Currently the value is my students,
I am proud of the role of the teacher. According to the words of my students, I am not just a teacher for them, I show them the other side of life, they learn to think in an unusual form, their life changes for the better. I do want to pursue photography and teaching.
2. How does the attitude to your shooting and photography in general change over the years of experience?
It has changed over the last 10 years. Philosophy of photography is on the same level, but the attitude to photography is quite different. I do not go for a photograph. It exists by itself, as a holistic thing. When I take a photo of you, I'm not talking about you, I'm talking about something more: about the whole world, about women, about love and hate. My favorite photographer Weston said: "By photographing the stone, you have to see something more - to transfer properties of the stone and you have to remind everyone the definite images". By featuring sea, I want to talk about infinity and not just about the sea. Each photo exists by itself, out of context, frames. I don't tell you about photographs. They should create different assosiations in people by themselves. If the photo image will hurt you, it is equivalent to bang and that bang will keep your interest with it.
3. How did you manage not to turn off the creative way into commercial?
I do commerce. I do not hide it and relate very seriously to this matter. At first I was a worker and worked in the laboratory where I printed photographs. I also engaged in scientific photography at the Institute of Space Research, underwater and aerial photography, journalism and applied in a carpet museum. And now I continue to carry out orders. I will do everything at the highest level for the client, but it will never be a work of art, artistic generalization. I share the commercial and creative activities. Commerce is for the "bread and butter" and creativity is for the soul. And very rarely they can cross. Thus, they do not completely overlap, they will be just close to each other.
4. Your preferences in photography that fascinate and inspire you?
Life. We are encouraged by what we learn, the way we understand life. If we "digest" situations, problems, use critical thinking and try to look from different perspectives - it will inspire us to say about it. We are able to say about it in different ways, with the help of photographs, dance, drawing, writing article, play an instrument. These are expressions that everyone is able to do, but do not always dare to make it till the end. We must do it for ourselves, to express our inner world, not to do it for others. When I'm doing photography I want to say about my personal world. But if we return to the question about commerce, perhaps because of shyness I do not want to talk about something else, go into another world. Therefore, I strongly separate these things.
5. How do you know that this is the specific moment to catch?
It is the most simple part of photography. There are 3 ways. First - it is when you are looking for it, read, watch a movie or just think and the idea arises at this moment. You just have to implement this idea, to organize all things. Second - it is when you have no the idea. Suddenly she is born before your eyes, you see a beautiful light and capture it. Here you do not give a report for yourself, why you want to take this situation. The third approach is when there are things that go with you during your life, perhaps since childhood - these are things that you live, overcome or not overcome. Subsequently you start to understand your thoughts and now you know why they are with you. For me the theme of leaving are people, things, situations that leave. This topic is with me for 20 years and the leaving people are a symbol of purity, intelligence, truth for me.
6. Tell us briefly about your photography classes. How and who is able to apply?
Many things happen quite magical. It all started when I unknowingly used to collect special literature, articles, photographs, statements from critics. At this time photography boom began. And there were people who willing to learn this craft from me. It was a small prehistory. I have been teaching for 25 years. Very rarely people who know exactly what they want from photography come. Therefore I insist on asking questions. And I definitely like the fact that firstly people come with one vision and then tighten in a completely different direction. And for students the greatest satisfaction is that they begin to understand what the photography is and how it differs from the other visual arts. Now they understand the compositional side, that increases their visual culture, they get to know the work of famous photographers. Course duration is 3 months. Classes are held 2 times a week for 2 hours - each lesson. After completing the course, students begin to talk about the photos, think by images.
7. Who are your favorite photographers? Who has influenced on you?
I love many photographers as many people however. Edward Weston, Josef Sudek (man-poet), Josef Koudelka, my friends from Baku, Eva Abilova. I am encouraged by the fact that photographers who want to devote their life to photography gradually begin to appear.
8. You shoot mainly on black and white film. Is that the way of thinking?
Firstly I did not get from digital black and white photographs where you can see the light not the color. I do not write by the color, as a painter, I write by the light. Considering the black-and-white photos, you pay attention to composition, lighting solution, the action that happens there and not on the color spots. Secondly, the copyright, material evidence are the most important parts for me. Digital is ephemeral and I can not hold it in my hands as negative. While you shoot black-and-white film you become stingy as it is expensive thing. Unfortunately many photographers who switched from film to digital degraded. It applies to the world photography.
9. You have a great biography. You have achieved recognition and success. Your works have been exhibited in prestigious galleries in the world. What do you expect now? Do you have any goals, ideas that you have not yet implemented?
As Kozma Prutkov said: "The purpose of life is life itself." For a long time I believed that the exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York is the ultimate goal. But as time passed I realized that it is not the main thing. Currently the value is my students, I am proud of the role of the teacher. According to the words of my students, I am not just a teacher for them, I show them the other side of life, they learn to think in an unusual form, their life changes for the better. I do want to pursue photography and teaching.
10. Do you like to travel? Is camera always with you?
Of course the camera is always with me. Sometimes I use phone. Basically this kind of shots ussually were taken by eyes: made-up compositions, colored in most cases. I take pictures, spread them in instagram, get likes. It is necessary to work on yourself all the time, to improve, to train the eye, think, see and press the camera button.
11. How do you propose to start for a person who decided to devote himself to creative photography?
What should he read, watch?
First of all, he should ask himslef an important question: "Why do I need it?" Today billions of photographs all over the world block our vision. Everyone wants to become a photographer. Do not turn your space into photo trushcan. If you want to get the skills, to have an eye of esthete, be aware of this field of art it's better to learn. There are lots of opportunities: schools and high schools (abroad), courses and eventually self-education (unfortunately the longest way and not always faithful). Later you will be able to discover something new by creating your style and giving preference to any topic.