GROUND 0101 (The Fall Issue)

Ismael Ogando. Julia, why do you
photograph?
Julia Agafonova. When self-reflection
becomes destructive, camera is the
best self-defence mechanism. No purpose,
no significant commercial profit,
but healthy way to stop being an idiot
for a while. Mostly I make portraits due
to the precious possibility to project
own feelings through somebody else
and it doesn’t matter, if I lie to you or
tell the truth.
IO. When did your interest for the light
begin, did you study photography?
JA. I didn’t study photography, except
attending some lectures and Michael
Ackerman’s workshop a couple of
years ago. The educational question is
quite sharp for me in a way, that it’s
definitely necessary to study photography,
but being a dilettante is more
like me.
Fortunately, people should always be
interested in light if they want to make
their shots visible. Light is light, it’s
beautiful and pervasive. I’m open to
many things and for light as well, except
the ugly yellow summer happy visual
disorder.
IO. What’s usually on you mind at the
moment you hit the trigger of your
camera?
JA. Did I remove the dark slide? - Actually,
my best condition is not to think.
I see and feel and as a result there’s a
chance to get a good shot, or I just see
and it’ll be “just fine”
IO. How would you describe you work?
JA. Shyness is not nice I should tell
you. If I want to make portraits I should
find models and talk to them, trying to
explain how much I’m bored and they
are beautiful, which means that I’m
pretty lousy photographer and psychologist.
IO. What about friends, what is their
opinion about your photos?
JA. Close friends of mine always share
their opinion, sometimes help with the
technics, but usually they want some
new portraits
IO. Do you share any affinity with other
young artists from your city?