A good portrait can be measured by its impression, and Masha Demianova’s intimate photography leaves, indeed, a lasting impression. Focusing mainly on female subjects, the Russian photographer says she’s inspired by nature and fairytales.
“Creating a story, a myth, that’s what I am interested in,” she told
Metal Magazine. “Characters in those stories can vary, but mostly those are female characters because it is easier for me to transmit ideas or feelings over to someone who is similar to me. Every staged image is a self portrait in a way.”
“Spiritual and strong, nature is the most inspiring environment for me. If you look into Russian fairytales, most of the events there happen alongside nature, in the deep dark forests or the wide windy fields. Those fairytales are part of my culture and their impact on me is huge, for sure,” she said.
“There is a very accurate phrase of one of my ‘teachers’, Nan Goldin, about photography: I used to think that I could never lose anyone if I photographed them enough. In fact, my pictures show me how much I’ve lost.’”
Take a look at what’s been lost.
