Imirage Fashion Magazine recently interviewed me on fine art nude photography.
Here it is – uncut and uncensored.
Prints or digital copies can be purchased below:
Imirage • 2024 February • Issue #2316 • Janine Ann
Imirage Magazine • https://www.imiragemagazine.online
Instagram • https://www.instagram.com/imiragefashion
MagCloud • https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/2729846
Tell Us About Yourself.
I’m somewhat of an unusual participant in the world of fine arts. In high school I contemplated photography as a career but fate had other plans. I met a newspaper photographer at the tail end of my studies. He was covering a local beauty pageant where my girlfriend was participating. I approach him and asked what it was like working as a photographer. I don’t remember his exact words but he looked disheveled and his lackluster response made me shy away from photography. I decided at that moment to pursue an education in engineering physics. At the time, it seemed to be a financially safer career option while still enjoying the benefits of photography as a hobby. In hindsight it was a win-win decision. After 30 years of Information Technology, I’ve come full circle and I’m now fully immersed in the world of fine arts.
I come from an artistic family. My mother was a veterinarian – now retired – but also a prolific oil painter. My sister inherited our mother’s skills and dialed it to eleven! She’s very gifted and continues to be the inspirational cornerstone to my creative journey. I watch how she consistently creates beautiful works of art sourced purely from her mind.
Whether carpentry, blogging, graphic design, motion graphics, pimping things, or photography – I realized that I consistently create something from other things. For this reason I consider myself a “creativist”, not an artist.
What are some favorite things about being a photographer?
I love the entire creative process: From scouting, studio preparation, photo shooting, chatting with models, editing, and publication. Creating graphics, blogs, and motion graphic videos also fills me with joy.
My background in physics helps me understand lighting, depth of field and all other technical elements of the camera. I love how photography is a seamlessly synergy between science and art. Even though photography has its rules, I learned that once you’ve mastered them, they can be broken. The world is then your oyster!
Even though photography has many rules, I learned that once you’ve mastered them, they can be broken. The world is then your oyster!
Can you describe that “moment” (i.e., an experience or emotion) when you knew that photography was something you just had to do?
My journey began at sixteen years old when I subscribed to Playboy. The visual content was certainly a motivation and it led to relentlessly mockery from friends and family, with comments like, “I guess you subscribe to Playboy for the articles?!”
Anyone who bought an print issue of Playboy certainly heard that one. I can honestly say that I read every issue from cover to cover. Even today there’s a lot of truth to this sarcastic dig, especially considering that only about eight percent of the entire magazine has nude content. Regardless, I dreamt of being a Playboy photographer and even convinced girlfriends to photoshoot with me and my humble Ricoh 35mm camera. In 1996 I bought my first SLR – a Nikon F90. This kicked off a semi-serious journey into the creative arts. My girlfriend at the time worked for Ogilvy & Mather, so she invited me as an official photographer to a few of their events, including a Prague fashion show in November 1997 where I had a chance to photograph Karen Mulder.
My foray into fine art nudes began in 2019, when I asked an actress if she wanted to do a photoshoot while attending my product advertising production. The spreads were awesome and I realized that I could turn this into a career.
Renowned photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson once said, “Your first 10,000 photos are your worst”. I realized that I had long passed this threshold when I held my first “official” photoshoot.
What are some challenges you’ve encountered?
My goal (and challenge) in every photoshoot is to establish an emotional connection with my model. To me, a photoshoot isn’t a sterile business transaction where we put on our poker faces and exchange pleasantries. I never want a model to pose in a virtual bubble and me at the other end of the room in a separate bubble. I try to avoid these photoshoots at all costs. I want every photoshoot to be an existential experience – to become friends and appreciate her as an emotional and vulnerable human being.
It’s important that I succeed in capturing her soul. This requires overcoming three obstacles: First and foremost I want her to relax; I then try to bring out her inner confidence; Thirdly, and most importantly, I want her to trust me. It’s a tall order, but in most of my sessions I can get there within the first hour. If I succeed, then we have the freedom to create magic.
How to reach such excellent results in photography?
Even though I plan every photoshoot, my best results are organically inspired from our synchronized emotions. This only happens when we have mutual empathy. I want each model to give herself to me completely because I’m doing the same in return – no inhibitions, no distractions, no insecurities. Purity from the depths of our souls. This is my path to capturing the best photos. Even if I get to this stage then I don’t stop there. My ultimate goal is to capture her visceral energy – her wild and feral emotions that are rarely seen by anyone. Getting to this level is extremely rare, but if I succeed then our photos take on a whole new meaning.
I want my model to give herself to me completely. No inhibitions, no distractions, and no insecurities. Purity from the depths of her soul.
How did famous photographers influence your thinking, photographing, and career path?
Many photographers have influenced me throughout the years. My first ‘coffee table book’ was Herb Ritts, “Works”, Bulfinch Press, ©1989. His style still resonates with me to this day. In the ‘90s I was greatly influenced by Sports Illustrated photographers, Russell James, Raphael Mazzucco, and Walter Iooss Jr.
My current favorite fine art nude photographers are Bruno Bisang, Andreas Bitsnich and David Bellemere. But the best of the best is Alexander Mavrin, from St. Petersburg, Russia.
I have far to go to reach the heights of these legends, and I will enjoy every step forward.
How did you develop your style?
My approach to photography is constantly evolving. Every photoshoot is an experiment. Every model is a new challenge. Every location is a puzzle. Some things work and others don’t. But I need to try new things and see where they take me.
I’m as much a fan as a competitor. My only competition is being better than who I was yesterday. As a fan I’ve curated over 50,000 of the best fine arts images from all around the world. I regularly track over 100 fine art nude photographers and over 1000 of my favorite international models. Their photos are a source of inspiration and helps to guide my creative style. They’re inspiration for suggesting poses during our photo session.
When I first started collecting images, I didn’t yet know what I liked. It took several years to solidify my style. Less than 1% of images that I review make it to my collection. With every passing year I delete photos that no longer fit my style and add new images that inspire me. I constantly assess the creative and technical style of my favorite photographers and try to learn from them. I’ve easily reviewed over five million photos to date, and this process continues as new photographers and models enter the art nude genre.
Every second that I step forward on this journey is precious to me.
What do you want to say about your photographs?
I am quite selective regarding the models I choose. Besides a three-hour photoshoot I spend easily 18 to 36 hours of editing for each session. Then there’s an additional 4-6 hours on website publication, social media, magazine submissions, and graphic design, awards submissions, and exhibition participation.
Beyond that, I also create motion graphic videos which take about 120 hours of production for every minute of output. The investment in time is tremendous but I thoroughly enjoy it. If I were to cease to exist tomorrow, then I can honestly say that I’m living life to its fullest.
Coming back to the question – to my photos I would say, “You are a moment in time that will never come again, and yet you are here. I Love You.”
To my photos I say, “You are a moment in time that will never come again, and yet you are here. I Love You.”
If you could take your art in any direction without fear of failure or rejection, where would it lead? What new thing would you try?
I have never feared failure or rejection. In anything I’ve done privately or professionally, I’ve learned from my failures and celebrated my successes as yin yang to my creative journey. I want to continue traveling the world and have the opportunity to capture the souls of beautiful models from every culture. It’s a matter of being in the right place and at the right time, and I realize that it will only happen when I make it happen.
If I could photograph without limitations then my dream would be to photograph my models in their birthday suits, in grandiose studios, and famous locations all around the world, without fear of arrest and incarceration.
What is your favorite photograph that you have ever taken?
In each session I’m always striving for achievable perfection. Approaching the pinnacle of my capabilities is a journey with no defined destination. A photo that I loved last year is quickly replaced by a new one. My skills and tastes are ever evolving. Many artists see their creations as their children. I see my photos in the same light.
I don’t have a favorite photograph but I could post fifty that I love. That elusive favorite still waits for me. Even though I haven’t captured it yet, I can at least imagine that moment. It will be with my muse whom I trust completely. She has opened her soul and gifted me with her wild side. We will intertwine through our photoshoot like water flowing down a river. It’ll be such a profound experience it will make me cry.
Some photographers say that they see the world differently, and that they have a different perspective on life. What is your perspective on the world and on life?
I consider myself a Briggs Myers, INTJ personality. I inherently see the world from a bird’s-eye perspective in everything I do. This makes me introspective to my existence and allows me to understand my place in this world. I used to walk into business meetings and immediately feel the emotion that was governing the participants. I realized that it was a layer that was blind to everyone. I often used that layer to guide the sentiment of the meeting.
Seeing my photoshoots from a third-person perspective brings forth a transcendental meaning to the experience. When I have compassion for my model and she feels empathy towards me then we’ve created a boundless infinity loop.
What is your dearest subject to photograph?
My main focus at the moment is art nude photography. My favorite models are those who love the art of photography – who love life, and are full of empathy. For a brief moment in time I fall in love with them. This allows me to capture the most fantastic photos.
To capture the beauty of the female form is a privilege. Exposing her vulnerability to me is an honor. Giving me her soul is the greatest gift.
To capture the beauty of the female form is a privilege. Exposing her vulnerability to me is an honor. Giving me her soul is the greatest gift.
What is your newest project?
Every day I scout for models from all around the world. I try to arrange photoshoots in every city I visit. As I build my address book of models who would like to photograph with me, I try to arrange a photo shooting tour in their city.
I’m off to Warsaw, Poland in April 2024 to photograph six professional models over three days. Then to Brussels and Antwerp, Belgium to do the same. In June I’m off to Japan for a spiritual awakening. It’s a destination that I’ve waited a lifetime. I’m hoping to photograph many models while visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagano, and see many villages along the way.
Dusil Photography captures exquisite moments with models who dare to be vulnerable and enter the world of sensuality. I’ve been blessed with the freedom to explore their deepest emotions. Whether it’s alluring curves or a seductive gaze, each photograph tells her story. My portfolio reflects a seamless fusion of feminine beauty and compassion.
