Camouflaging Complexity - Polina Surikova

Camouflaging Complexity

Born in Russia but based in Belgium, Polina Surikova, a 22-year-old former amateur model now turned photographer, has been on the view-finding end of a camera for three years now. Having been on both sides of the lens, Surikova has developed a unique view of beauty, seeing her subject’s imperfections as

only something a still frame can capture and, as it would otherwise be dismissed in real life, should be erased from the image as it would the mind. Chaining photo shoot upon photo shoot, Surikova has been able to evolve her craft quickly, endeavouring to publish the best photo series her models have ever had.

“I was 15 years old when a friend asked me to accompany her to a photo shoot. The photographer also photographed me and published the images on their social networks. From there, several photographers contacted me. I have continued since to pose

for shoots regularly but, unfortunately, my profile does not interest agencies. The reason is not my measurements but the fact that my type of profile is not requested by customers. However, I continue to apply from time to time, in case an opportunity arises.”

“At 19, I decided to become a photographer myself. I have a love of fashion and portrait style. Above all, I like to put emphasis on the face of the model, because I think it’s the true personality of the model, not their body or their nakedness.”

“Being a model before being a photographer taught me how a model can feel–the expectation that they can have of the final result. I always try to

make a maximize the level of retouching in my photos because I respect the time the models gave me and hope that I can deliver their desired results in return. Unfortunately, in the current photography environment, this is not always the case, as it has become fashionable to extol the natural and nonedited photos–but I think it’s too easy. I wanted to make the difference, and so, I’m doing the opposite.”

“I retouch every imperfection of my model’s images. Not because I am a perfectionist who does not like defects. I do it because I like my models feel as beautiful as possible, even if it means camouflaging their complexities. Because, in the end, when we see them face to face, when we interact with them, we are all always in movement, and our eyes do not stop on their imperfections and flaws–we gloss over physical imperfection to the beauty of their wholeness. A single

captured moment is just a piece of them, a piece we do not notice in real life. So what good is it to leave the imperfections captured on a frozen image?”

“Of course like all photographers, I would like to make a name for myself. My family name is already known in Russia thanks to the famous painter Vasily Ivanovich Surikov. Who knows, maybe I have descendants with this artist! However, if I could also make this name shine for my own work, I would be delighted.”