CCLaP Photo Feature: Polina Poludkina

Chicago Center for Literature and Photography Photographer Feature March 13, 2014 Editor: Rebecca Vipond Brink

Polina Poludkina

Location: Moscow I’m an analogue photographer and I like some experiments with double exposure and making self portraits. Nude and body are my love :) I’m inspired

by Franchesca Woodman. I started shooting when I found my father’s Zenit camera. The first 5 films I broke :) I shoot everything I see. I’m learning to feel, to avoid imposed stereotypes, to explore the world and to be constantly alive. I’m learning to accept the world sharply, in contrast, discarding excess. I’m learning to create, develop, to do pure art.

What purpose does blur play in your photographs?

My inspiration comes from the light and nature. And the first thought I have is “ I want to draw it.” I like “broken” shots, because they are so mysterious and scenic and sometimes I stand them on paper. I like innuendo in photos and the ability to finish the picture. If I shoot architecture— for me it’s a way to highlight what is important to me. I like the feeling when you stand in the mist, and the outlines of the surrounding objects disappear. I immerse myself in the mist on a sunny day.

You seem to be more comfortable letting your photos be a little “too” bright or a little “too” dark than a lot of photographers would be. What’s your way of thinking about light and dark, and exposure?

I didn’t know how to adjust the exposure, when I used a camera for the first time. I just pushed the button and when the result was unusual, I was really happy. Light damage, overexposure, shading, glare... “correct” images have never attracted me. I don’t like the expected result.

My camera adjusts the image. Naturally, I understood how to do as I want, but I continue to experiment. I think that my experience prevents me a little; I became less uninhibited.

Many of your photographs take on a sort of dusty tone, but a few have big shocks of color—how do they fit together?

Well, I don’t really like the bright colors, I try to avoid them. I prefer the blurry shots, though depicted in watercolor, when one color flows into the other and form new shades.

Experimenting with a variety of film and lenses gives unexpected results. I am in search of myself and my own style...that’s why so many contrasting images.

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