Learn From Experience: Fidan Nazim Qizi
Born in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan, I live in Baku, but travel often to other countries. I mostly take black and white photos and try to reflect the emotions of people on the street. I work as accouter but like photography so much, because believe photography can give us energy, feelings, and inspiration in life.
What are the rules of your photographic work?
Into the hue of the nature and city, I always find myself calm. Most of the time I try my best to capture it in my camera. I love traveling around my city to see his interesting creations. Wherever I travel, it is not only the place; it is also the people that make my journey memorable That is what my rules of work is all about - people and nature - reflecting my own vision as evidence of reality. My notions of what is worth looking is arranging elements and making compositions.
Is there a particular combination of techniques and tools that you think makes the difference?
Over time I learn different combination of techniques all by using the camera as our tool. However, there is one thing to remember, you are always free to think creatively and use techniques differently.
Tell us about an experience that definitely changed the way you work and made you grow.
I have always been interested in photos. When I was younger, I used to pore through drawers of photos and photo albums that my parents made, looking at them, rearranging them and remembering the moment that they were taken. Little did I know that those pictures would someday help shape a great hobby of mine and something that brought me great joy: Photography. Over the last three years, photography has helped me live life a lot better and completely change my perspective on the world. I discovered that my camera helps improve my life. Experiences that definitely changed my way and learned me - when I taking a photograph, I will not only see but also experience the environment.
Was there ever a difficult situation? How did you react? Tell us.
After months of heavy lockdown for COVID 19 I was bored and feel sad. So I decided to start do handmade vintage papers and print photographs. Vintage in photography has a very specific meaning. It is help me positive myself.
How do you relate to the environment and the subjects you portray?
I think my way of seeing will reflect in my choice of the subject. When I taking a photograph, I will not only see but also experience the environment - smell the earth, feel the breeze on your skin, or even hear the sounds around you. I use my camera to express my own interpretation of that real event and environment. That is what photography is - communicating my own visualization and showing that moment and my impression of the scene through a photograph.
I also ask you to share a bonus trick among your secret techniques.
“Your first 10000 photographs are your worst” – Henri Cartier-Bresson
I take my camera everywhere I tried to take a photo every day for a year. It doesn't have to be your DSLR, it could be a rangefinder, shooting on film. It was like someone had heightened my sense of sight, and I could see so much more. I no longer saw the same streets I walk along everyday, with the same people, and the same thoughts in my head.
Tell us about your equipment, what kind of cameras do you shoot with?
During 2018 I used to shoot with my Nikon D3100 (18-55mm) only. Nowadays I use a Yashica 35 GSN and Canon 85N with a 35mm. I also use some old camera : a Fujifilm JZ100 (25-200 mm), Kodak STAR EF (35mm).
Are there any books you would recommend?
"The Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe
What stimulates your creativity, what inspires you?
Photographers - Vivian Maier, Akif Aghayev, Oleq Litvin, Brassaï, Sebastião Salgado, Diane Arbus,Lisette Model, Helen Levitt, Ansel Adams, André Kertész, Saul Leiter, Martin Munkacsi and also paintings - Vilhelm Hammershoi, Santiago Rusiñol music - Oktay Aghayev, Erik Satie, Giuseppe Tartini, H.I.M, The Cure, Lebanon Hanover, Type o Negative, Opeth, Alcest. film by Bela Tarr "The Turin Horse" always inspired me.
Fidan Nazim Qizi