Practical Photography - UK (2020-01)

56 PracticalPhotograPhy

i truly do paint with the light. having framed the

image, i tap the screen to start recording and, while

looking at the picture on the screen, i move my

smartphone slightly so the light starts to mix up

with every second of exposure. this way, i can also

choose to end the recording as soon as i’m happy

with the result.

What was your hit rate like?

i would say it’s 100% because i’m working with

real-time photography. While recording, i look at the

screen and see how the light and shadows fill my

frame. if something goes wrong, i simply stop the

recording and delete the image straight away. So,

every new location will have a good image. i needed

several rolls of film to arrive at one successful image

when experimenting with multiple exposures on film.

Did you notice a difference in people’s reaction to

you when using a phone rather than a larger DSLR?

absolutely. there’s no reaction at all. as you look

around, there are hundreds of people on the streets

holding smartphones, taking pictures and looking at

the screens. i’m simply one of them. No one pays any

attention to this anymore. i don’t do a lot of street

photography with strangers but, theoretically,

one can take a close-up portrait of anyone just by

pretending to be taking a selfie.

How did you edit your abstract images?

i use the Snapseed app for my editing and do it within

the smartphone. For abstracts, i use the Details tool

and sharpening, as ‘out-of-camera’ pictures tend to

be on the dull side. i also increase the contrast. as for

the rest, i try to nail it while taking the shot.

Did your professional work have an influence on

your personal style?

i would say that my personal style influenced my

professional work. For years, i’ve been balancing

commercial and fine art photography, and as my

personal fine art photography errs more on the

darker side of things, both in execution and subject

matter, i mostly shoot advertising campaigns with

a similar feel. Social advertising, dark stories for

magazines, illustrations for various campaigns...

they all have my distinctive style.

What purpose do personal projects serve when you

work as a pro photographer?

i shoot personal projects because i simply can’t not

shoot. i love it, and i use it to express my opinions on

certain matters. last year i shot a personal project

named ‘Disconnecting connection’ about the issue of

social media and smartphone overuse. the main goal

was to illustrate how we keep disconnecting ourselves

Above A Tur ner-
esque depiction
of St Petersburg’s
Kazan Cathedral,
as seen during
Al’s ‘blue’ period.

Above right
Griboyedov Canal
embankments
twist and turn
through the centre
of St Petersburg.

Far right An
impressionistic
portrait of Al’s
partner, Katya.

i use personal projects to

express my opinion on matters,

such a social media overuse