MOB JOURNAL

What inspired you for this particular artwork and whose work has influenced you the most? 

— I was inspired to create this project by the TV series «Game of Thrones». Few people are indifferent to it. I really like the visual range of this series and, of course, the historical theme. 

As an artist, how does where you live/where you come from influence your work? 

— I was born in Russia. I live and work in Moscow. In our country, the direction of art photography is very developed. It is in this genre that I shoot. Russian people are very creative. It is enough to recall Russian ballet and literature. And Russian nature has inspired poets, artists and composers for many centuries. What to say about photographers.

How important is collaboration for you? Tell us about your Team 

— The team for an art photographer is the basis of all projects. Because of their complexity, a professional makeup artist, high-quality costumes and props are needed. In my team, the makeup artist is my sister Ermakova Victoria. She constantly improves her skills by studying with top Russian and foreign masters. I prefer to rent suits from trusted designers. All of them are sewn by hand and have no repetitions. For Game of Thrones, we collaborated with «Narnia Dress», a fabulous dress rental company. And of course we need to tell you about our wonderful models of this project. Margarita Zolotareva, who plays Sansa Stark, is one of the brightest and most talented models in Moscow. She has already participated in several of my projects and I really enjoy working with her. Stas Guryev appears in the project as the mysterious John Snow. In everyday life, he is not only a model, but also a subject and advertising photographer. 

What was it like to first realize that you wanted to do photography? Were you surrounded by people who made it easier to pursue photography? 

— I first took up photography at the age of 17. I saved up and bought my first Kodak camera. My mother was a photographer, she printed pictures in the bathroom. Since then, I still have a decent number of black-and-white photos of little me. I started my professional photography career 11 years ago. My first projects with models were far from what you see now. Then came the period of searching for myself and my style, trying out different genres. I've probably shot everything from table setting to weddings. And only two years ago I realized that it is art photography that inspires me very much. And off it went. 

How has your process of working changed over time? Are there any suggestions you want to give our audience/ upcoming photographers? 

— At the moment, the creation of the project has become more clear and disciplined. All images are carefully thought out and prepared. In terms of skill, I have grown very much over the past couple of years: the processing has improved, the picture has become more interesting. I constantly attend master classes of the best photographers, learn new trends in photography. Recently, I began to study color, its psychology. I am more deeply immersed in the study of painting. I want my work to be closer to the works of legendary painters. For aspiring photographers, I would like to wish them untiring inspiration. It is very important to find your own style that you will get high from. And do not forget to constantly learn something new, to increase your expertise. After all, there is no limit to perfection.

Photographer: Ianina Ermakova 

Makeup Artist: Victoria Ermakova 

Model: Margarita Zolotareva 

Model: Stanislav Gurev 

Model: Kinodogs