Fotograf Ciprian Vladut

—Jste fotogeničtí?

—I consider I ain't, but it so happens that on occasion some other photographer catches the good/bright sight of me.

—Jak jste se dostali do fotografického průmyslu?

—I started taking pictures in 2000 and shooting weddings in 2008. At first, I didn't want to do weddings, I thought it would diminish my work. But I started anyway and found the most challenging environment, I discovered that no matter what type of photography you do, you can always reinvent yourself and find new ways to tell a story. Especially when you meet extraordinary people all the time :)

—Jaké jsou podle vás nedůležitější součásti dobré fotografie?

—First & foremost, the people involved and their mood (if you're shooting people), then the light (I began ”seeing” the light after years of shooting) and the decisive moment. I don't agree that the quality of a photograph is not important, but it indeed comes in second after the feelings it produces.

—Cestujete rádi?

—So much that if it would be possible I would be traveling all the time.

—Co máte nejredši na vaší profesi?

—The diversity – today I'm shooting a wedding, tomorrow a baptism, after tomorrow a concert, then a family portrait, a corporate event or some landscape. It's what keeps me connected all the time.

—Co se vám líbí nejméně na vaší profesi?

—Having too much to edit.

—Jaká je budoucnost focení?

—I think it is constantly evolving and that we'll always see changes for the good. We'll always have trends that come and go, the important thing is to know who you are and do what you really like, not necessarily follow the hype.

—Co je výjimečného na žánru fotografií, na který se specializujete?

—Oh, everything about it is special. I must admit I suffer when someone refers to it as a banality, thinking that ”real artists” don't do wedding photos. Special is meeting new people, seeing new places or facing new challenges. Besides war photography, I find it the most challenging type, you get to meet all kinds of situations during one day: different light every minute, you get to shoot outdoors and indoors, in plain sun or in the shadow of a tree/building, inside a cave or on a mountain top etc. etc. Need I say more?

—Jak zvládáte kritiku?

—I'm all in for constructive criticism, don't like destructive one. That's why we're here on My Wed, right? To constantly learn from other photographers and document ourselves about where we are as wedding photographers. I, for one, would like to hear more criticism about my work and where to improve. Here's an idea: you could implement a section where each photographer could post one photo/week for critique :D

—Jsou nějaké trendy v oblasti focení?

—Of course there are, but these come and go, the important thing is to never let go of who you are and follow your own way. If you have your style, there will probably come a moment when it will be trending, but when it's gone it doesn't mean you have to go with the flow. Out there, there will always be people who will appreciate you, your work, your style and your way of being.

—Jaké by měl mít zákazník kritérium při výběru fotografa?

—First of all, it's important that the bride and groom identify themselves with the photographer and his work, the choice should be made by whether they consider he is the one who's worth recording their lifetime memories. Then, they should absolutely watch an entire wedding shot by the one they chose. I like being approached by future weds who know a thing or two about photography and who got their mind set on what they really want.

—Co není dovoleno při focení?

—Getting in front of the photographer.

—Jakých detailů, které obvykle projdou bez povšimnutí, si může fotograf všimnout?

—The wedding photographer sees the extraordinary where other people see normality. It's not about things, it's about the ”vision” he/she has and the ability to transfer this vision into reality.

—Co ovlivňuje hodnotu fotografie? Jaké jsou její prvky?

—Composition, light, placement of subject, vision, editing. Generally speaking, a photographer must be three things: a good shooter (if you don't do it right straight out of the camera, it will be hell afterwards), a good selector (choosing the photos that remain it's not an easy task) and a good editor (I know some of us prefer the ”raw” images – I consider that editing can be a form of art, the same as creating the image with the camera).

—Kdo může být podle vás symbolem 21. století?

—I have no idea, you should ask me the same in 2115 :))

—Co chcete fotit?

—Led Zeppelin and U2 in concert.

—Máte nějaké profesní tabu?

—No, not really.

—S kým byste chtěli fotit?

—Sebastiao Salgado, then David LaChapelle or Erwin Olaf. And I'd like to see Marius Bărbulerscu or Adina Dumitrescu at work :D

—Čeho se bojíte a proč?

—Not being able to deliver photos on time, I'm always busy shooting.

—Jaký byl nejpůsobivější okamžik ve vašem životě?

—I think that moment is still to come.

—Pokud byste byli animovaná, literární nebo filmová postava, kdo byste byli a proč?

—Dorian Grey, I like the idea of being able to stay forever young. But keeping my personality :P

—Kdo vás inspiruje ve vašem životě a proč?

—The people in general and the places I visit. The diversity of people and the situations we meet in a lifetime are infinite and life is too short to be able to register them all.

—Jak byste definovali úspěch? Jak ho měříte?

—Success is when you feel accomplished, when you're happy with your work and with your family. Success is measured inside one's mind, not on the outside. Can we measure happiness?

—Byli byste raději oblíbení nebo respektovaní?

—Respected, since Facebook arrived likes can be deceiving.

—Jaká je největší chyba, kterou jste kdy v práci udělali?

—Going to shoot someone's portrait and leaving all my cards at home.

—Když cestujete, co si berete s sebou a proč?

—The normal luggage and my photo bag, along with some filters and my tripod. Struggling hard to make it easier to carry. Why? Because I like to be prepared for any situation I meet.

—Existuje něco, co byste si byli raději nekoupili z vašich pomůcek, které vlastníte? A proč?

—No, not a single thing, I still use everything I own, depending on the situation.

—Jak se vzděláváte, abyste pořidili lepší fotografie?

—By practicing all the time, either shooting, choosing pictures or editing. That's how you discover new angles, that's how you start to ”see” things in a certain order. One day I was surprised to discover that, while marching on the street, I was involuntarily framing everything I saw, even though my mind was completely elsewhere. Probably that's when you may consider yourself a photographer :))

—Čí práce vás ovlivnila nejvíce jako fotografa?

—As I am 95% self thought, I cannot say there's one particular wedding photographer that influenced me. When time allows me I take a look at the work of other photographers, but mostly I try and work with things I find in the places I go and see them with my ”creative” eye. A big change for me came when I started working with fixed and wide aperture lenses.

—Jedna věc, kterou byste si přáli vědět, když jste začínali s focením?

—That it's not wise to make loans when you want to buy photo gear. But I know I couldn't have done it otherwise.

—Co byste rádi řekli skrze vaše fotografie?

—I try to tell the story of that special day, the story of that beautiful couple and the people surrounding them in order that, when you look at the pictures, you may re-live the feelings and emotions that you felt on place. Or, if you weren't there, to make you feel as if... I try to build memories that last, I consider that the value of the wedding pictures increases with time.

—Co vás motivuje v dalším focení?

—The fact that I know I can reinvent myself for each wedding, meeting new people every week and giving myself new challenges all the time.

—Měli vaši rodiče být méně nebo více přísní?

—They've tried to be more strict, but I didn't let them. If I would have, I wouldn't be a photographer nowadays. My special thanks go to my mom, who stood beside me when all others didn't.

—Pokud byste se mohli vrátit v čase, co byste udělali jinak?

—I would try to be more organized and kill the laziness in me.

—Co o životě na ostatních planetách?

—Since we can't even imagine how big the Universe is, there's not one single chance that we're alone... there's life out there, we'll probably be allowed to go find it when we'll stop killing each other.

—Kdo jsou vaši hrdinové?

—The people that do good anonymously.

—Pro koho nemáte žádný respekt?

—Cheaters.

—Co děláte ve svém volném čase?

—There's not much time to spare, but when I have it I do some biking, trekking and traveling. Occasionally fishing.

—Jakou vaši tvář nikdy neuvidí veřejnost?

—The tons of pictures on my hard drives and the huge amount of time spent in front of my computer, editing.

—Kdy jste zcela spokojeni s vaší prací?

—Never. Comfort and self appreciation are our biggest enemy.

—Věříte v tradiční role mužů a žen?

—If you're asking about the man providing the goods and the woman raising children and cooking, definitely no. We're not living those times anymore.

—Získáváte snadno nové přátele?

—Yes.

—Kde byste rádi žili?

—On the road, traveling most of the time. Eight months/year would be perfect.

—Co je ta nejhloupější věc, na kterou jste kdy přistoupili?

—Moving in with the wrong person.

—Existuje život po svatbě?

—Of course there is, if three vectors are met: respect, admiration and dialogue. Real love comes with time and is nurtured by the vectors mentioned before.

—Máte oblíbený vtip? Povězte nám ho.

—I have many favorite jokes, let's stick on one about photography:A mathematician enters a photo lab and says:
- I'd like to print a few photographs from my holiday.
- 9x13? – asks the man in charge.
- 117, why do you ask?

—Máte rádi psy a kočky?

—I like both.

—Koho nebo co nenávidíte?

—Hate is a strong word, let's use dislike. People that disappoint. I know that sometimes I disappoint, too, so there are moments when I dislike myself.

—Nejlepší věc v životě je:

—Freedom.

—Nejotravnější věc v životě je:

—Not having the time to do all things you'd like to.

—Existuje něco, co byste chtěli změnit?

—Yes, the political class in my country.

—Co byste chtěli změnit na sobě?

—Eliminate procrastinating.

—Co byste chtěli změnit ve světě?

—Eliminate inequity and inequalities worldwide. There are plenty of resources for all of us to be able to live decent lives, without war or starvation. All human being should have access to education and a chance to a better life.

—Máte nějaké tipy pro začínající fotografy?

—Take each step one at a time and grow steadily. I know the impulse is to go big right away, but you'll discover, as we all did, that experience and vision come with time. Try and discover things your own way, go ask only about the things you feel are keeping you down or cannot explain on your own. Practice every day, shoot as much as possible and edit a lot. Don't let anything get in your way, believe in yourself even when others don't.

—Kdyby přišli na naši planetu mimozemšťané a vy byste byli první osobou, se kterou se potkají, co byste jim řekli?

—”Welcome! I knew you were real... when do you get married?”

—Pokud byste měli natočit film, jakého žánru by byl?

—Fantasy.

—Zítra půjdu a udělám...

—... a corporate event in Sinaia.