Fotograf Ciprian Vladut

—Fotogenični ste?

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

—Kako ste ušli u svet fotografije?

—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 :)

—Šta smatrate da su ključni elementi dobre fotografije?

—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.

—Volite putovanja?

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

—Šta najviše volite u vezi sa svojim zanimanjem?

—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.

—Šta najmanje volite u vezi sa svojim zanimanjem?

—Having too much to edit.

—Kakva će biti budućnost fotografije?

—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.

—Šta je posebno kod vrste fotografije koja je vaša specijalnost?

—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?

—Kako podnosite 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

—Da li u fotografiji postoje trendovi?

—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.

—Šta treba da budu kriterijumi kada klijent bira 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.

—Šta treba izbegavati kod snimanja?

—Getting in front of the photographer.

—Koje najčešće neprimetne detalje primećuje fotograf?

—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.

—Šta utiče na vrednost fotografije? Šta su njeni elementi?

—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).

—Za koju ličnost smatrate da bi mogla da bude simbol 21. veka?

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

—Koga biste želeli da fotografišete?

—Led Zeppelin and U2 in concert.

—Da li za vas u poslu postoji nešto zabranjeno?

—No, not really.

—Sa kim biste želeli da sarađujete?

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

—Šta vas brine i zašto?

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

—Koji trenutak u vašem životu je bio najupečatljiviji?

—I think that moment is still to come.

—Koji lik iz crtaća, knjige ili filma biste bili i zašto?

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

—Ko vam je životna inspiracija i zašto?

—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.

—Šta za vas znači uspeh? Kako ga merite?

—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?

—Da li biste pre bili voljeni ili poštovani?

—Respected, since Facebook arrived likes can be deceiving.

—Šta je najveća greška koju ste do sada napravili u poslu?

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

—Šta nosite sa sobom na putovanja i zašto?

—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.

—Da li ima nešto među vašim alatkama čiju kupovinu ste zažalili? Zašto?

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

—Kako se edukujete da biste bolje fotografisali?

—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 :))

—Čiji rad je najviše uticao na vas kao 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.

—Šta biste voleli da ste znali kad ste tek postali fotograf?

—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.

—Šta želite da poručite svojim fotografijama?

—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.

—Šta vas motiviše da se i dalje bavite fotografijom?

—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.

—Da li mislite da su vaši roditelji bili premalo ili previše strogi?

—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.

—Da možete da se vratite u prošlost, šta biste uradili drugačije?

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

—Šta mislite o životu na drugim planetama?

—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.

—Ko su vaši heroji?

—The people that do good anonymously.

—Prema kome nemate nimalo poštovanja?

—Cheaters.

—Kako provodite slobodno vreme?

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

—Koji deo sebe nikada ne pokazujete javno?

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

—Kad ste potpuno zadovoljni svojim radom?

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

—Da li verujete u tradicionalne uloge muškaraca i žena?

—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.

—Da li lako sklapate prijateljstva?

—Yes.

—Gde biste voleli da živite?

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

—Šta je najgluplja stvar u životu koju ste pristali da uradite?

—Moving in with the wrong person.

—Da li postoji život posle braka?

—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.

—Imate omiljeni vic? Prepričajte nam ga.

—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?

—Da li volite pse ili mačke?

—I like both.

—Da li postoji neko ili nešto što mrzite?

—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.

—Najbolja stvar u životu je:

—Freedom.

—Najiritantnija stvar u životu je:

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

—Da li ima nešto u vašem okruženju što biste promenili?

—Yes, the political class in my country.

—Šta biste promenili kod sebe?

—Eliminate procrastinating.

—Šta biste promenili u svetu?

—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.

—Da li imate neki savet za fotografe koji tek počinju?

—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.

—Kad bi vanzemaljci došli na Zemlju i prvo sreli vas, šta biste im rekli?

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

—Kad bi vas zvali da snimite film, koji biste žanr izabrali?

—Fantasy.

—Od sutra ću da…

—... a corporate event in Sinaia.