We were lucky to catch up with Vladimir Danilov recently and have shared our conversation below.
Vladimir, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
An example for me is my father and mother, who have been doing school photography all their lives. I’ve seen them working day and night. I saw them walking towards their goal. Despite everything is difficult. Even before the widespread popularity of Photoshop, I saw my father working with chemicals for developing film every day. I saw my mother every evening after work and almost until the morning doing manual retouching on printed photos, using toothpicks and felt-tip pens, pinpointing skin defects of schoolchildren and teachers. Of course, when Photoshop appeared, it became much easier and faster to work, but the experience that they went through and which I observed gave me great motivation. Now I know that the difficulties experienced by a modern photographer are nothing compared to the period when digital photography was just beginning to appear in the world.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am 32 years old, I started a new life in Israel two years ago after the events between Russia and Ukraine. For a photographer who already had a stable job in a photo studio, there are many regular customers in his homeland – starting to develop in a foreign country from scratch, being no longer at the student age, is a very serious challenge. Despite the difficulties in adapting to new realities, to a new way of life and the local mentality, I do not give up, as I am morally supported by my relatives, my wife, who is a creative person herself (she is an artist), friends whom I met while already in Israel, as well as friends from my his hometown in Russia.
The cool thing about this whole situation is that I manage to photograph naked nature in a country where many Muslims and Jews live. At the same time, after two years of hard work in the field of nude photography in such a difficult country, I am already beginning to receive positive feedback about my work from the local population (even if it is a very small circle of acquaintances). My motivation is to do things that no one has done before me. That’s my goal. I’m not saying that I can take pictures like a professional. You study in any profession all your life. Even if you are a doctor, even a locksmith, even an artist, including a photographer. I know that I still have a lot of discoveries ahead of me. But at the same time, I am constantly trying to improve my skills.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
What helped me and still helps me to grow above myself and improve – self-discipline, workaholism, craving for new things and overcoming the fear that nothing will work out. For those who want to succeed in their craft, I can recommend these rules as a basis. If you want to become a better person, stop looking for reasons in the environment around you. Take a break for a day, two days, or a week if required. Get your thoughts in order. Set yourself an ultimate goal. And go to her. Take your time, act thoughtfully. But never stop. Just go ahead and do it, even if progress is slow. Approach your goal with feeling, with alignment.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
They raised me in a way that is not accepted now. They raised me so that I knew what was good and what was bad. They gave me support when I needed it, even if I didn’t ask for it, and pointed out my mistakes to me, often rudely. My father often said that my work was no good and I would not become a photographer. So I went out of my way to prove that I could do better, that I was learning fast and that I was worthy of his recognition. After a while, he told me – I’m proud of you. These were the words I had been waiting for for a very long time. And I realized that everything he did was hardening me. He didn’t give me rose-colored glasses. He was showing me the truth. After many years, I realize that they did it out of love. And I am grateful to them for that. They helped me become who I am today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/void_dvv/profilecard/?igsh=emVybXJ2eHQ0aGV3
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vladimir.danilov.9003?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladimir-danilov-5b5886277/
- Twitter: https://x.com/vladimirdphoto?s=21&t=3eNe6tgOklPBs7umADq3sA
Image Credits
Anastasia, Maria, Alyona, Katya, Eva, Ekaterina, Katya, Victoria.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
