Critique

Portfolio: Lise Dua

Today’s issue of the "Portfolio" rubric features Liz Dua, who lived in Russia and managed to film the life of people living in communal buildings in Samara.

In the section Portfolio the editorial office of Bird In Flight shows photos shot by young photographers working in different genres and asks them to talk about why they decided to start doing photography, what goals they set for themselves what they want to learn and who they want to learn from. In today’s issue you will see the portfolio of Lise Dua.

Lise Dua, 25 years old

Lives in Lyon, France. Graduated from the National School of Photography in Arles. Several months ago she was accepted to the art residence of the Rodchenko School of Photography and Multi-media in Moscow.


When did you get involved into photography?
4-5 years ago. In my childhood I drew. This was a way to express myself. I drew details so that portraits would be as real as possible. In this sense, photography turned out to be more effective.
What do you shoot?
I shoot mainly portraits. I try to express in photos the experience of meeting people and getting to know them or certain places. I am currently working on several series. I began shooting photos for the Black Moon project in 2011 in Prague. I tried to capture the fixed view of a model as an eyewitness of our collaboration.

“Neighbor” is a series that I shot over three months in communal apartment buildings in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Samara. These are photographs about how people live together and find their personal space.

The series “Secret Room” was shot in a Moscow apartment where I lived for three weeks. One room was always closed. This was the private office of my neighbor’s father. When they opened the door to it I saw that it was full of hunting trophies: stuffed animals, hunting awards, fox pelts. This is a separate fantastic universe beyond time and space.

Why do you consider photography your thing?
Photography allows me to meet different people and freely communicate with them. When I take shots I feel that I am myself and my own model. Through photography I can document people or places that with time disappear.


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What, in your opinion, makes a good photograph?
A photo can be considered riveting when it amazes and provokes a viewer to think. Photography should tell a story or convey one’s experience.
What difficulties do you run into as a photographer?
When I tell people that I am a photographer, most of them for some reason perceive my work in a totally different way than it actually is. There are many ways to make money with the help of photography, but earning money on personal projects requires great efforts.
What inspires you?
Films, paintings and photography. Eastern European producers. For example, Krzysztof Kieślowski or Tarkovsky. Films of Cassavetes or Bergman. But people that I meet every day give me the greatest inspiration.


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What camera do you shoot with?
An analog camera, but I hope that I will soon buy a large-format camera. I have worked with such a camera and I liked the fact that the taking shots on it takes up a lot of time and you can get closer to the individual you are photographing.
Do you earn a living off photography?
I only graduated from university last year, so for now I make a bit of money from it.
What else do you like to do?
I would love to try cinematography, probably as a director.
What are your goals?
I would like to continue working on already launched projects such as Lune Noire for example and a long-term project about my sister Clara.


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