Mariam Sitchinava’s photography is nice to look at. The Georgian photographer uses nostalgia to create a romanticised view of an indecipherable past. Her models are dressed glamorously in vintage clothing and shot on film, subsequently casting the images in a hazy glow. This is what we all hope the past looked like. In an interview with METAL, Mariam discusses her photography and her inspirations.
Tell us a bit about your artistic background. When did you discover photography?
I don’t have any academic background in photography. I'm a big fan of classic movies and that inspired me to shoot something. I decided to give photography a try and it just so happened to be what I was looking for.
We see a lot of photographers returning to analogue photography nowadays. What is it about shooting on film that interests you so much?
For me film is special, it has a very deep emotional quality and it's lively.
You often capture the women in your photos in an intimate and dream-like manner. How do you think the way women photograph women differs to the way men photograph women?
In my opinion, everyone has different views but there may be some common patterns in men and women's perspectives.
What inspires you artistically?
Inspiration can be simply anything. A mood, character, person, place, plant, etc.
A lot of your photographs feature girls immersed in nature. Why are those two themes so compatible in your opinion?
I like the combination of nature and women, the shapes, colours, or forms are aesthetically pleasing to the senses, especially the sight and emotions.
Your series entitled "Crown" is particularly interesting as you had the models create their own flower-crowns, allowing them to express their personality and style through nature. How did you come up with this idea?
I was making a flower crown for one of my photo shoot and suddenly I had an idea that it could be very interesting if I ask the model to design the crown herself.
What type of cameras do you enjoy shooting on the most?
I usually shoot with vintage cameras.
What music are you listening to right now?
I’ve been listening to Moodymann quite a long time.
What elements make a good photograph in your opinion?
Composition, vision, colours, aesthetics and mood.
How do you see your aesthetic evolving over the next few years?
I don't know, it may change over time but I can’t exactly say how.
