21 Astonishing Examples of Minimal Black and White Photography by ODPIUM
ODPIUM Photography is the artistic brand created by Russian Based photographer Yana Kotina in order to express herself. Although a young photographer, Yana's unique and creative style combines richest tonal depth and balance with amazing use black and white to interpret the subject for the viewer.
The exhibition-quality photographs usual attracts the eye in a particular way, probably using a aesthetic quality of the blur, or noise, or just creating strong photographic composition that are out-of-focus areas. If you want to know more about Yana's photography, don't hesitate to check the interview below.
Tell us about something about ODPIUM.
My full name is Yana Kotina, and I was born on 1988 in Russia. My nickname, as you can see, is a mix of two words that was taken from one song's text, "odium became your opium". These words now means nothing for me, but I still like the nickname.
I've been traveling a lot, enjoying great wild nature, and these experience influenced my style. For about 3 years I devote most of my time to photography. On the one hand I'm spending a lot of my time to work on my style, to analyze astounding pictures all over the world that can be easily found through the Internet. And on the other hand I'm working on promoting myself worldwide. It helps me to become renown, for instance last year a French printed journal, the "3e millenaire" used my pictures to illustrate their articles, and it is so fascinating to have fans in French, regardless, I've never been there.
What's your creative process like?
I can't say that I have some special creative process. My art is not an embodiment of some hard invented ideas or a result of the long mind preparation. In fact, I'm trying to depict world directly as I see it. I mean, I do not waste my time for useless connotations or inventing some odd ideas. For some people this works, but not for me. If I take a picture of a cat it means only that I want to share with my spectators how I viewed it. And that is all. I just observe the surrounding world and when I note something unusual and interesting I capture it.
Where do you find inspiration and why you like photography?
I love animals, nature, to watch and to care about it. When I was a child I was inspired by different books about wild nature, domesticated animals and their habits, and I think that now I am realizing these interest in my art. When I meet with nature I always want to create something beautiful and to share this with others. I find my inspiration in perfect natural shapes, and also in music. I need many small beautiful things around me, such as pretty vases, comfortable pillows, some other cute stuff. And cleanliness.
I love photography because it helps to speak and express emotions without words.
What are some tips you could give to people that really like your work?
Less is more. Look through last uploads of your favorite photographer every day. You should spend more than 2 hours a day and have more than 200 artists in your list. Love animals and practice your art by making pictures of your pets. I have a cat, a dog, a bird and ten fishes in my flat, and thus I have an opportunity to increase my mastership 7 days a week. Get a hobby which has no interaction with the photography. Sometimes you really need to relax. Now I'm interested in interior design in a minimalistic way. Your art must express your own world.
