We wrap up our special web trilogy on Post-Corona ruminations with a suggestion to keep looking for the art all around you and a suggestion to polish those moves. We’ll all be back together soon, so now would be the time to start working off that Quarantine Lethargy.
Stimulation of the Senses
Olga Zavershinskaya, a Russian visual artist currently based in the Czech Republic, creates striking, surreal, erotic images that are a combination of photography and digital manipulation. Olga combines shapes, lines and light, reimagining the female nude — but always with a memorable twist, perfect for a Post-Corona exploration.
What’s your earliest photography memory?
When I found my father’s Zenit camera and took a few selfies. I was about eight or nine years old. And I had no intentions of becoming a photographer then. I just found it fun. It wasn’t until 2007 that I started to take photography more seriously.
What is it about photography that you love?
Compared to other types of art, photography gives you immediate results. Processing the images is much faster than painting or making a sculpture, for example.
What draws you to create photos with an erotic twist?
Erotica is an important part of life — most of us exist because someone had sex! To reject or ignore that part of life is puppetry.
How has your photography evolved over time?
I am always learning and trying new styles. In general, I can say that my early works were more cheerful and naïve, whereas my later work is more thought-provoking, provocative and with more photo manipulation involved.
What makes a good shot for you?
Mood. How I feel is everything. Do I like my idea, how excited I am during the shoot, how easily I can communicate with my model and what I feel when I select and edit images.
What’s your approach to photography?
For me, the initial idea always comes before I find the model, and only after I get a really clear, perfect image in my head of what I want to achieve. From there, I start searching for how and with whom I can bring the idea to life.
Are your shoots ever collaborative with models?
I always go with my idea first. I put together sketches before we start working together. However, I’m often inspired by my models during shooting, and we usually end up trying things that weren’t planned.
What’s involved in the post-production of your images? Do you do that yourself or outsource?
I always edit all my images by myself, and I’m quite competent at image manipulation. There is no universal workflow; everything depends on the idea. However, if I am making a series, I try to follow a uniform style for that sequence.
Is the editing process more or less involved than shooting the original photos?
If I can do something during the shooting, I will do it, rather than edit it in later. Though I like the process of editing images as I find it kind of meditative.
Do you have a favorite photo you’ve ever shot?
I don’t think that this kind of photo exists! There are some stages when I hate each and every photo I have ever taken, and there are other stages where I think, “Oh my God, I’m a genius!” Ha!
What inspires you as a photographer?
The world around me. Everything I see and feel. All my visual experiences.
What’s been your most memorable shoot?
Probably when I was shooting with a puma in the street. Someone called the police because the mountain lion was scaring the local dogs!
What gear do you shoot with?
Nikon D800E and Fujifilm GFX 50s.
Does social media hinder or help photographers and models?
Both. On one hand, social media devalues our work, but on the other hand, it gives us an opportunity to reach nearly any model and photographer in the world.
Do you think it’s more important to have talent or contacts in the Post-Corona art world?
Contacts. With social media, now you can see how many talented people are in the world. There will be always someone much more talented than you, so contacts can give an advantage.
If you could shoot anywhere and with anyone, what would that look like?
It would have to be something crazy! There are so many ideas in my head right now that I can’t select one, but the first that came into my mind was to combine ballet dancers and wild animals, like bears or lions or elephants, in an underwater shoot. That would be epic.
What’s the last idea you had that made you think it would make an excellent photo?
I just got back from my winter trip where I shot with a model on the ice of Lake Baikal in Russia. Unfortunately, it was too cold for nudes, though some yoga with a huge ice wall in the background would make a great photo.
What advice would you give yourself now if you were just starting out as a photographer again?
Keep calm and don’t be afraid to do what you like. Don’t be afraid of critics.
Tell us something about you that we might be surprised by.
My occupation is not related to photography at all. I’m actually an engineer.
Now for a final bit of contemplation the magazine made us include on the web. (Oops. Was that our outside voice?) …
Smooth Post-Corona (or NOW) Moves
They say it’s better to give than to receive, but those who make the effort to give, often receive. Buying lingerie for a lover can be a minefield, though. Too small and she’ll be embarrassed. Too big and you’ll be in the doghouse for a week.
When Post-Corona life nears, and you find yourself buying for a new lover, follow these basic tips and you’ll stay in the good books. You have a little time, so feel free to practice via the virtual experience.
- Never buy lingerie for a woman you haven’t seen naked. On your first shopping trip, buy what you know she wears. If you’ve never seen her in a G-string, pick a sexy brief.
- Choose something you think she would actually want to wear. Don’t be directed by your own fantasies for your first gift. The idea is that you make her feel desirable, so she will want to wear it for you and keep the lights on.
- Lingerie is a great way to guarantee foreplay. If she feels comfortable in what you bought her, it usually brings out the exhibitionist in the wearer.
- Check out lingerie that can be worn comfortably and incognito under clothing. Choose pieces like this, and she might surprise you in unexpected places. After-work drinks might get heated when she shows you a slip of lace.
- Avoid bulky and costumey outfits — save them for the bedroom.
If you get it right the first time, you can open dialogue about what type of lingerie she likes to wear and discuss what type of looks you would love to see her in. (Before moving along, we should look at Kenzie Mac and some fine Penthouse Gear again, although we still cannot tell you where you might get some of your own. Details, details.)
OK. We stalled long enough. To be clear, the magazine article actually included this final line: “When in doubt, a gift certificate is always the best bet.” … Honest to goodness it says to really impress someone, get them a gift certificate. You can read it for yourself. It’s truly embarrassing.
Now in theory, and we do in fact make it to Post-Corona life, if the gift certificate comes from Beverly Hills Mercedes and covers the cost of a new S 560, well, then we might be impressed. If we could walk in to Tiffany’s on Rodeo Drive and take our pick of bracelets available, that might be nice. Otherwise, all due respect to the magazine writers here, but a Gift Certificate simply says, “Wow! I am supremely lazy, but I am also a complete fool and find myself happy to show you exactly how much I think you are worth in American dollars.” … Seriously, a thoughtful favorite candy bar would be better than a gift certificate. Good grief. …
On the upside, we have the final Reflections video for you, and this time at least they didn’t skip any intervening decades or anything. Hey, things get weird around here sometimes.
Should you choose to ignore the fine advice of the web writers in favor of the clearly exhausted brains of the magazine folks, though, you will have a lot of free time shortly, so you could wish to follow Olga on Instagram. You might wish to start reading the entire Stephen King Dark Tower series too. You’re going to have the time for sure. Grandmas give gift certificates. Companies give gift certificates. … Maybe you should check out Part One or Part Two of this trilogy and forget all about Gift Certificates.
