Prologue

When people find out I am a professional photographer, they often ask, 'How do you feel about everyone being a photographer nowadays? Aren’t smartphone cameras and social media the death of photography?"

No, far from it. I think it's a beginning of a new, thrilling era with the medium expanding at a rate that can sometimes feel dizzying. The language of photography that used to be limited to a handful of professionals and hobbyists is now shared by millions around the world. Great photography can be done with an iPhone and live on social networks. It no longer needs the traditional, "high-brow" art gallery or an exclusive publication to exist. And that's exciting.

Which brings me here

I'd like to create an experimental, fluid, interactive space that will turn into an ongoing dialogue about the art and craft of creating and thinking about images. I will share my “backstage” secrets — stories behind the pictures, personal struggles, inspirations, and technical tips and tricks. And I will talk about all the interesting changes photography is undergoing. I hope you will ask questions and challenge me.

All the content will be free for the foreseeable future. This platform allows for more than just a weekly email. Eventually, there will be webinars and groups where we can engage in a more interactive way, a sort of virtual “salon.”

..............................................................

Just a bit about me.

For the last few years, I've been a regular contributor to National Geographic, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and a few other outlets you might have heard of. My work is most easily described as cultural documentary (though I find photography labels a bit reductive). Pre-pandemic, I traveled far and wide on assignments — one day I was shooting big wave surfing in Hawaii, the next - nightclubs in Buenos Aires. Now I am mostly home (my two cats are super happy), taking local assignments, focusing on personal work and experimenting with new, innovative technologies of remote photography.

I live in New York City's East Village, which is a constant source of kaleidoscopic inspiration. In 1991, I emigrated to the US with my family from the former Soviet Union. Somehow, I never lost my accent. I have a degree in Psychology (NYU), MFA in photography (SVA) and a background in art history. And while I work in a visual medium, music is maybe my greatest muse, with Roxy Music, Nick Cave and Radiohead continuously pushing me forward.

And now, let's get this party started!

..............................................................

Find me on Instagram - @dina_litovsky