AS IS | Kir Simakov
top of page
    • 3 min read

AS IS | Kir Simakov

Photographer

From Moscow, Russia

Based in Milan, Italy


Kir has photographed such personalities as Al Pacino to Mikhail Gorbachev and some of the most fascinating places in the world, and has become known for his dynamic and magnetic portrayals of his subjects





A: What brought you into photography?


K: I always wanted to see what the world around me looks like in a photograph. I also believe that a photograph is worth a thousand words.


Also, photography is a great way to get through closed doors. Everything external is a little bit boring, as people love to put their idealized image on display. What is more interesting is what’s inside, what people hide. Perhaps, this is the meaning of photography.


When I was a kid I started to learn how to draw but I wasn't great at it, so later I decided to try myself as a photographer, now I can paint with light!


A: What inspires you the most?

K: As of today, I can say that people, with their true and real emotions, are the most inspiring thing for me. The second one is sunrises; I'm a huge fan of getting up early in the morning and enjoying the first rays of the sun.


Recently I have had an exceptional inspiration while just watching the Red Moon rise over the mountains. It was magnificent so I totally forgot about my camera and was just enjoying the view!

A: Do you have any specific rituals while working (creating)?

K: I love to listen to some music while working and maybe get some sweets or coffee right before the start. And of course, I love when no one is disturbing me, but this happens seldom nowadays.


Lately, while performing a photoshoot with Mario Mazzoleni, an owner of the ArtEvents Mazzoleni Gallery, my preparatory work, besides location check, lighting setup, and other tools, included finding the right melody which would be playing during the photo shoot. And I managed to find one - “Metamorphosis” by Philip Glass. I believed that this very melody would give my picture more passion. Unfortunately, I left the stereo speaker at home, but I had “Metamorphosis” in my mind during the whole shooting.


A: What would you recommend to someone new to photography, what to begin with?

K: Just go out and shoot, learn how to work with the light, and learn how to use your camera properly. As people like say – first, you learn then you remove the ‘L’.

A: Your top 3 components for a great photo?


K: Composition, Light, Feelings - nothing new, it's all have been here for ages! Also, one more thing is to take a long break and look back at your photos, you will find some nice images you’ve skipped before.




A: I’ve never taken pictures of ... but would love to:


K: Let me say oppositely, I have never taken pictures of frogs and snakes and will never do!


A: Must-read books to understand the art of photography?

K: Instead of reading go to museums and start studying the paintings. It's a great way to understand the compositions and the light. I'm not saying you should skip reading books about the art of photography, I'm just saying that you should not skip observing paintings and train visual observation to refine your taste.


A: If you could change one thing in the world of photography - what would it be?

K: I would change the way most people think about photography. It's not as easy as it seems. A photographer is not just a man who presses the same button all the time, he is more than that. He could be a stylist or even a make-up artist during the shoot. He is the one who makes the final image you see on the cover of the magazines, he who puts his soul and emotions into almost every photograph he makes.

A: Please, share your favorite quote:

K: EVERYTHING IS PHOTOGRAPHABLE.



Thank you!


For more: visit or IG


bottom of page