Igor Verkhovskiy’s work is like a heavy stone sitting at the bottom of the ocean: undisturbed at it’s depth, dark and reflective of the life that floats above. His photos give me some actual feeling. Maybe I’m just tired of looking at photography, tired of looking at submissions in general. Born in Siberia in 1988, Verkhovskiy’s work inherently reflects the cold exterior of that environment. Verkhovskiy is a self-taught photographer, as well as musician in a rock band that plays music he describes as “heavy and passionate.” I’d describe his work with those same adjectives. Below, Verkhovskiy explains that his current obsession is leaving Russia. This only furthered my love for his photo story “Bus Experience,” which plainly documents the side of parked buses in this kind of sad, desolate way. -CM
1. How would you describe your photos? Melancholic, surreal, caught, intimate, minimalistic, color force, heartfelt, ridiculing.
2. Do you carry your camera with you everywhere you go? Yes.
3. What celebrity would you like to shoot most? No one really. Actually I’m not interested in celebrities. I just want to take photographs of people who seem to me interesting and beautiful. Most of these people are nonprofessional models therefore I often act as the psychologist to liberate them.
4. What animal would you like to be, if not a human? A golden eagle or any type of high-flying birds.
5. What’s your current obsession? To leave Russia.
6. Would you like to live forever? Yes.
7. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
“Never rests on its laurels.”
8. What do you do in your spare time? Sing in Math Marriage: Abel and Krell, play guitar, listen to my favourite records, find new music, watch mysteries videos, hang out with the friends.
9. Do you like having your photo taken? Definitely yes! I’m happy when I’m making photos.
10. Which photographers do you like right now? William Eggleston, Ryan McGinley, Tim Barber, Terry Richardson, Araki Nobuyoshi, Dash Snow and many more!
Shoot the Breeze: Igor Verkhovskiy
1. How would you describe your photos?
Melancholic, surreal, caught, intimate, minimalistic, color force, heartfelt, ridiculing.
2. Do you carry your camera with you everywhere you go?
Yes.
3. What celebrity would you like to shoot most?
No one really. Actually I’m not interested in celebrities. I just want to take photographs of people who seem to me interesting and beautiful. Most of these people are nonprofessional models therefore I often act as the psychologist to liberate them.
4. What animal would you like to be, if not a human?
A golden eagle or any type of high-flying birds.
5. What’s your current obsession?
To leave Russia.
6. Would you like to live forever?
Yes.
7. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
“Never rests on its laurels.”
8. What do you do in your spare time?
Sing in Math Marriage: Abel and Krell, play guitar, listen to my favourite records, find new music, watch mysteries videos, hang out with the friends.
9. Do you like having your photo taken?
Definitely yes! I’m happy when I’m making photos.
10. Which photographers do you like right now?
William Eggleston, Ryan McGinley, Tim Barber, Terry Richardson, Araki Nobuyoshi, Dash Snow and many more!