Interview with Nikola Borissov

Nikola, thank you for taking the time to provide www.eyesonpixel.com with this interview.

Please, introduce yourself?

My name is Nikola Borissov, I’m 29, Bulgarian, I’ve been working as a fashion photographer for the last 4 years, before that I graduated in Political Sciences and International Economics in Milan, Italy, where I lived from 1999 to 2009.
_

Are you a self taught artist or have you been to a art school?

I firmly believe that any form of art education is completely useless and could even have a negative effect on the individual’s talent. So yes, I am self-taught.
_

Where does your inspiration come from?

Everything that surrounds me – the world’s beauty, cinema, books, music, women, everything.
_

Who is your idol, do you have one?

Nope, ain’t got one.
_

How does your job as an artist influence on your everyday life?

I don’t see photography as a “job”, it’s just what I do and who I am. In that sense, it’s completely fused with my everyday life, there is no distinction between the two. So I might say that I actually work 24/7. Or have fun 24/7. Both would be correct J Actually I am pretty convinced I might be having the best “job” in the world, you know – I do what makes me happy and I get paid for it.
_

What kind of hardware and software you use?

An HP workstation and laptop, HP 24” Dreamcolor display with it’s calibrator, Wacom Intuous3 tablet, Iomega external hard drives, Win 7, Photoshop CS4. For my work I use a Canon 35mm system (16-35II, 24-70, 70-200/2.8, 85/1.2II, 100 macro, now I want to buy also a couple of TS-E lenses, 17 and 90mm), and every now and then I rent a Hasselblad. I also have various lighting equipment, from the small hot-shoe flashes to the big studio/location solutions and continuous lights.
_

Tell us about your typical work day?

It’s different every time, that’s the beauty of it. Usually I get up pretty early, load the equipment on my 4×4 (if I am shooting on location) or go to the studio. Then I get my coffee-and-cigarette-based breakfast while the assistants are setting up the lights and the talents are getting hair and make-up done. After the shoot I am usually destroyed so I go straight home or to the hotel afterwards.
_

What are your favourite websites?

DeviantArt, 1x, photo.net, FB. I am trying to limit the time I am spending online, after having been an avid internet user for 14 years now I am realizing how stupid the whole thing is, so I try to use it only for business communication and networking.
_

Where and how do you see yourself in five years?

Well, being an ex-economist, I’ve planned my career in detail, and so far it’s working. I am planning to move to Paris at the end of the year or next Spring, so I’ll probably be there in 5 years, rich, famous and happy J For the next year or two I will concentrate on my portfolio and invest a lot in it – e.g. mostly magazine work and not commercial, less money but I need that.
_