Irina Lokteva Pikalova
1. Can you introduce yourself and talk about how you got into photography?
Hello! I am Irina, alias Irina Lopik, a Photographer and Graphics Artist. My father inspired my photographic journey from a very early age. We used to have a red room set up in the bathroom with all the equipment and chemicals.
My early memories are full of magical moments when white paper transformed into black-and-white images. Though he wasn't a professional photographer, my father had a keen eye for framing and composition, likely inherited from my grandmother, who was a textile designer in the USSR.
While my design studies have shaped much of my work, those early influences are for sure part of my heritage.
2. Where did you study photography?
I completed a studio photography course during my design studies, and there's a lot of graphic approach in my photographic work. I also studied 3D for Photography at FX Barcelona Film School and Set Design in Photography at LABASAD, Barcelona School of Arts and Design.
3. Do you remember your first shot? What was it?
I got my first camera at the age of 12. It was an automatic one, and back then, it was all about experimenting with genres and composition.
My first shot was during summer vacation, where I used up an entire roll of film. The photos were mostly landscapes, sunsets, and some still-life objects. I also loved photographing people.
4. What equipment do you use?
For my studio work, I use a Sony ILCE-7M3 with Sony 90mm and Sony 50mm lenses, various Godox flashes, and Neewer continuous lights, along with a range of modifiers of all kinds.
5. What do you hope to achieve?
I started taking commercial commissions in food, portrait, and event photography after my design studies. But it wasn't until the pandemic that I discovered still-life photography from a new angle.
I was amazed by the possibilities this genre offers. As photographers and creatives, we are in constant development, and my work will evolve. Currently, I find still-life photography particularly compelling for expressing complex ideas. I hope to create more meaningful conceptual work in the future.
6. What compliment inspired/touched you the most?
I study a lot and am fortunate to have amazing professionals around me. When I started my creative journey, one of my teachers told me that my work reflects exactly what I have inside.
It was a profound moment. I realised the power we have as creatives to connect with our audience on a very deep level, even if we aren't always fully aware of it.
7. What inspires your unique storytelling?
I studied Literature in the past, and I've always operated with metaphors and concepts. What I love most is expressing words with images, and vice versa. I also write, so I often "translate" images into words. I love this interplay between the visual and the verbal.
8. What THREE (3) words describe your photography style?
Graphic, conceptual, and colour-touched.
9. Congratulations! As the winner of the London Photography Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?
Thank you! For me, as for any other photographer, this distinction is the best way to affirm that our work matters. It encourages us to keep moving forward, even during tough times.
10. Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2024 London Photography Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
My series 'This is from Matilda' reflects the current state of the world. It's inspired by cinematic work that I admire, while also serving as my personal reflection on both external and internal events. It's a contemporary legacy piece with a twist, perfectly timed for now.
11. How has winning an award developed your career?
Winning an award is always a moment to reflect on what's been achieved so far and to ask new questions. It opens up new paths that translate into new work and fresh ideas.
12. Name 1-3 photographers who have inspired you.
I am inspired by the vibrant and minimalist universe of John Batho, the vivid food photography of Martin Parr, and the legendary works of Irving Penn.
13. What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out, by a mentor or your role model?
If I had to pick one motivational phrase from one of my professors, it would be, "To move forward, you have to break things." It lifts my spirits whenever things get tough.
14. What advice would you give someone who would like to become a photographer today?
If you want to become a photographer today, it means you already have stories to share. Sometimes it takes a while to discover the "how" and often it feels like you're not finding the right path. But you'll find it, and the journey will always be worth it.
15. How do you stay in that space of being receptive to new information and knowledge?
I am incredibly curious and study a lot. Beyond photography and the creative field, I am interested in marketing, neurobranding, and psychology. I'm also a huge fan of reading. My library, both read and unread, is vast and constantly fuels my curiosity.
16. Which THREE (3) friends/peers would you nominate to participate in the next London Photography Awards?
I believe my friends and peers who are passionate about photography are likely already aware of and interested in the London Photography Awards. In fact, I learned about the awards from them!
17. Which THREE (3) peers, within the photography industry, would you nominate to be a judge in the next London Photography Awards? (You may include yourself within, and please include the email addresses)
I would nominate three industry professionals whom I greatly admire:
Aleksandra Kingo: hello@aleksandrakingo.com
Aaron Tilley: info@aarontilley.com
Marianne Taylor: hello@mariannetaylor.co.uk
18. Anything else you would like to add to the interview?
Thank you for this opportunity to share my journey and thoughts. It's been a great pleasure!
