by Editor  Yvette Depaepe

Mike Darzi's  “Women Portraits” and “Fine Art Nudes” are full of soul, emotions and elegance.  They are pure visual poetry. By using the right lighting and processing he succeeds to strengthen more his vision on the model's inner selfs, on their thoughts and feelings. For Mike, that is what makes the picture.

Look by yourself, admire his wonderful work and learn more about this great artist.

“Apples”

Briefly tell us about yourself, your hobbies and other jobs.
I am 55 , divorced and have 3 children.
My profession is an economic consultant and certified accountant.
I am an amateur photographer from Israel. Most of my photos are taken in my home studio and most of the time I use one or two flashes with a soft box or beauty dish.
I became interested in taking women’s portraits, and have made some progress in this genre.
Currently, women's portraits and fine art nude photography are my primary focus. 
 

“Kate”

 
How has your history and life experiences affected your photography?
Photography is a serious hobby for me. I've been shooting alternately since the age of 18, and in the past 12 years I have been dedicating much more time to my hobby.
Since my job requires concentration and intellectual effort, photography is a place for me to relax, especially when I combine it with frequent trips abroad.

Describe your overall photographic vision.
Very significant for me is to see the soul of my photographed subjects, their thoughts and  feelings. I try using lighting and processing to strengthen it more.

“Oil lamp”

“In the library”

“Olya”

Why are you so drawn by Fine Art Nude and Portrait Photography?
From time to time, I take pictures of nature and organize photography trips to Africa, but I relate better to portraits and artistic nudity, because I believe that they express more emotion and this is the most important thing for me in photography.
Emotion,  soul, the inside of the photographed.  This is what makes the picture.
This is what allows the viewer to stop, to remember the picture,. To think what the artist wanted to convey, what were his thoughts, what was in his heart while taking pictures.
I think that through landscape photography or wild life photography - it's harder to convey.

“Anna”

“Stairway to Heaven”

What is more important to you, the mood / story behind your images or the technical perfection?
Of course, the technical side is also important and it is almost impossible to produce a good picture when it is technically incorrect. However, in the field of portrait photography and nude art it is impossible to create a picture without emotion, soul or thought.  .
For me, the story behind the photograph is much more important. 

“Kataka”

“Beautiful Sarka”

What generally is your relationship to your subject matter beyond being an observer?
In portrait and nude photography, chemistry and trust between the model and the photographer are crucial  to enable the model  to express her feelings..

Do you prepare carefully the set-up before each photo-shoot?
It's always different. Sometimes I think about a certain idea a few days before the photo shoot, arrange the right accessories, choose the location, coordinate with a specific model that suits me, and plan the photo.
Sometimes everything is spontaneous; I look at the model, am inspired, and the photo-shoot evolves.
Usually the result is better when you do not plan ahead and can choose a few good pictures from the shoot.

“Lena & Marina”

“Trapped in the room”

 
What gear do you use (camera, lenses, bag)?
I work with  two sets of gear:
Canon 5DM4 + lenses 50 mm 1.2 ,85 mm 1.2, 135 mm 2.0 and more..
Sony mirror-less camera  A7R2 + 55 mm 1.8, 85 mm 1.8, 35 mm 1.4

What software do you use to process your images?
Photoshop cc 2018 is my go to software.

Can you tell us something more about your work flow?
I start with a raw convertor (acr or lightroom).
Usually, I make very few changes to the exposure and shadows before I start working in PS.
I start with retouching, add texture to most of the studio photos and choose the colour that fits the atmosphere of the photo i want.
 

“Oxsana”

“The Queen”

What is your most important advice to a beginner in Fine Art Nude and Portrait Photography and how do you get started?
I would advise novice photographers to view pictures of other photographers they appreciate in order to find inspiration and learn from their art.
It's not enough just to buy a camera and start photographing. The art of portraits photography and nude art requires to study how to approach the model, and how to make him or she express their feelings, and to achieve the photo you wanted.
It is important to bear in mind that a novice photographer needs to devote much time to learning and gaining experience.

[email protected]

Facebook : Mike Darzi
Ins : mikedarzi