Meet the TEN AND ONE Awards Judges: Ula Meladze

Ula Meladze is a photography and Lomography enthusiast from Georgia. She recently started spreading the Lomo love in her country by taking over Lomography Georgia's online shop. We are thrilled to introduce you to our newest TEN AND ONE Award judge in this short interview!

Hello! Welcome to the Lomography Magazine. Please introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello, my name is Ula and I have a long relationship with photography. Even though, sometimes this relationship was long-distance, and I never managed to make photography my primary occupation, at every stage of my life, photography was the way of self-expression and reflecting of the world as I see it.
I’m very lucky because, a few months ago, I was given the chance to manage Lomography Georgia's online shop together with my friend and promote the concept of Lomography in my country. We have the opportunity to be in touch with lots of young photographers and see their works. We hope that our community will grow and we will help even more people to discover the wonderful world of photography.

How did your interest with photography start?

When I was little, my father had a black-and white photography of ballerinas on a bookshelf. One ballerina was portrayed still and the others blurred while moving in the background. Every time I was looking at this photo, my only thought was that what a wonderful feeling it should be to be author of such a cool photo.
In teenage years when everyone is looking for the ways of self-expression, being cool and learning how to deal with the tons newly discovered emotions, photography appeared in my life once again together with my first camera Zenit ET.
I was taking my camera everywhere, at the beginning I didn’t have had my own computer or access to internet to look for the tips or instructions how to shoot. It was time of experiments and self-learning and satisfaction of seeing newly printed shots that succeed.

How would you define photography? What makes it worth pursuing?

I think that photography is the most “democratic” genre of art accessible to anyone. It is not necessary to have expensive camera or special education – everyone can shoot photos that are valuable, express their vision, emotions and share them.

What inspires you?

Music. Each moment has its own music which makes this moment complete and gives its own mood. Even though photos are inaudible, if you look closely you can hear song behind each every one. When looking at newly taken photos, I perceive them fully only when I’m listening to music.
What makes a good photograph?
It’s individualism – possibility to make your thoughts and feelings tangible in your own way. The trickiest part of photography is to capture the emotion that you had at the moment of taking photograph in a way that it would be visible to others.

Any advice that you’d like to give aspiring photographers?

People are unique - each and every person sees world in their own way and all points of view matter. Let others to see the world as you see it, don’t be afraid to express yourself as you are, be bold and be open, try to be imperfect in your own way.
Don’t try to follow the rules and take perfect photo. The best shots are made when breaking the rules and experimenting. Listen to music, read books, talk with people, collect the emotions inside you and then turn them into photos.

written by ellakoppensteiner on 2018-02-10 #news #people #ten-and-one #ten-and-one-awards-judge-2017