Alexey Dubinsky gets personal with Aserica and shares his technique and passions when it comes to photography. Between colour and black and white or portrait and landscapes; Alexey has a talent of transporting us to far and nature rich places or right in the room of unique and stunning women.

NM: You have an extensive portfolio in black and white and in colour. What are some factors that help you to decide to shoot in black or white or colour? In your portfolio on your website, most if not all of your black and white images are portraits. Is that intentional?

AD: Actually, I can’t confirm that I have more black and white portraits than landscapes. It usually depends on colour and its presence or not. Sometimes when I’m tired of colour and its complexity. So I prefer black and white for its simpleness in showing objects or scenery as they are.

NM: Most of your models are female. Why is this? Do you prefer shooting the female form? Do they add something to your photos that men do not?

AD: Men as my models is actually out of my interests. Seeing as I am a man, I’m existing and everything is clear for me. A female's nature is more organic in my stories. It’s something that I want to understand deeper level.

NM: Each of your models are beautiful, but very unique. I love that you show the diversity of beauty and that social standards are not your standard. Where do you meet your models and how do you pick them?

AD: They are mostly my friends, or friends of my friends. Sometimes I meet my models from social networks. It’s not easy to explain how I pick them. I started from typical model looks and then I became attracted to personalities. The thing is, that using a model that will be cute for everyone is comparable to movies with only top models and actors. I like all of them, but mostly someone who never been pictured before, someone who is beyond the interests of current photographers.

NM: You seem to have an even amount of nature versus urban shots. Which do you prefer to shoot? Where were some of your favourite places?

AD: I prefer landscapes with the traces of humans, their presence, their intrusion and changes that they carry. Photos of pristine nature are not very interesting to me. I take pictures of my travels to remember the places I've been. For my favourite location, I like Iceland. I've been there twice; once in summer and once in winter. Its quite easy to take pictures there. Everything is so amazing that you don’t need to think a lot. I also like France and its Atlantic coast.

NM: Have you been to any remote places that were challenging to shoot? Do you have special equipment for these adventures?

AD: I have had two extremely challenging shootings. One was in Brittany during a storm. About ten of my exposed film sheets had been blown away by the wind. My 4x5 camera on a tripod dropped several times. I had to crawl from the top of the cliff on my knees to take care of by belongings. The other was in Iceland on the Black beach. The ocean tried to swallow me up with my camera. Again, I dropped it and it was full of black sand and ended up dented.

NM: The saturation and lighting in your photos give such depth and mysteriousness, especially in your nature shots. Is this the mood you are trying to establish?

AD: I’m in love with transparency films such as Kodak 100vs. It gives me everything I expect from a photo or even better; vivid saturation and amazing contrast. Unfortunately, Kodak discontinued their colour reversal films but I heard they announced that they will enter the colour reversal film market again with the re- introduction of Ektachrome film. Anyways, I stocked up on the film I like so I should be good for a for couple years ahead