Interview with Nikola Olic, Dallas USA
Nikola Olic's fantastic photographic visions and work is a combination of architecture and abstract fine art photography.
The award winning photographer is our guest in our 8th issue of 'Featured Photographer Interview'. Please join us on this captivating and varied voyage full of stunning structures and amazing architecture. Enjoy reading! Yours, Stefan Cimer (editor) ![]()
Nikola, I shall begin by saying thank you for taking your time to giving us the opportunity for this interview
Please tell us a little bit about yourself to begin with. I was born and raised in Serbia and had moved to the United States in 1992. Influenced by my dad who was a proliferate photographer, I had a camera by my side through childhood, documenting events, hobbies and people around me. Traveling around United States helped feed the curiosity about city design, urban development and architecture, how it shaped cities and our relationships with them. From that interest came the latest series of photographs, focusing on abstract representations of immovable large structures around us.
What is photography for you?
An enjoyable, meaningful, invigorating way to think about the world a round me, and take its intellectual and aesthetic measure.
Could you share with us how you first became interested in photography in general?
I was surrounded with photography, both from my father’s and brother’s side, since early childhood. In the United States, it was a useful companion as I traveled and explored and got to know the continent. Switching to a DSLR about 2 years ago helped propel my interest in architectural and abstract photography
Nikola, your focus is on architectural and abstract photography. How much does your equipment help you to execute your artistic vision?
Equipment I use is very simple and not quite on the cutting edge. I try to combine patience and opportunism to get good angle and lights for my shots. If I have good light and some time to study the space, I can be happy with the photograph with a 10y old DSLR. albeit, resolution can be an issue for bigger prints. I have learned that recently.
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iStreet Photography Exhibition, organized by Des BYRNE and Peter O DOHERTY
Dublin, from 14th to 27th August 2015
photo by Seamus TRAVERS
Seeing your remarkable work, I'm wondering which kind of photography characterizes you most?
Architectural and abstract photography is to me interesting and warm and multidimensional and a potent spectrum through which to think about space and shapes and colors and our own living spaces. So in terms of popular strains of photography, I would say architectural and/or abstract photography.
Can you tell us about your work flow from the point you first step onto the scene until you showcase the developed picture?
Interesting architecture comes about usually from exploration, although sometimes aided by preparation and internet building databases and city guides and the like. I try to secure a significant uninterrupted block of time when meeting a building for the first time, usually starting with just staring at the building and enjoy the freshness and the ideas that come to mind, like smelling a new flower. You have to stop and smell the architectural flower :) Soon after I am clicking away, looking for angles and seeing what is the extreme to which I can take certain angles, and I spend a lot of time fine-tuning shots moving a few feet at a time, studying the results. Finally, I might consult web apps to help me with sun angles and shadows, so I can come back at a different time and get better light and more options.
Among your works, which is your favorite and why?
As you can see on my website, my portfolio is very small, and this is of course on purpose. Of the thousands photographs that I take, less then 30 made it out into the public. In some ways, all of them are my favorites exactly because I had dwell on them for a long time and had decided they are worth sharing. But to answer the question in a meaningful way, my 3 favorite photographs are : Twisted Building, Broken Building and Building With Steps.
Has your style of shooting changed since you first started?
My instincts got better at figuring out if some new visual space has potential. This helps spend time on smarter things. Stylistically, I think my photographs are becoming simpler to describe and write about, which is a tendency I think I like.
Are there any photographer how took influence on your photographic work and style?
There are exactly 19 of them. I maintain an active section of my website with my influences, when they lived, where they worked, and a few of their well known photographs. It helps me think about photography and think about what I am doing with it and why. It is great to discover new photographers, be it in a blog, a website, or while browsing architecture books at a local library.
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- A maximum of three Photographs will be pre-selected
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You're indeed quite successful with your work, appearing in galleries across the US but also in Europe. What would you tell a beginner or newcomer who asks for your advice on how to start?
Success can mean a lot of things. I get as happy discovering new photographs from others as I do when I get a good photograph of my own. Photography is alive and vibrant and infinitely unpredictable, as unpredictable as we all are as people and creators and thinkers and artists. Look for others that think about photography in the same way you do: talk with them, offer your ideas, ask your questions, offer your website, offer your photographs. That builds a framework for great fun and great possibilities and great surprises.
Are there any special projects you’re working on currently which you would like to introduce here?
There is still a lot for me to learn and explore and try with my current project called Structure Photography. Its too much fun to start something new for now.
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You have a photo / art exhibition or a project to get started?
EYE-Photo Magazine can be your partner for advertising! We‘re publishing featured interviews, photo reviews and special features with talented and enthusiastic photographer on a regular base. Your advertisement would be in our magazine (PDF) and on our website. We can link to your project, website, or other multimedia content. The best thing is: it's all FREE for you! INTERESTED? Contact us: [email protected] ![]()
Nikola, thank you very much for taking your time and let us have your thoughts and views!
Please visit Nikola at: www.structurephotography.org or contact him at: [email protected] You can read and download the magazine online for FREE:
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