Interview with Margarita Malkova
BIFA 2025 Winner, 1st Place, Non-Professional Advertising, “Beauty of Duality”
Q: Beauty of Duality draws from philosophical ideas of balance, opposites, and harmony. What initially sparked your interest in exploring dualism through photography?
I have been thinking about the idea of Duality for a long time. I find its interesting conception in the Eastern philosophy of Yin and Yang.
And I find that photography as a medium is the perfect way to illustrate this idea. Because photography itself is searching for balance in between light and shadow.
Q: Your work beautifully merges Eastern concepts like Yin and Yang with the visual interplay of light and shadow. How did you translate these abstract ideas into a photographic form?
I am fond of symbolism in art. Even only a colour or just a shape could be a very powerful message. The symbol of Yin and Yang already exists. So I find it’s an inspiring opportunity and kind of a challenge to express my own vision of it.
Q: When working with your models, how do you approach capturing those subtle emotional nuances and delicate shifts in mood that are so present in your portraits?
Portrait photography is always teamwork. It’s always also about trust and energy exchange. So I’m very thankful to my models Lisa and Mary. They are absolutely immediately genius and very beautiful and talented professionals.
Q: What motivated you to enter the Budapest International Foto Awards, and what does winning an award for this particular series mean to you personally and professionally?
I’m very honoured to be included in this Awards because it’s well known in the professional photographer community as one of the best.
Q: As someone who began photography as a hobby before turning it into a true artistic path, what advice would you give to hobbyists who want to pursue their vision more seriously?
My advice to beginners is to treat yourself like an artist right from the start. Because skills will come sooner or later with practice. But your own point of view and the way you express your ideas and personality that’s exactly what makes you special, unique and rare.