Pinchasov Georgy is a contemporary photographer who was born in Moscow and became the only Russian invited to work in the international agency Magnum Photos. Pinkhasov - winner of prestigious international awards, behind the master - the organization of personal exhibitions, the release of photo albums, work in well-known foreign publications.
The beginning of the creative path
Pinkhasov was born in 1952, his passion for photography came in the early years. Apparently, this played a role - after graduation, he entered the Moscow Institute of Cinematography. Having not completed training, George leaves for the army, after which he begins work at the Mosfilm film studio as a photographer.
1978 was marked for Pinhasov by the entry into the Union of Graphic Artists of Moscow. His first creative works in the genre of still life and portrait were exhibited here. Among them are such as “Melon” and “Glass with tea” made using the sepia technique.
Very soon, Pinchasov George was able to obtain the status of an independent photo artist. This circumstance gave freedom, the opportunity to travel and show their work not only in the USSR, but also outside the country.
Meeting with Tarkovsky and the transition to reportage photography
While working on the Mosfilm, fate brings Pinhasov to the director Andrei Tarkovsky. Thanks to friends, some of George’s photo tests were in the hands of the famous director. Tarkovsky invites the photographer to collaborate on the film "Stalker" in 1979. Pinkhasov accepts the offer and makes a report on the film. Thus, Tarkovsky, as it were, prompted George to switch to working with reportage photography.
Tarkovsky and Pinkhasov talk a lot, discuss film production and photographic art. Despite the fact that the director really likes the pictures of George, he somehow notices that for him the ideal of reporting photography is the work of Henri Cartier-Brisson. This phrase made young Pinhasov think and venture into the first experiments of invading the lives of strangers with a camera in his hands.
It was very difficult to work as a reporting photographer in the Soviet Union. Firstly, the people themselves were suspicious and cautious of a person with a camera in their hands. Secondly, the police could simply spot unwanted shots. Nevertheless, George Pinkhasov continued to shoot, his legacy - thousands of colorful photographs that clearly convey the era of the USSR.
Pinchasov George himself in an interview said that thanks to Tarkovsky he saw the world with different eyes, and most importantly, what he learned from the director is a humane attitude to man. The photographer speaks with admiration about meetings with great people - Cartier Bresson, Nadezhda Mandelstam, their simplicity and love of knowledge. He believes that their unwillingness to rise above others served him as an example in creativity and life.
Photo Agency Magnum
In 1985, Pinchasov Georgy marries a Frenchwoman and leaves to live in Paris. In 1988, he submits a portfolio to Magnum, however, not really hoping for success. However, the master was accepted, and one of the founders of Magnum Photos, Cartier Bresson, spoke of him as a very talented photo artist.
Pinkhasov could become a full member of the agency in a few years. The procedure for entering this cooperative is complex and multi-stage. Today Magnum unites a little more than 60 photographers who, like Pinchasov, strive to document the world around them in their work. Photographers of the cult agency present their work to newspapers, television, galleries and museums from around the world.
Collaboration with international publications
In his work, Pinchasov appreciates freedom; when viewing his photographs, many have a feeling of uniqueness of the simplest and most ordinary things. Masters attract the individual characteristics of people and objects, the smallest details that can be instantly snatched by light from the dark.
The photographer shoots a lot for the most famous international publications. Among them:
- International popular science magazine Geo.
- Actuel Contemporary Art Magazine.
- The largest daily newspaper in the New York Times.
Pinhasov himself said that one of the prerequisites for working in international publications was a trip to Chernobyl. It was an order from the New York Times in the 90s, but failed to remove what was needed. The photographer and his partner, an American journalist, were not allowed to go where they wanted to go. Then he began to shoot everything that was happening around him. The result was amazing material showing real reality. After this successful reporting, many orders were received with trips around the world: Kenya, Brazil, Vietnam, China.
Pinchasov photo albums
Pinhasov’s work has been marked by prestigious awards more than once. In 1993, this talented photographer was awarded the World Press Photo International Award. Moscow, Paris, Geneva, Tallinn - this is the list of cities where his exhibitions were held.
The master has released several photo books, the most famous:
- 1998 - Sightwalk ("Look on the go").
- 2006 - Nordmeer ("North Sea").
The first was the result of a trip to Japan, where he filmed Tokyo. The second album was born after traveling in the Arctic.
Photographer Pinkhasov is considered the genius of working with light, and he often says that he loves clarity in everything. Summarizing all the statements of the master from various media interviews, we can say that Georgy Pinkhasov is a photographer whose biography does not have a shade of nationality. According to him, this is just personal data. When asked what city is native to him, the photographer answers: “Moscow - Paris”.