Fedor Ushakov
1. Congratulations on winning in the Global Photography Awards! Can you share a little about yourself, what inspired you to pursue photography, and how has your journey evolved since your first shot?
I started my career in 2017, knowing from day one that jewelry photography would be my path. With jewelry, there is always a story behind every piece, and it’s the photographer’s job to tell that story. Over time, my philosophy became clear: it’s all about precision and emotion. Perfect lighting isn’t just about reflection — it’s about feeling. My goal has always been to create images that let others experience the same feeling I have when I look at a piece of jewelry — to let the light tell its story. If you visited my studio, you’d find a lot of handcrafted tools and custom gear. In this field, not everything can be bought — some things we simply have to invent ourselves to make them work perfectly. And that’s one of the most fascinating parts of my job.
2. Can you share the story or inspiration behind your award-winning piece? How does winning this award make you feel about your journey in photography?
It’s an honor to receive this award. I’m eternally grateful that I get to shoot fine jewelry. This year’s award-winning images represent the whole idea behind my philosophy — the story is always there; you just need to pay attention to tell it right. The ring with two fancy yellow diamonds is a real treasure. The design itself is innovative, and that’s the reason I went with a supporting background that lets the piece breathe. With the necklace, there is a lot of movement in the piece. That’s why I chose to shoot it in silk swirls.
3. How do you decide which photo to submit for a competition?
I went through my photographs and chose what inspires me today—what draws the viewer into the very essence of the image, what gives them goosebumps.
4. What first made you pick up a camera?
It was my first trip abroad as an adult, and I had my first film camera in hand; for me, it became a dual journey—viewing the world first with my own eyes, and then through the viewfinder.
5. What’s your favorite type of photography, and why do you love it?
I can’t name a specific genre; I love photography because it allows me to show others—and perhaps sometimes even myself—how I view the world and to express myself. And it seems that the way I look at jewelry is exactly what jewelers are looking for.
6. What’s your go-to camera setup, and why does it work best for your projects? What’s your favorite feature?
I’m a bit of a tech nerd; whenever a task comes up, I’ll open an Excel spreadsheet to compare the cameras, devices, and so on that I’ve shortlisted. My favorite kind of setup is one that’s perfectly tailored to the task and works flawlessly—exactly as intended.
7. If someone looked at your work, what’s the one thing you’d want them to feel?
The right answer would be falling in love with the jewelry they see and wanting to meet it in real life. But if I’m being completely honest, I’d say I want people to feel how real the jewelry is in the image. I mean, jewelry photography and portrait photography are no different. The main goal is simply to reveal what you see in a person or a piece, so everyone looking at the image can see the true hero.
8. What was the most challenging part of capturing your winning shot?
To make it natural, yet perfect. When it comes to jewelry, you have to use studio lighting and use different lighting approaches for the gold parts, gems, and background. And that’s a perfect setup for an image to look fake — the human brain immediately spots lights coming from different directions. So you need to do it with surgical precision, always keeping the key light direction consistent.
9. Is there a specific place or subject that inspires you the most?
I’d say every place has the potential to be inspiring. You just need to pay attention to see it.
10. Who or what has been your biggest influence in photography?
It’s hard to tell what factors affect you. In the modern world, we see a lot of images every day, and of course they affect us. I’d say photos, movies, and campaigns that resonate with what I consider to be a high standard in the industry.
11. What message would you share to inspire photographers to participate in photography awards, and what advice would you give to help them excel in the competition?
It takes nothing but persistence—just like in any other profession. If you truly want something, you will achieve it, no matter what anyone says.
12. What’s one piece of advice for someone just starting in photography?
The secret is to find the right balance between building your portfolio and developing your people skills. If you truly want to be a professional photographer, you’ll need not only great skills but also a wide network. It can help you grow, give you support along the way, and provide inspiration.
13. What role do editing and post-processing play in your creative workflow?
I’m not a big fan of heavy editing, but I have to say that post-production is a must. Adjusting colors, removing dust or scratches, converting RAW files, compositing, and focus stacking — all of these are non-negotiable. They just need to be done naturally.
14. How do you see technology, like AI, influencing the future of photography and your own approach?
The world is changing rapidly; only yesterday we looked at paintings, yet today we type two sentences into an assistant’s prompt box and receive a highly detailed image of something that defies all the laws of reality. All we can do is keep pace with the times—the key is not to lose ourselves in this technological whirlwind and to preserve our individuality.
15. If you could photograph anything or anyone in the world, what would it be?
Today, it would be seals on icebergs. Tomorrow? Who knows?
