Today we’d like to introduce you to Gala Semenova.
Hi Gala, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I had an interest toward photography since early years; I think I was 12 when I started take pictures with my friend’s Polaroid camera. My parents gave me my first camera for the 14th birthday, and it was the best present I could ever dream of. The camera became my concealment, my best friend who would always accompany me whenever I went out and who made it possible for me to get forgotten in my dreams and never feel the overwhelming loneliness. I also had a school friend who let me wiz while creating black-and-white photos out of color films in a small printing laboratory located in her bathroom. That was just the beginning of my long-time relationship with photography. I hadn’t seeing photography as something serious in my life and after graduating high school, I went to study economics, business, and marketing at the State University. I saw photography only as a hobby, trying different genres. In 2008 I finally decided to pursue my love to photography and bring my skills to another level. I took a digital photography course in Moscow Academy of Photography. I’m glad I took this step forward. That was the first time when I realized that photography can be an outlet for art for me, and I really loved taking pictures. That was also the first time realizing that as an artist, I am interested in social issues. Also, I loved taking portraits, but I was too shy to ask people to pose for me. So, I took the path of least resistance and dove into landscapes because I was always inspired by nature. I did my first exhibition in 2010 back in Las Vegas in Bellagio Casino. It was just a one-night show, and it was my second year living in US. But honestly that time, I didn’t have any self-confidence, and I was always comparing myself to other artists, I was very hard on myself and brought myself to the place where I didn’t take any pictures for over two years. It was a love-hate relationship for me. I had so much fear of failure that I didn’t even want to pursue this path farther alone. At some point, I made a conscious decision to work on myself. I decided to not compare myself to anybody from now on. I started meditation practices and other deep spiritual practices. That was the beginning of healing for me. I remember back in 2016 feeling empty, unfulfilled, and depressed. With no purpose in life. Being the most happy when I was creating with the camera in my hands and at the same time pushing it away out of fear of not being good enough. I made a decision to step into unknown and follow my desire of creating art. I left my super comfortable life, successful manager career and left San Diego, moving to Portland where I didn’t know anyone. I decided to get myself completely out of my comfort zone in order to create something totally new for myself and follow my dreams. I spend my tome there taking photography classes, working in the studio with my mentor, learning about large format film camera, and creating art. I found myself enjoying still-life photography, creating some abstract images. As you can see for over 20 years of my photography journey, I have tried many different genres. Until I decided to move back to San Diego back in 2018. I believe that everything happens for a reason and when I came back one of my friends asked me if I will be willing to take a nude portrait of her to create something special for her partner. I was very excited because I’ve never tried to photograph nudes but I knew that it was something new and exciting for me. I am grateful for that experience because I realized that I just loved the human body, and that was the beginning of my journey as a fine art portrait photographer. I took my skills to another level when I found an amazing photographer in Russia, and I started working privately with her. It was the time when I started sending my images to different competitions and awards. As always, I life, when we are ready another opportunity shows up. Another amazing photographer offered her own program on conceptual photography. I was never interested in making copies of pretty people. I was after the freshness and wonder of the spirit. I always wanted my art speak for itself. So, I decided to take this opportunity. And I can say it was the pivoting point in my career because the work I produced during that time was very successful. Those self-portraits won different awards, were published in different magazines, became a part of different group shows, some of them in Europe. This turnout gave me more self-confidence and desire to create more. My art is the path of healing pain, depression, abuse, suicidal thoughts, and deep-rooted traumas that I have experienced in my life. I never stop learning something new. It is a way of living, constantly moving from one project to another. Finding something inside of my own history that reflects the stories of many others. I believe that my art can change people’s lives for the better by inviting more hope, love, and awakening. I know it has been happening to people I photographed. The power of it is mind-blowing. During the last few years, I have been awarded internationally for my art focused on portraits. My work has been exhibited worldwide in numerous group exhibitions, including at the FotoNostrum Gallery in Barcelona, Spain. In July 2021, my work was exhibited at the CICA Museum as a part of the exhibition “Concept 2021” in Korea. Recently I am a Single Image Winner of an International photography award from British Journal of Photography and 1854, Female in Focus 2022 which has been established to champion the work of exceptional women photographers from across the globe and directly combat gender inequality in the photography industry.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t know if I can speak for all artists but for me, the path of an artist is a difficult one. There is always someone who has a better technique than me, who knows the equipment better than me. So, my main struggle was to stop comparing myself to other artists. To find a way to appreciate me, my talent, my vision, and my life experience. People were always telling me how good I am at what I do, but I could not see that because of my own demons. It takes a lot of courage to keep moving forward no matter what, through all the doubts and insecurities, especially when the artist start presenting their work to the public. But spiritual knowledge says that behind the biggest fears lies the biggest success and access to an inner power. I choose to move forward every time I have self-doubts. Toward my biggest fears. And what I find along the way is fascinating. The more vulnerable I become the more support I receive from the Universe. Galina means the One who brings God’s light. And I know God loves me because I feel absolutely supported by so many people who believe in me and see something very important in what I do. This trust gives me a lot of strength. And helps me in my moments of darkness.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an award-winning Fine Art Portrait Photographer who recognizes inner beauty and resilience in every human being and reflects it by capturing the true spirit of a person, amplifying and revealing something personal. With each portrait, I aim to reveal the vulnerability inside to allow space for recognition, healing, and empowerment. As an artist, I am sensitive to the outside world, and I see myself as a ‘collector of sensations’ that I use as my inspiration. My work is inspired by colors, emotions, and feelings. My interests are in the visual study of common human experiences like self-acceptance, love, and personal and collective traumas that are shared by society. I am becoming increasingly interested in the concept of Intermedia Photography; it opened the possibility for me to move freely between the media and merge with other areas of the visual arts. Pure photography is no longer enough to express my visionary stories. Also, I deeply enjoy using my hands to create things, and finally, I am expanding my art to the place where I can continue my art process after the image has been printed, and I can put my own energy and intentions in each piece I work on. All my art projects are very personal and based on my experience while growing up or maturing as a woman in a manly society. I think I am currently working on my strongest project so far and it is about Domestic violence. It is as well rooted in my personal experience, and I am tired of the silence that I have kept for years. I believe it is a perfect time to break this silence and start an open conversation about this issue. Too many women and men get affected by it. This body of work aims to acknowledge the healing path of people who suffered domestic violence, their achievements, and a process of finding all the shattered pieces of the soul and becoming whole again, and at the same time, empower those who live through the hardship of the imprisonment in their current situation and give them a hope and a living proof that their life can be changed if they decide so.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
As I have already mentioned earlier, I always find myself studying. I study art, meditations, Healing Arts, awareness practices. In today’s world, we have an access to so many resources that only lazy doesn’t use it for their own benefit. Every time I need some information, it presents itself on my screen or through a friend. I try to live every day in total connection to my heart and my own body, being 100% truthful to myself, keep positive thoughts (even though I am not perfect in it). I have my own deep spiritual practice for the last 10 years. It has been a life-changing experience for me. I love listening a lot of self-development and consciousness-expending podcasts together with some art-oriented podcasts. I have so many interests that I don’t have enough time to follow all of them =) I also together with a friend produce a podcast about artists, “In The Art Scene,” where we hold a conversations with different artists about their practices, challenges, and victories. I learn a lot from listening to other people’s stories. I love it.
Pricing:
The Healing Beauty photo session – $800
Express photoshoot family/social platforms (20 min) – $200
Contact Info: