Hidden Worlds

An interview with Georgi Georgiev

Georgi Georgiev won 1st Prize in our Animal Kingdom competition with an image judge Tim Flach described as being “…a stunning visual experience that transports the viewer to a magical realm”. Keen to know more about the circumstances behind the image, and Georgi’s passion for macrophotography, we put some questions to him…

Congratulations on winning our Animal Kingdom competition. What did you make of the judge’s comments?

Thanks to the judge for the warm words! Tim describes one of the main goals I want to achieve with my photos – to transport the viewer to another world.

The image itself is unlike anything that has ever won Life Framer before. Can you tell us a little more about it, and the circumstances behind it?

I took this photo deep in the forest. It was autumn and the humidity was very high, so there were a lot of mushrooms and snails around. I waited patiently for the exact moment to capture this snail on the background of these micro mushrooms.

And how do you go about creating such a shot, particularly working at a different scale to most other photographers? Is the otherworldly lighting natural, or something you’ve augmented the scene with?

From my education as an ecologist I have a lot of knowledge about animals, their habitats and behavior which helps me greatly. I take my photos only in a natural environment and in a natural light. I use Photoshop to add my artistic point of view to each photo.

Macrophotography of insects is quite a niche genre. How did you first get into it? Was it the first type of photography you fell in love with?

I fell in love with it during my education as an ecologist. During the research projects and expeditions I undertook I was deeply touched by these hidden worlds, and photography helps me to show it through my eyes.

And where do you draw your inspiration from? Maybe other photographers and artists, or maybe more leftfield areas…

It might sound strange, but I find inspiration inside me. Nothing can inspire me more than my imagination.

Can you perhaps tell us about one of your other favorite macro images?

I don’t have favorite photos or let’s say it like this, they are too many. Each photo is different to me, brings a different feeling, each photo has part of me in it.

And where are your shots taken – in your home country of Bulgaria or further afield? Are there any “dream” locations you’d like to visit to shoot these hidden worlds?

To date I’ve taken all of my macro photos in Bulgaria. I would love someday to have the opportunity to visit the Amazon rainforest and spend some time there capturing the amazing biodiversity there.

Do you have a key lessons you’ve learnt, or a favorite macrophotography tip you could pass on to other enthusiasts?

I would like to tell them never to give up no matter how hard it is and how many obstacles there are, to have a lot of patience and perseverance. My advice is to follow their inner feelings.

And finally, what are your plans for 2023?

I don’t make plans. I mean I don’t have a list, for example “today I will go take photos of ladybug”, or “tomorrow I will go to take photos of dragonflies”. Everything is spontaneous to me. I just head out into nature and each time it is a different adventure. Everything happens in the moment.