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Leonid LubianitskyPhotographer
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Biography of Leonid Lubianitsky
- Photography and Military Service
- Return to Photography
- Photographic Career in the United States
- Worldwide Photography and Achievements
Biography of Leonid Lubianitsky
Leonid Lubianitsky was born in 1938 in Leningrad. At the age of 6, he started studying photography, which had been a part of his family for three generations. His early works were guided by his father, who was a photographer and costume artist in the theater. When he was 17, his father suddenly passed away, and the next day the young photographer went to find a job at a studio to help support his family. He did not plan to pursue photography professionally at that time, but it happened anyway.
Photography and Military Service
After a few years, it was time for Lubianitsky to serve in the military, where he continued his photography work. He served in the Arctic region, specializing in aerial photography for the Soviet army. After completing his service and returning to Leningrad, Lubianitsky had to find a new occupation as he still did not want to earn a living through photography. By chance, he ended up at the Leningrad Television Studio, where he started working in the film industry as a cinematographer and later as a director of photography, also writing scripts for films. He also created his own program called "KHOLST" (Leningrad Television Studio Art Review), which focused on the arts.
Return to Photography
After some time in the film industry, Lubianitsky returned to photography. He realized that he could truly express himself and his individuality as an artist through photography, as filmmaking was a collective creative process. He began working for various publishers and editors. This compromise between his love for art photography and commercial photography allowed Lubianitsky to realize himself as a photographic artist. In 1972, he emigrated to the United States with the dream of pursuing his career as a photographer.
Photographic Career in the United States
In the United States, Lubianitsky started as an assistant to the legendary Richard Avedon, whom he considers the number one photographer of the past century. After a short time, Lubianitsky opened his own studio and began working for several magazines. Over the years, he worked for more than 20 American magazines, as well as publications in Europe and South America. His photographs appeared in magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveler, Time, People, The New York Times Magazine, LOOK, Horizon, and Science Digest.
Worldwide Photography and Achievements
Lubianitsky traveled almost all over the world for various editorial assignments, capturing images from approximately 50 countries. He became a mentor in photography for the renowned dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and was also friends with poet Joseph Brodsky.
Contracts were even signed with well-known record labels such as Arista, CBS, and Polydor for his photography. Lubianitsky's work was recognized with the ANDY Award from the New York Advertising Club.
Despite the advancements in technology, Lubianitsky prefers the traditional method of photography, using film and printing on photo paper. Unfortunately, a fire in his studio in 1993 destroyed around 250,000 negatives and a retrospective exhibition of over 500 works that Lubianitsky had been printing for three years. This unfortunate event disrupted his work for several years, but he managed to recover and continue his career after five years.
Lubianitsky's biggest fear is "starting to imitate himself," as he constantly strives to create fresh and innovative work.
