Photographer, journalist, blogger, volunteer, public figure - it's all about him. Dmitry Markov is a person who represents our country at international photography exhibitions and competitions. He takes pictures of real Russia, so contradictory and true at the same time.
Startup
If you ask Dmitry himself how it all began, he will not answer. And none of the volunteers is ready to give an answer at what moment a reassessment suddenly happened. His life, interests, when strangers became closer to their relatives. And then there is no chance of "jumping off", even if professional burnout occurs. And this will definitely happen.
Before Dmitry began filming, he worked for several years in the editorial office of the newspaper "Argumenty i Fakty" as an ordinary correspondent. Behind him was an unfinished journalism department and life in the marginal area of Pushkin near Moscow. While working at AiF, Dmitry took the pseudonym Nakhimov for himself after he made a report from the Nakhimov School. The first fame came to Markov / Nakhimov under the same pseudonym. But not as a journalist, but as a photographer.
Dima began to do his first photographs while still an editorial staff member, starting in 2005. But then there was less time for a journalistic career and he went into freelance. Markov walked around the city, looking for plots, people, stories. He was not interested in studio shooting and custom photography. Although I had to shoot corporate parties to earn money.
Trying to go beyond the ordinary, to grope for a different life in the usual, Markov began to travel with volunteers to orphanages. Actually, it was the orphan theme that was Dmitry's calling card for a long time. Even fourteen years ago, regional orphanages were a spectacle of the apocalypse. Poverty, the lack of basic amenities and the complete hopelessness of the Russian hinterland are not metamorphoses of the artist's vision. This reality. Markov is too often accused of excessive drama, but the author himself does not see anything strange in this. And even in the most difficult photography, life is a leitmotif. Yes, so different. But you can look at it from any angle.
As the photographer sees
Dmitry once said that when he was just studying photography, he went to the Belarusian railway station in search of a plot. And he found a picture in which poverty and the biblical story did not allow him to raise the camera and shoot. In the corner of the platform, in a basin of water, a little gypsy was bathing his brother. People walked around, trains drove, the usual hectic station life was going on. And then there was such a sincere brotherly love, despite all the conditions. They simply did not notice them. And it was so touching and beautiful. And if you now look at Dmitry's photographs, you can see with what sincere participation he treats his heroes. He does not remove the "crap", he shows life situations that are deeper and more complex than our superficial ideas.
Volunteering
Markov was so captivated by volunteerism that he gradually began to specialize only in the orphan theme. He travels to the regions with volunteer groups and has helped several foundations. Dmitry posts his photographs and sketches on the Live Journal social network. And the first popularity comes to the photographer there. At the same time, he presents his creative works at international competitions, where he becomes a laureate (Grand Prix "Silver Camera", "Activist Awards 2014").
In 2007, Dmitry volunteered in Pskov in a social camp for children with mental disabilities. He becomes an educator in the senior group, then goes to work in a social project for the adaptation of DD graduates. Dmitry has been living in the Pskov region for several years. During this time, he took a whole series of photographs from the lives of his wards, began to cooperate with the local charitable foundation "RostOk", and more than once entered into conflicts with the administration of the Pskov region. His posts on LiveJournal caused a great public outcry. He was able to draw attention to the problems of many people and provide them with real help.
Man of the world
But on the wave of success, Dmitry understands that the limit has come for his work precisely in the social project of Pskov. For a year, Markov does not take a camera in his hands, and then, for the sake of entertainment, he starts an Instagram account and starts filming with his phone. Now he has over 200 thousand subscribers. Dmitry began to travel around Russia, to participate in social projects. He has personal exhibitions: "Bator", "# draft". The latter is timed to coincide with the release of his photo album with the same name. He writes for popular publications: Esquire, National Geographic, Burn Magazine. Collaborates with the social platform Takie Dela. Together with the company "MegaFon" participates in the social program "Mentor".
In 2015 Dmitry Markov receives a grant from Getty Images. Dmitry's photos were selected for Apple's advertising campaign for the release of the new iPhon7.
In November 2018, Dmitry Markov has an exposition of his works at the PARIS PHOTO 2018 exhibition.
The press often indicates that Dmitry is a photographer from Pskov. Although he himself does not have a permanent residence and travels. Otherwise, there would be no such photos and such successful projects. And for those who are interested in Dmitry's personal life, his biography may seem boring. In his 35 years, Markov is not married, lives without a family, he also did not have time to have children. Still, as a real artist, he prefers freedom.
