Effort, Details, and Self-Confidence

Photography by Zuka Kotrikadze

Award-winning photographer Zuka Kotrikadze discusses the importance of knowing what you want to say as an artist, minimalism as expression, and only using a cell phone to take photographs.

Tbilisi, Georgia

What is your history as a photographer? When did you start?

I’m 22 years old. Photography has unknowingly become my important activity. At first it was a desire to represent my feelings and emotions of any particular moment in some form. Then I decided to share it with others.

I started with a cell phone and to this day I only use a cell phone camera. I had my first solo exhibition 3 years ago, after which I started developing photography with more energy and hope.

How do you think you have grown and evolved as a photographer since you first started?

The most important thing is to understand what you have to say, what genre is close to you, what you really like ... what takes time and a lot of effort, it takes a lot of desire and self-confidence. I have already mentioned a personal exhibition, it was he who inspired me and gave me the opportunity to develop something.

Minimalism turned out to be the most important form of expression that became the closest part of my creativity.

Tell the story behind one of your images.

I took this photo in 2019 in Tbilisi. There are moments when we have uncertainty with ourselves and I put these negative emotions into this photo. The photo was lucky and became the winner of the “Cheerz Photo Festival” and the favorite of the jury.

How has photography changed your life?

Participation in competitions and festivals has made a significant difference. I have won several photo competitions of a few brands. I became the winner of the first mobile photo festival in Paris. I had a personal exhibition in Paris, a street exhibition in Tallinn, Estonia and Georgia. I am a finalist in the UNESCO photo competition. Part of the World Bank photo project. These victories really changed my life and made me realize that photography is important to me. All of this added to my confidence and gave me more strength.

If you could photograph any place in the world, where would you go and why?

For me photography is everything that is made up of our day, it is the details.

Consequently discovering any new place is enjoyable and exciting for me. I’ve enjoyed traveling to many countries, especially several countries on the Asian continent that are of interest to me.