Marina Valitova
1. Congratulations on winning in the European Photography Awards! Can you share a little about yourself, what inspired you to pursue photography, and how has your journey evolved since your first shot?
I am deeply grateful and overjoyed. Life unfolds with unexpected beauty when you follow your dreams. I am a visual artist, freediver, and underwater photographer based in Dahab, Egypt.
Though I grew up in Western Siberia, a land of snow rather than sea, water has always been my element. My artistic path was never planned - it emerged naturally after years of professional swimming, freediving, and performing in underwater productions. Photography became my language later, a natural continuation of a life immersed in the ocean’s depths.
2. Can you share the story or inspiration behind your award-winning piece? How does winning this award make you feel about your journey in photography?
As a model in various art projects, I witnessed people creating extraordinary worlds. Observing their process filled me with inspiration and curiosity. Winning this award feels like a gentle confirmation that my journey, once uncertain, is now unfolding in the right direction.
3. How do you decide which photo to submit for a competition?
It was almost accidental. A photographer friend encouraged me to submit my work, insisting it was strong enough. At first, I hesitated, doubting it was “enough.” But curiosity won. I began searching online for competitions and applied without expectations - only with love for my work. To my surprise, the ocean carried me here.
4. What first made you pick up a camera?
Curiosity again. I spent countless hours in front of the camera as an underwater model. One day, I felt the urge to step behind it - to see the world from the other side of the lens.
5. What’s your favorite type of photography, and why do you love it?
Underwater photography is my everything. The environment, the skills, the play of light - together they create pure magic.
6. What’s your go-to camera setup, and why does it work best for your projects? What’s your favorite feature?
My setup is: camera, underwater housing, fins, mask, and snorkel. This gear allows me to move freely and stay connected to the ocean, which is essential for my projects.
7. If someone looked at your work, what’s the one thing you’d want them to feel?
Curiosity. I want viewers to feel the same pull I do - the desire to explore, to wonder.
8. What was the most challenging part of capturing your winning shot?
The greatest challenge was the environment itself: depth, waves, weightlessness, the helmet, and the discipline of holding a single breath while capturing the moment. But my model managed to do his job perfectly. By the way, he is the one who inspired me for this series with his spirit of an adventurer and explorer.
9. Is there a specific place or subject that inspires you the most?
Nature. Our planet, our home. The ocean is my endless source of inspiration.
10. Who or what has been your biggest influence in photography?
I deeply admire the works of Natalia Karpushenko. Her vision continues to influence and inspire me.
11. What message would you share to inspire photographers to participate in photography awards, and what advice would you give to help them excel in the competition?
Don’t be afraid. Keep going. Share what you create - the world needs to see it.
12. What’s one piece of advice for someone just starting in photography?
There are no rules. Photography is freedom.
13. What role do editing and post-processing play in your creative workflow?
I treat editing like painting. Lightroom is my canvas, and I enjoy shaping atmosphere and tone until the image feels alive.
14. How do you see technology, like AI, influencing the future of photography and your own approach?
I welcome small AI tools that make editing faster. But AI-generated images belong to a different category - they should be considered separately from photography.
15. If you could photograph anything or anyone in the world, what would it be?
The ocean. Always the ocean.
