A Woman's View of the Feminine by Vogue's Youngest Photographer, Sonya Shostak

Working with such publications as Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Rolling Stone is the dream of many photographers. For many, it remains, alas, unattainable. Polish photo artist Sonia Szóstak made this dream come true at the age of 20. She became the youngest master in the history of fashion photography, while still a student. (Caution! Nudity)

Sonya Shostak was already interested in cinematography at school. She was fascinated by the films of Tornatore, Fellini and Bertolucci. After school, she graduated from the Higher State School of Cinematography and Theater named after L. Schiller and was the best in her class. However, Sonya chose photography, not cinema, as her profession.

Taking pictures of women exclusively, Sonya Shostak has reached the heights of mastery in this field. Her talent has been appreciated by the most popular glossy magazines on the planet. In her works, the photographer embodies a woman's view of the world around her - the female gaze. A simple beautiful image is not enough for her - she looks for the depth of personality and strength in each model.

Shostak says that she started out like everyone else, creating an ideal picture. But then she realized that the viewer's delight is short-lived and very soon beauty satiates him. And a person looks for something to "catch on to", is interested in individuality and the manner of presentation.

In interviews, Sonya likes to quote American documentary filmmaker Lewis Hine, who said that if he could tell a story in words, he would not pick up a camera. Shostak does not like being called a fashion photographer - she considers herself a documentary filmmaker:

Sonia Shostak's story is inspiring and makes you think about the boundaries between fashion photography and documentary photography. What do you think makes a photo truly memorable — technical perfection, emotional depth, or something else? Share your thoughts in the comments!