I’ve always loved taking portraits and this time I’ve made up my mind to work on a series. Contemplating the idea I suddenly realized that it should be a series of photographers’ portraits - particularly since I don’t recall ever seeing such a photobook. The realization was followed by a number of questions – how to choose the photographers, what questions to ask, and what visual shapes and forms could this project have. Who are the project participants?

Firstly, I tried not to be subjective and allow myself to evaluate their works; being a photographer myself I didn’t think it would be fair; so I started focusing on something else: how much they work in the field, what is their role in Georgian photography scene and what does it mean to them - not in terms of just a job but creative work. I’ve also avoided clichés like ‘a professional photographer’ - a person who makes living by working - as it’s not simple to be a photographer in Georgia. Some of the participants of the project are actively working although often the material earnings are quite small. And there are of course others, who have been on the path for years and are widely recognized. Some still have everything ahead; in other words, you will see the photographers who are already familiar and those who are yet to be discovered. This book doesn’t aim to file the portrait of every photographer living in Georgia - this would be merely impossible. Instead, these are the artists that I know and find their works interesting. As to the questions, I’ve decided to ask the same three questions, which I thought would give an interesting insight into their personalities: • Why did you become a photographer – was it a conscious decision or an accidental choice, which later proved to be right? • On one hand, a photo is a reflection of a subjective reality seen by a photographer, on the other hand, it speaks of an author. What seizes your eye, and what triggers you to photograph? • Your thoughts on your works - what is their key message.

This project is particularly interesting for me - the book brings together the portraits - photographers as seen through my lens - invisible people always behind the camera and with their answers to the questions, they’re introducing themselves. I believe it should be interesting to see the portraits of the people whose works we’ve seen before and their sincere comments may put them in a whole new light.