US photographer Dolly Faibyshev is drawn to unique, colorful but also mainstream universes: from the wrestling scene to Dolly Parton’s meeting. She explores the American dream in all its forms. The supposed lightness of her colorful images is only a facade hiding a work of satire.


Why and how did you begin photography ?
I started taking pictures around 12 years ago, but it wasn’t until a few years later that my hobby gradually turned into a passion and a profession. As someone who can be quiet and shy, it was the perfect tool to hide behind while allowing me to be able to experience fascinating worlds, and I love seeing the end results in the pictures. Since then, I’ve been lucky to photograph a wide range of subjects both for my personal projects and for publications like The New York Times, The New Yorker, TIME, Businessweek, Le Monde, Rolling Stone, Glamour, and Vanity Fair.
How do you manage to capture such vibrant colour and authentic faces ?
I’ve always been attracted to interesting combinations of colors, I think they bring photos to life. I try to approach each situation and figure out what will serve it best, sometimes the existing light brings out the colors naturally, while other times the flash brings out all of the textures and accentuates the scenes. We’re in our most natural state when we aren’t aware that we’re being watched, and I try to keep my eyes open for those moments. What is your favorite theme to photograph ?
I’ve photographed subjects ranging from Sumo Wrestlers to Wrestlemania, Dolly Parton impersonators to the Rodeo, David Lee Roth to Cardi B, and Fashion Week to the Dog Show. Although the subjects are different, there are so many similarities in the pageantry of it all. The anticipation, the crowds, the emotions, colors and sounds – although there is obvious variation, these things exist in abundance.

How do you cultivate your inspiration ? 

I never really know what I’m looking for until I find it. For me, the inspiration almost always starts with experimentation – I go into a different state when I’m taking pictures, constantly looking around for some magic to appear.