I’ve had the privilege of meeting some of the most talented photographers of my generation who continue to impress me with their incredible vision. Among them is Gabriel Dusil, a true master of his craft, who transforms every shot into a work of art. With a distinctive style that sets him apart, he has earned his place among the world’s finest photographers. In this interview, Gabriel shares his journey, insights, and the passion that drives his artistry.
Giuseppe Lepore, ART Director, Fluffer Magazine, www.fluffermagazine.net
Who inspires you in nude art photography?
I maintain a list of around 150 top art nude photographers from around the world who are my source of inspiration. Appreciating their images is an artistic and technical endeavor. Understanding how they constructed scenes helps improve my technique. Duplicating a great pose, scene, or emotion is an opportunity to create a brand-new opus. Art is an endless pursuit of inspiration on the journey to excellence.
Many photographers have influenced me throughout the years. My first coffee table book was Herb Ritts, “Works”, Bulfinch Press, ©1989. His style still resonates with me. In the ‘90s, I was greatly influenced by Sports Illustrated photographers Walter Iooss Jr, Russell James, and Raphael Mazzucco. Current favorites are Ana Dias from Porto, Portugal; David Bellemere from Paris, France; Bruno Bisang from Ascona, Switzerland; Andreas Bitsnich from Vienna, Austria; and Alexander Mavrin from St. Petersburg, Russia. Reaching the heights of these legends will be a journey filled with joy at every step. I would love to spend time with each of them. I envision photo-shooting beautiful models throughout the day and chatting about art and creativity in the evenings. I would seek their wisdom and understand how they approach life. We would talk about our passions and disappointments, dreams, and limitations. It would be a spiritual awakening.
What is your photography style?
My photoshoots currently focus on a “girl next door” style. I mainly chose models based on their potential to be featured on the cover of top art nude magazines such as Playboy. I treat every photo shoot as an opportunity to create an award-winning image. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I’m acutely aware that my selection process is subjective.
Over the years, I’ve amassed a sizable database of over 1000 beauty icons. Photographing any of them would be a dream. My long-term goal is to travel the globe and photograph gorgeous women from all cultures, nationalities, and ethnic backgrounds.
To help my fans navigate my photography style, I prepared this infographic: https://www.dusil.org/photography-spectrum/.
How do you plan your photoshoots?
For pre-session preparation, I request free-flowing hair. If there’s a debate over straight or wavy, straight is preferred, but it’s not important. For close-ups, natural make-up, fingernails, and toenails should be ready before arriving at our session. I also ask for at least three additional wardrobe changes to capture an assortment of images (i.e., Eight or more wardrobe changes are common at my sessions).
When my model arrives, our first hour is dedicated to relaxing and getting to know each other. This usually starts with a cappuccino, chatting, checking outfits, and prioritizing wardrobes. Shooting begins with a warm-up. I let my model ‘do her thing’ to see how she expresses herself. Once the session takes on momentum, then I start to offer direction.
What is your approach during a photoshoot?
I give my models the creative room to show me their skills. The female form is a beautifully flowing river. Photos take on new meaning when we’ve succeeded in synchronizing our flow. It’s not so much about her physicality than capturing her spirit.
Even though I plan every photo shoot, it comes down to organically synchronizing emotions with my models. It’s rarely about posing, lighting, and backdrops – that’s the baseline. Everything is focused on revealing her soul and establishing shared empathy. I want each model to completely give herself because I’m doing the same in return – no inhibitions, distractions, or insecurities – purity from the depths of our hearts. Even if I get to this stage, it doesn’t stop there. My ultimate goal is to capture her visceral energy – her wild and feral emotions rarely seen by anyone. Getting to this stage is extraordinary. If successful, our photos take on a whole new meaning.
How do you select your final images when editing?
I photograph images that I find alluring and provocative while catering to an audience of one. If an image doesn’t spark an emotion it’s deleted. My target audience is models who see my portfolio and can’t wait to work with me. That’s my greatest reward.
Life tends to sterilize our emotions as we age. Some get to the point where they no longer define happiness because they haven’t felt true joy for so long. Their decades-long journey has suppressed their spirit, becoming a shell of themselves without realizing it. I can honestly say that I’m enjoying life to the fullest. Being creative every day fills my soul with happiness. Feeling visceral joy during my photoshoots is an emotion worth repeating.
Do you prefer black & white or color photography?
The question of “black & white or color?” plays out throughout my post-production editing. I don’t have a favorite. Shooting exclusively in color allows me to go back and forth. Some photos jump out immediately to which gamut to use. Others reveal themselves in the later stages of editing.
As standard practice, I don’t “Photoshop” my images. All edits are non-destructive in Adobe Camera Raw, meaning that every photo can be reverted to its original state or tweaked accordingly. This helps when I re-edit images for publications, exhibitions, or competitions and provides insight into how my technique has evolved over the years.
Are there any places you would love to photograph if given the opportunity?
Photographing a nude model in front of the seven wonders of the world would be fantastic but next to impossible to pull off. It’s fun to dream.
Which models would you like to photograph?
Over the years, I’ve come across three types of models: Those who love the creative process of nude art photography with responses like, “I love your style! I’m looking forward to creating magic together!” Some models aren’t interested in the photos. They just want to be paid. The third type cares about our photos but also wants to be compensated. Models who love the ‘art’ in ‘nude art’ bring their ‘A’ game. My biggest reward is when a model tells me, “Wow, our photos are awesome! I can’t wait till we shoot again!”
I maintain a list of over 1000 top international models, dancers, and actresses. All of them would be a dream to photograph. These are my TOP 10:
- 1. Elizabeth Turner
- 2. Han So Hee
- 3. Hannah Palmer
- 4. Katharina Mazepa
- 5. Marina Laswick
- 6. Marta Zielińska
- 7. Natalya Krasavina
- 8. Polina Kulakova
- 9. Rachel Cook
- 10. Victoria Justice
What are you most proud of as a photographer?
I’ve been published in over 100 magazines worldwide and won a handful of awards along the way. It’s an honor to be featured in a publication, especially when my models are on the cover.
What are your views on social media censorship for artistic nudes?
I’m against censorship in general. I prefer not to post anything than to censor an image. But I understand the need for censorship to protect the innocent, and I appreciate the incredible challenges platforms face to protect themselves. I’ve accepted the need to censor some images to gain more visibility in the industry.
How do you handle criticism about your work?
Fine Arts Photography comes with its fair share of teasing from family and friends. It’s hard for some to understand that photographing the female body is a form of artistic expression. Getting comments like, “That’s a good gig!” and a slap on the back is quite common. A friend once asked with a gentle smirk, “Don’t you fall in love with your models?” My first reaction was to laugh. Not at the underlying dig that was implied, but because I immediately knew my answer:
My eternal challenge is to capture my model’s essence. To fall in love with the art that she represents. Through this relentless pursuit, I’m able to take great photos.
At the other end of the spectrum, some people are uninterested in recognizing the professionalism needed to be a good art nude photographer and the vital importance of a good reputation. They see my work as an abhorrent perversion. This was an actual conversation I had with a relative at a dinner party. Keep in mind that my entire family was sitting at the table:
• “Do you still take those photos?” asked my relative.
• “Yup. Why do you ask?”, I replied.
• “I don’t like your photos”, she said.
• “If you don’t like my photos, why do you look at them?”
• “Well,… they show up on my Facebook.”
• “Don’t you know that you can block me on Facebook? That way, you’ll stop seeing my posts.”
• “No, I couldn’t do that. That doesn’t seem right.” (Read: I still need to spy on what you’re doing).
• “If you don’t like my photos, then you really should block me. Bring me your phone and I’ll show you how to do it.” I said.
• “No, No,… It’s OK. I don’t want to block you. It just reminds me of when I was young, and my perverted father wanted to take pictures of naked women.”
• “Wow!” I responded, “You should unfriend me!”
People are entitled to their opinions, and I recognize that I’ll never see eye-to-eye with everyone.
Tell us something that our readers won’t know about you.
My photography is a “professional hobby”. I have many projects and interests that keep me busy. I don’t chase money. I don’t collect material possessions that are functionally meaningless. I will only photograph what interests me. I work for passion, not monetary gain.
Whether pimping stuff, carpentry, blogging, graphic design, motion graphics, or photography – I realized that I consistently create something from other things. For this reason, I consider myself a “creativist”, not an artist. In any case, I use the term ‘artist’ loosely throughout my content.
Photography is one of my main passions, but I also identify as a:
• Designer • Creativist • Writer • Blogger • Strategist • Entrepreneur • Speaker • Teacher • Trainer • Geek • INTJ • Sigma • Father
What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer?
Find your compassion and nourish your empathy as soon as possible. Disregard gender stereotypes. Shun peer pressure. Learn who you are and find your confidence. Live an authentic life. Once you get there, no one can hurt you.