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Elmira Watts BA(Hons) Photography, ARPS LBIPP LMPA, is a multi award winning photographer in the UK, as well as one of the Russian city of Samara's most celebrated contemporary photographers.
Photographer Elmira Watts in the garden of her English home in rural Somerset, UK in 2009.
Elmira Watts was born Elmira Guseynova in Samara, in the Volga Federal District of Russia, in 1968. Her father was a manager at Kuybushev Nefte Geophisica (the Samaran oil industry geophysical survey), and her mother worked there as a data administrator. Her parents built up a large and diverse library at home, and Elmira grew up reading its many works on art and museums, as well as devouring books of visual effects and literary science fiction.
She enjoyed a very full family life with her parents and siblings, and was a notable junior speed skater during her high school years.
Elmira Watts originally graduated as an economist from Samara State University of Economics in Russia. She went on to gain a BA(Hons) in Photography from Bournemouth University in the UK. She is an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society, a Licentiate of the British Institute of Professional Photography, and a Licentiate of the Master Photographers' Association.
Elmira Watts BA(Hons) Photography, graduation photo.
Elmira Watts (centre) being presented with the British Institute of Professional Photography south west regional portrait competition trophy in 2009, by Llewellyn Robins HonFBIPP and Chris Harper, Chief Executive of the BIPP.
Elmira relocated to the UK permanently in 2001. She is married to Chris Watts, a British construction company owner. The couple live in the family home he built in rural Somerset. Between them, they have three grown-up children.