IPQmagHi! I’m a photographer from Poland and I’m 27 years old. My favourite types of photography are feminine portraits and nudes, in which I specialize. I love naturalness, and I am delighted with the female body all the time. The basis for creating my photos is form and light. I do not deal with photography professionally, but it is my greatest passion.
When was your first picture taken?
Photography has been with me since I was a child. My mom met my dad in the darkroom. She is still involved in landscape photography! In the family album, my mother captured me taking my first photo at the age of 3, and next to it there is a photo taken by me.
How do you put the person, place, or thing in front of the camera onto film, chip, or paper the way you want it to?
I deal with traditional analog photography. However, I prefer the term hybrid, because after developing the film, I do not make prints in the darkroom, but scan the negative in digital form. Photography is my passion, so I experiment all the time and try to enjoy it. There is no pattern in my photograph, nor do I have a specific way of working. A lot of places attract my attention, and sometimes they whisper a story to tell in my ear. Through the frames, I show the character of the model, yet another time I express certain emotions or tell my own or someone else’s story. My approach to cooperation during the session is a bit psychological. I try to feel which way of working will suit the person I am photographing the most. Sometimes I like the way the model perceives the place I chose, and I feel more like a camera operator who is supposed to properly capture the actor’s specific emotions. Other times, I treat the model like a tool and a dummy – the same way as clay is treated in a sculpture studio.
What photographers have influenced you, and how have they influenced the way you approach your subject?
I think that all the photographers I met on my way had a greater or lesser influence on me. I always try to gain a lot from meetings with other people, not only those from the photographic industry. Furthermore, I think the greatest inspiration for me was and is the models, not the photographers themselves. The most important thing in the frame for me is the human being, what kind of energy he has, what his place or my idea of who he could become.
What exactly do you want to say with your photos, and how do you make your photos do that?
The message of my photos is to take up the challenge of stopping the fleeting moment, stealing that moment when the model is not posing and is herself. This happens especially when I work with someone close to me. Another time, I try to listen to the place around me and tell its own story. Sometimes the photos are my retrospection and an attempt to metaphorically tell about my emotions and experiences.
What photographic gears do you use to stay focused on what you do best when shooting?
My primary camera is the Mamiya RB67 Pro-S. It is an analog medium format camera. It is very heavy and big. I usually shoot with a monopod, but sometimes I also use a tripod. I really like to look at the frame through the fireplace, but I use a prism for shots from above.
Any technology/software/hardware?
I scan negatives with Epson v700 Photo using Silverfast software. I use Adobe Photoshop CC to remove dust and scratches.
What motivates you to continue taking pictures? Is it political, intellectual or emotional?
I think a lot of things motivate me to keep taking pictures all at once. There are many components in our life that, despite their diversity, cannot be separated. I believe that the world and what is happening in it influences what we feel internally, and it pours out of us, consciously or not, in our creativity. Undoubtedly, I believe that the staff can tell more about us or the emotions we experience than the conversation itself. Words always seem to me less precise in relation to the nuances captured in the photograph. This is the best way to express myself.
