Who?
I was born in 1976 in Poland, then lived in Australia for many years. It was on leaving Melbourne in 2015 that my interest in street was born by accidentally buying a local street photographer’s collection of images instead of the planned postcard-style souvenir book. By 2016, I was already settled in my new home of Seattle, USA, equipped with a small mirrorless camera, and ready to hit the streets! Ever since that time, shooting has become not only a passion but a way for me to define and fulfill myself.
What?
Anything that strikes my fancy. I do not particularly like to limit myself to a single style or theme. But looking back at my portfolio as a whole, I guess I can see a tendency to certain drama, so to say – strong colors or contrasts, intimate or unexpected moments, dynamic situations, and often from an engaged, closer-up position. I’m not much concerned with standard concepts of beauty; I think that the beauty of a photograph lies in the uniqueness of personal vision, or in the way all elements work together.
Where?
I’m based in Seattle, and this is where a huge majority of my images comes from. Seattle is mostly known for its grey, cloudy skies, and this has strongly influenced my style, pushing me first towards moody rain images and later towards flash photography.
When?
I am not a regular-schedule kind of person. I tend to go out when I feel like it, then take it easy until I get restless again. I have that driving need to walk around, observe and shoot that has its own cycle of sleep and wakefulness. Since light in Seattle is not always exciting, it doesn’t often make all that much difference what time of day that is. I prefer to go out when it’s getting a bit darker because of how the city lights, neon signs, and the like, come out when shooting with slow sync flash. When sunny, I enjoy both the harsh mid-day light as well as the moodier, softer light of the golden hour.
Why?
Street photography is more than a hobby for me. Ever since I can remember, even before I reached for the camera, I’ve had an innate need to express myself somehow, whether through poetry, music or painting. I also appreciate the participation aspect of being a street photographer. I’ve got a disability due to chronic illness and not being able to work inevitably brings a sense of confinement and isolation. Being there, smack in the middle of a city bustling with life, is my recipe for curing that feeling. I love jumping straight into the thick of things, engaging with whatever’s happening around me.
