Exploring Unknown Territories: An Inteview with Lukasz Wierzbowski

His work has been featured in countless magazines and art galleries worldwide and his personal style is distinct but easily recognizable: vivid, dramatic, colorful and eccentric. Lukasz Wierzbowski loves shooting in sunny late afternoons — when golden rays cover everything. His photographs, however, are the result of an amazingly keen eye, able to work wonders in all kinds of scenarios, sunny or otherwise.

When it comes to expressing himself, the young Polish photographer follows his instinct and leaves a trace of his personality in each shot. In this interview, he talks about his mesmerizing photos and shares some thoughtful insight.

Photos by Lukasz Wierzbowski

You are a young, self-taught photographer. How does your life look like right now?

I try not do define it, I simply enjoy how each event unfolds step by step and I don’t try to rush anything. I travel, spend a lot of time with people I love and care about. Taking photos happens in between.

You get inspired by everyday life. Do you also shoot in your everyday life or do you concentrate exclusively on organized shoots?

I’m very much inspired by the places I go to and people I meet. I try to shoot whenever I feel like it. I don’t put any kind of pressure on myself or on my models. The process is pretty much the same no matter if I work on a commissioned project or just have a afternoon walk with my nieces. I simply try to use opportunities given to me by the connection of human body and the environment.

Photos by Lukasz Wierzbowski

Your photos explore the human body in many beautiful ways in a very distinctive style. How do you play upon the connection between people and places so both appear as protagonists in the images you create?

I find each surrounding to be a source of never ending possibilities and the human ability to merge with it allows me to explore the process. I want the model to feel comfortable even if the position may look strange. I’m always interested in the model’s interpretation of the overall direction I usually give. Each journey is unique and has its own dynamic .

Special locations — indoors and outdoors — are a distinguishing feature of your work. Please name a place where you would love to shoot but haven’t had the chance to yet.

I would love to explore California with my two nieces as models one day. Sink into the sun, water and dust.

Tell us the story behind the photo below:

Photo by Lukasz Wierzbowski

It’s my nieces Ania and Magda together with their friend Krzysztof resting on the steps at my parents’ house living room. We decided to play around with the paper stars I bought the day before. It was a warm sunny late afternoon and nobody felt like moving too much.

As an analog photographer, you are a big fan of the mysteries of film. How do you react to the final images: do you like unexpected surprising results or do you prefer when the shots turn out how you planned?

I adore being surprised by the unexpected. I tend to forget the content of the rolls so I’m always quite excited by the results. That way I can go back in time for a quick moment and reconnect with the certain feeling unique to this moment. I really hate planning as I find it extremely limiting. Everything happens on the spot.

You’ve mentioned you get bored easily. But then you make boring, ordinary situations look magical through your lenses. How and when did you first recognize your personal style of photography?

One day I just started following my instincts. I realized that after all the searching I finally found what truly gives me joy and puts me into state of total awareness. My style evolved around the core of certain themes but I constantly let myself discover the unknown territories. I just feel comfortable doing what I do.

Photos by Lukasz Wierzbowski

Color is a very important element in your photos. How do you see yourself shooting black and white?

Black and white is not my thing, I’m addicted to vibrancy of color.

Your untitled pictures are open to different kinds of interpretations. Could you give us your reading of the photo below?

Photo by Lukasz Wierzbowski

This photo was taken during one of the escapades with my friend Ewa. That day we decided to explore the area of the polytechnic campus. I like how the entrance to one of the buildings related to the coat Ewa was wearing.

Some of your photos have a distinctively fashion editorial look. And the fashion editorials you’ve worked on have an exclusively Lukasz Wierzbowski style. How do people react to analog fashion shoots nowadays?

People are mostly intrigued because with digital they got used to seeing the result immediately. I try to explain my process before the shot and in most cases everyone is fine with it. By postponing the final outcome I can concentrate on finding new possibilities of using any given space in a creative way.

Any plans for the near future?

I want to watch the story unfold in the most natural and embrace use each moment the best possible way. I’ll be ok with whatever future brings. Right now I’m process of gathering works for my upcoming book and enjoying life.

Photos by Lukasz Wierzbowski

For additional info visit Lukasz’s website and flickr.

written by bgaluppo on 2015-06-05 #people #lifestyle #interview #analogue #analog-photography #lukasz-wierzbowski #film-photogrpahy

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