– How and when did you become interested in photography?
When I was a child, I received my first camera, which was Zenit M for a 135 film. With that very first camera I photographed everything around me -my family, nature,architecture. I used to spend long hours in a traditional darkroom developing hundreds of photos. Then, when I was a student, I took a break and after graduation I got interested in aerial photography taking advantage of drones of my own construction. Finally, I took up portrait and nude photography,which I have been faithful to until now. For a few years I have been taking photographs using only traditional film techniques and alternative photographic processes.
– Is there any artist/photographer who inspired your art?
Of course, there is. I think that each of us should be inspired by masters of photography and look at as many recognized photographs as possible.As a traditional photography believer I get inspiration from masters of that era. My mentors are Richard Avedon, Edward Weston and Helmut Newton.
– Why do you work in black and white rather than colour?
Most of early traditional photographs are black and white. That is why, they feel like classics, nobility and subtlety. Personally, I think that colour introduces an additional feature, which might distract a viewer from the main subject or message, which I would like to convey.
– How much preparation do you put into taking a photograph/series of photographs?
Due to the fact that currently I work using only traditional, film or alternative processes, including wet collodion plate, I pay a great deal of attention to every frame. During one shooting session I try to use not more than one roll of film. The process of developing, post-processing and handling ambrotypes requires lots of workload and it is time consuming.
I attempt to provide my works with a specific message, which I convey as signs, symbols or forms. Thus, I try to avoid ‘randomness’ which requires deep thoughtfulness and lots of preparations.
– Where is your photography going? What projects would you like to accomplish?
For me, photography is both a path and passion. I am still trying to extend my knowledge, gain new experiences and play with images. So far I have been able to learn a wet collodion plate technique as well as gumoil and oleotype processes. In the future I would like to get to know more alternative techniques and master my photographic workshop in order to convey my personal interpretation of the surrounding reality.
Website: www.rafalkazmierczak.pl
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
© Rafał Kaźmierczak
