Interview: Photographer Beata Czurakowska (Poland)

Can you tell us a little about you?

I'm a nature and music lover, vinyl collector and a daydreamer. I graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk and the School of Photography in Sopot. I'm also a photography teacher in highschool.

How and when did you get into photography? I have been into shooting photos since I was a teenager but started seriously thinking about photography about 5 years ago when I asked a friend of mine to pose for me and it came out so well that I started to do photoshoots.

What does photography mean to you?

I like to think about photography in two ways. One is the admiration of beauty and the components that cause it, like composition, colors or face expressions. And that works well because we like to look at beautiful things. In the other way, I think there are photographs with deeper meaning which conform to a different set of rules.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

I like natural, moody photographs with subdued colors. Also I think I have a bit of a crush on fashion photography.

Where do you get inspiration from?

Mostly from old photographers but also from movies and my dreams. Think you in advance what you want in the picture?

Sometimes I know what I want but I also improvise a lot.

Studio, on location or both?

Location!

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

I would say I'm a professional on a lifelong journey of learning.

What has been your most memorable session and why?

It was an early spring, I was shooting for my diploma in photography school. I was ill and the plan for this photograph was to be in a forest swamp. When we found the perfect spot my model started to search the depth of the water with a big stick. She was wearing a long white vintage dress so it must have looked a little creepy to someone passing by. I was also forced to get into that water to get the best shots. After that my voice was gone for a week but I regret nothing!

Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?

Nikon was my first camera so I stick to that. My two favorite lenses are: Sigma Art 35mm f1.4 and an old manual Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f1.4 lens.

What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business?

We live in times that give us a lot of possibilities but also can bring us down. Everyday social media attack us with billion of different pictures. Sometimes we are overwhelmed and get confused. So stop scrolling, start shooting!

What do you think of our new magazine?

I think it's a good idea to promote the works of passionately involved artists so people can get to see their work.

https://www.facebook.com/beata.czurakowska