Interview: Photographer Elena Wnuk (Poland)
Can you tell us a little about you?
I was born in the most western city of Russia, near the Baltic sea. I am 49 years old. Since 1994 I have been living in Poland, which has become my second home. I am a married woman and I have two children. I am currently not working, and I devote my free time to photography.
How and when did you get into photography?
My passion for photography was born a long time ago, since I started to see photos in my family albums.I am always happy that you can stay in the frame, at any moment of life and after many years to watch it.I remember my first camera on film, I made a lot of pictures with friends and people on the street.It was so long ago that I do not even remember the brand.
After many years of break, but my thoughts always came back to photography. In 2014, I decided to return to my passion, and since then I have been trying to develop and look for a way. At the beginning of 2014, I learned how to shoot according to rules of photography. It was a macrophotography, landscape, reportage and street photography. From 2015 - 2016,
a portrait, because I always loved to photograph people the most. The portrait has always fascinated me, because it gives us contact with another person, emotions and hidden beauty that we can discover. I knew that this is what I want to do. Portrait photography is unusual because we can meet many different people, It's an amazing feeling. I am looking for new ideas, new faces and my way, because I have been photographing for a few years. I am also very lucky because my husband supports me. I will stay with passion for a portrait forever. Nobody will take away my passion and my camera will not give it to anyone, hahahaaaa ....
Where do you get inspiration from?
Inspirations are everywhere. They are in human faces, old clothes, a place or a picture on the internet, in magazines like yours :) I get a lot of inspiration from good photographers, models. When i look for models I have a vision in my head, because its beauty is diferend. One thing everyone can inspire differently. So, the photographer will find inspiration everywhere, even in the air hahaha :) Movies, color press, music, the first snow, interior design and many others things :)
What does photography mean to you?
Photography for me is like air, like a drop of water for my soul. When I take pictures, I feel at ease, I do not think about it other stuff. It gives me a lot of energy and a sense of freedom. I immediately start after the session working on pictures, this is my sweet corner of happiness
like addiction. When I do not take photos, I feel emptiness. Portrait photography for me, this is sharing emotions with other people, with the model, with the viewer and with yourself. In photography, we can search and discovering something new always, something that others can not see. I stopped searching for perfection in the pictures, but on the contrary. I am starting a new stage, I am looking for simplicity to be able to discover beautifully.
Please briefly describe your style for our readers.
My style is probably not yet specified, I am always looking for a way, but in my head I have an image of what i want to do and I am going in that direction with small steps. So it would be difficult to describe. My style changes with experience , I start to look at photographs in a different way. I am aiming for simple things that will show the beauty of a woman in photography. And how far is difficult for me to determine my style, let others describe it for themselves.
Think you in what you want in the picture?
I plans what i want, in the process also born other ideas in my head, but the concept staysthe same. When we take the camera, and have done what we planed , next images born in us head. So, there is nothing to be limited, there will always be insufficiency. After returning i alltimes say that it would be possible do it , there , this and that ... hahah :)
Studio, on location or both?
I like a studio portrait, but if I have to choose, I choose outdoor. A typical studio does not fascinate me like other interiors, cafe, apartment in hotel,a flat with a climatic decor, and that's enough. It all depends on what we want to get, so every place is good for me With a mobile studio I can get anywhere I want, so I'm not limiting myself.
Would you consider yourself a Hobbyist or a paid professional?
Passion and hobbyist :)
Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?
I think that every brand is good. It's a who takes pictures, not a camera. All brand is good it depends on what suits us better. I used Canon 6D. Camera is just a tool and that's it. The lens I use most often is Canon 50mm f1/8 and Canon 85mm f1/8. Lenses are great at sessions in the studio and outdoors. But mostly i make to portrait C 50mm f1/8
What do you think of our new magazine?
Very high level of work in the warehouse of various creators and very high-quality. The magazine promote many talented people who are an inspiration for us. A lot of great artists and lots of inspiration for watch. Very beautiful publications from people around the world. This gives us the inspiration for further action. For me It's an a big honor to be in a group of such talented people. Thank you very much!!
