Interview: Photographer Dominik Hajder (Poland)

Can you tell us a little about you?

First of all, "I am" and I do many things. I have my own company, the Dark Ink Studio interior design office, and additionally work as an Art Manager in a company that produces training simulators - such games for big boys. In addition to my work, i’m create music, I play a lot with my band; we create, shoot clips, process "metal" and play with it;) but there is place for painting and of course photography

How and when did you get into photography?

I had my first serious collision with photography as a field of art during my studies. I didn't even own half professional photo equipment, so I acted with some digital "fool" and edited photos in PS. it started to look pretty good so I kept going.

The desire to experience, touch this artistic form, to explore it from an analogue base was enormous. This moment of learning was beautiful, work in a darkroom, exposure and developing techniques. For anyone who wants to take up photography, I highly recommend finding time to spend some time with film and darkroom.

Nevertheless, after learning many secrets, I felt that it was not the time for my photographs. I had to earn for equipment that would make my work easier - and not difficult. Get to know the composition, get to know all the materials that I will photograph and their relationship with the outside world, build my own studio. So for some time I gave up photography to come back to her after a few years.

What does photography mean to you?

From the additional pieces I studied I liked painting the most. In fact and seriously I started painting after graduation. I saw that something is missing in all of this. just as I was doing quite well with still life or architecture, it wasn't easy with anatomy. That is why after a few years I returned to photography. In the first moments my photography was a study of anatomy and chiaroscuro, to know what and how to paint. After being forced to take photos, photography quickly turned into an art form that it did.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

Oh crap ... a difficult question. As you know, I try to rotate in several styles. From portrait and beauty stylization to surreal visions. All these mine giants, live corpses after the section ... probably the most accurate term would be photoUnreal. Although maybe someone will one day better define what I do.

Where do you get inspiration from?

"Where" it's quite a difficult question, "who" is much easier. But first the first question. Every time someone asks me that, I don't know how to answer it. I don't think I need any inspiration for my paintings, because I know what effect I want to achieve. Certain visions come, very often in a dream ... (it is quite possible that subconsciously inspired by images, movies, music, views, characters I have seen in my life), I often write or draw them. When I start to arrange sessions, I pull ideas from the drawer, check if the model will fit such a vision and that's it.

As for the people who inspire me, it's definitely the "creator". Zdzisław Beksiński was, and always will be, my mentor - whatever he did was beautiful and perfect. I will not talk about it because you know that this is a huge topic and you could make a separate interview from it.

The people living and dealing with photography are definitely Ryszard Horowitz, Kamila Kansy - that is Laura Makabresku and of course Marcin Weron -

I hate this man :) every time he exhibits new photographs, I regret that I did not do it myself, and at the same time I can't take my eyes off.

For 20 years dealing with visual arts, the most important for me is "detail", it makes the work unique. Each of the artists I mention, creating their own unique art, consciously or subconsciously understands this perfectly, which is why I am so close to their works. Over the years, there would be many people who inspired me to work, but for those whom I mentioned I will stop.

Do you think in advance what you want in the picture ? all in all i have already answered this question but maybe i will expand it. I always try to bring the image to what I saw in my head or what I dreamed about. I'm always looking for this one frame. I change a lot during the session - model positions, compositions, etc., so that the photo comes out exactly the way I want. Thanks to this, I don't take a thousand photos during a session. I try to make my art "conscious art".

Studio, on location or both? Definitely a studio, open air is for me "too fast" during the photo and post-production. When I take a photo in the studio, I know what the target image will look like. There are too many unknowns in the open air. Which doesn't change the fact that such sessions do happen.

What has been your most memorable session and why?

You know, it may sound trivial, but each session is unique, even if I do one of my "repetitive series". I meet people, and every person is different, unique and I really appreciate it in photography. But there were two such sessions, in addition outdoor, which I will remember for a long time.

The first with Ania who posed for my company calendar. We did a test session in Kabacki forest near Warsaw. Ania is a model very connected with nature and a very athletic woman. However, I disgust sport;). She dragged me around on Kabats so much that I remembered this session in my muscles for another month.

The second session quite recently together with Patrycja Koszewska

With Patrycja, we went to Turczynek near Warsaw to the abandoned villa where the hospital was located. Beautiful buildings from the early twentieth century. Amazing "heavy" climate inside, which time has stopped despite the destruction of the object. I stylized Patrycja myself, and Kasia "Kikimora" Rudnik made a beautiful tiara. All these components had a very good impact on the final result. The session lasted less than an hour, in the light (what worried me a bit) but we like the effects very much.

Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?

For me it doesn't matter. It's just a tool, like a brush and paints for a painter, like an instrument for a musician. It's nothing revealing what I will say but the equipment will not replace the sensitivity of "human"and good eye. You need to choose the equipment that best suits your hand. And that's it. I chose Canon. Is large. I have big hands and I like to "feel" the equipment. I have many lenses, but surprisingly I like to use the cheapest of them

50 mm 1.4

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

both. I photograph with great passion, then people have to pay me to part with the photo.

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

I try to stay away from advice, but I'll tell you how it worked for me. Making money on visual arts is a very heavy piece of bread...at least at the beginning. You can create beautiful works, have an artistic sense, a good eye for light and composition, and earn absolutely nothing for a long time. Which doesn’t mean that it will be like this all the time. You must watching the best ones first, and this will allow you to create your own style. Complete session accessories to be independent, learn to quickly and efficiently use photo editing programs. And consequently wading in the subject. If you feel good with the camera and the effects of the session are satisfactory for you... you feel that you are develop and this is what you want to do in life, and some money begins to appear, then you should think about starting a business.

What do you think of our new magazine?

I watched closely which side Modellenland was heading to. I am very happy that I can join the group of authors whose works and stories you present. I really like your attention to the quality and level of the presented photos. The same applies to recommended authors and works by you. Full respect. I hope that this will not change, that the selfie from the phone does not win with real photography. I will watch and of course I wish you luck ...

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