“Meet the Winners of ANPW #4 – Jarek Szymanski”

Interview by Nicole Young

Jarek Szymanski, originally from Poland, moved to Portland, Oregon in 2004. He currently works with computers and software but has a knack for photography as well. His photograph, “Where Winter Meets Summer”, won him the opportunity to attend the workshop in Mt. Rainier.

What type of photography do you enjoy the most?

It really depends on how the mood strikes me. I try to be versatile and to move between different types of photography: landscape, macro, a little bit of studio work, and sometimes I like to play with off camera strobes.

What is it about photography that got you hooked? Was there something significant that happened in your life that makes you passionate about photography?

What interests me most about photography is the idea of being able to present reality in a very unusual way. With my camera I can freeze a frame, a moment in time, something that is seen as usual and common by others but can be captured by me from a striking angle, with unusual mood. I want people to see my work and say, “Wow, I never saw/thought about it this way before!”

If you could pick one place anywhere in the world to photograph, where would you go and why?

The place on my mind right now is Iceland, for eerie, enigmatic landscapes and natural beauty.

What camera equipment will you be bringing with you to the workshop in Mt. Rainier?

Canon 5D
17-40L F/4
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Tamron Macro 90mm f/2.8
CP, ND gradual and 10-stop filters, remote, tripod
Vivitar strobe
…and maybe a telephoto, 200-300mm.

You can view more of Jarek’s photography here.