Poetry of landscape

The Little Gallery of Photography, located in the Przemyśl History Museum, is hosting the exhibition "Poetry of Landscape," created by Rzeszów-based artist Katarzyna Warańska. Following the opening, there was an opportunity to discuss her photography and her preferences.

What is photography to you?

"Photography is an inspiration and escape from everyday life for me, but also something important in my professional work, as I'm a landscape architect and often use photography as a supplement to my design work. I became interested in photography late in life, during my landscape architecture studies. I drew and painted a bit, but it wasn't working for me; I felt it wasn't what I wanted. It wasn't until I picked up a camera and saw the results that I was drawn to photography, where I could present the landscape in a painterly or graphic way."

You showed landscapes in the exhibition. Do you limit yourself to just that?

"I started with landscapes, but by viewing other photographs and participating in plein air sessions and workshops, I've become interested in other subjects. I've become interested in conceptual photography, which offers something to think about. I also take nudes, and sometimes I feel the need to create a document that is both a personal reflection and something important for our future."

Do you always carry a camera with you?

"I have a phone and I use its built-in camera very often. Until recently, this might have been a desecration of photography, as the camera produces a more authentic image. However, I believe we can take photos with anything. I don't place much emphasis on technicalities. What matters to me is what's in my head or heart, and that's what I want to show in my photography. Whether it's pinhole, analog, or taken with a phone shouldn't matter from the viewer's perspective. If an image moved them, it doesn't matter what it was taken with. Of course, I'm talking about valuable photos, not candy-colored ones that show something is pretty and that's it. A photo should raise questions, a problem, provoke reflection and thought. This is precisely the kind of photography we should strive for."

You showed black and white photography at the exhibition. Do you also do color photography?

"There was a time in my life when I only took black-and-white photographs. Now that's changed a bit, and I'm increasingly opting for color. I think it's normal for everyone to have different creative phases and approaches to what they do. Without them, art wouldn't develop."

Thank you for the interview. JS

Katarzyna Warańska. Landscape and interior designer. Member of the Association of Polish Art Photographers and the Rzeszów Photographic Association. She has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions, both domestically and internationally. Winner of national and international competitions (including Carpathian Faces, organized by the Cultural Center in Przemyśl; the International Photography Competition "All Children of the World" in Pacanów; the International Photography Competition "Just One Photo," the International "Foto Odlot" Competition; the International Photography Salon Wojnicz; and the Biennial Definition of Space in Kielce).