Human Resources

First there was a photograph and then an interest in aviation?

First there was... music. I have an artistic soul, since I was a child, I played saxophone, including in the fire band, I went to music school. erstwhile I chose advanced school, I wanted to get to the Military Music advanced School in Gdańsk, but that was erstwhile my yearbook was liquidated and I had to choose a civilian facility. If things had turned out differently, I'd most likely be serving present in military orchestra. But that didn't happen, and the army had to wait for me for a while, and I had to wait for the army...

When did you control saxophones to cameras?

It's hard to say, due to the fact that I liked taking pictures forever. At first I photographed mainly my dog and scenes from urban life. The breakthrough was moving to Malbork. At the time, I had no decent equipment and borrowed a camera from a friend – a passionate ornithologist. First I went under the mentioned barrier 22 BLT to photograph MiG-i. After any time I managed to step on the paths to the base, I met technicians and pilots, I started taking pictures of them, showing them a regular life on the "Beton". As a complete amateur, I carried out various types of photojournalisms on the base. I'm not hiding that the beginnings were hard due to the fact that I was kept at a distance. But erstwhile the soldiers saw the effects of my work, they started beginning up to me and were grateful for what I was doing for them. There was besides assurance in my individual so I could be close to airplanes and spend quite a few time there.

You took photos in 22 BLT as a civilian and amateur, and present You're a soldier at 31 BLT. What made you choose specified a course of life?

Through photography, I got to know the tech community in Malbork, so I started reasoning about the service. But it must have been 9 years before I realized that this relation with the military had to be legalized. I went to the junior advanced school with the thought that I would service in the 22nd BLT as a SIL soldier, but in Malbork there was no occupation for my specialization "payer and engine". I could have been on helicopters, but I was besides active with fighters. The only choice I have left then is Krzesiny or Grace. So I chose Krzesina, where I service present in an F-16 support squad and as 1 of the untimely photographers.

So you're able to combine pleasant and beneficial?

My service is truly an chance to prosecute 2 passions: aviation and photography. Although at first it was not said that this would happen.

Why?

Squadron commander at the outset asked why I came to the 31st BLT, what motivation I had. erstwhile I told you about my photos in the 22nd BLT in Malbork, I heard that I came here to service F-16Not taking pictures. I was aware of that, of course, and I didn't anticipate that. I knew I wanted to service as a technician, that was my priority. But after a month, I was asked to take ID photos for the full squadron. I later documented the farewell of the colonel who retired, etc. I must say that the squadron commander always appreciated it erstwhile individual wanted to bring more into the life of an individual, and he could support specified action. I took different types of pictures and 1 day the colonel drank. Luke Friday, then commander of the 31st BLT, invited me to a gathering and informed me that he would like me to engage in shooting at the base. He gave me approval to photograph my regular service at the base, collect, fly, etc. In time, I began to participate in air-to-air sessions, which was the fulfillment of another dream. And I do it all to this day – with the approval of Colonel Radosław Snow.

What did you want to tell with your photograph series “Share roots of lush flowers” for which you received the First National Defence Minister Award for “Military Art 2025” in the category of photography?

In black and white photos are shown SIL soldiers from Krzesin during their regular service. For my part, it's a form of appreciation for a man and his work, which is invisible to people outside the base. I like to photograph planes, but the device remains a machine. It looks good in the sky, but it is empty without a man flying it or preparing for flight. So my pictures are a certain acclaim, and at the same time a gift to those people who have a good souvenir thanks to me and can show their loved ones what they do. For me, the biggest prize, too this 1 in the "Military Art", is the gratitude of the characters of my photos and their joy erstwhile they see themselves in the pictures.

As a photographer, do you focus only on aviation, military?

Because of my service, this is the main subject of my photos, but not the only one. 2 years ago, I presented an exhibition entitled “The Prose of Life” – 15 portraits of people who were heavy experienced by fate. Each photograph was given a brief description of the communicative of his hero: homelessness, cancer, divorce, etc. I wanted to show the people after the passages that many of the recipients can identify with, to see that if individual dealt with a problem, they would besides succeed. In another exhibition, I presented pictures of lonely people, homeless people and the love of a couple of old people to show different faces and meanings of attendance. “Presence” was the title of this exhibition.

Do you have an thought for another cycle or a dream about photos?

I am reasoning of a task that will, in a sense, proceed the “Prose of Life” and “Presence”, but connected to military subjects. I don't have a clear plan yet, I request to think this through, but I'm certain I want to show a man in the army differently than everyone else. I'd like to do a valuable task focused primarily on a man, and all man is simply a separate story...