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An Interview with Peter Svoboda by Beata Moore

Wht's kept untouched by Peter Svoboda

Peter Svoboda is a photographer, judge and curator based in Slovakia. He is a member of FEP (Federation of European photographers) and APFSR (Association of Slovak professional Photographers). Peter's work is mainly focused on landscapes showing a strong mood and interesting light, in colour and in black&white. His pictures are known as precisely composed, often capturing rare moments of human presence in nature. Peter's photographs were exhibited in well-known galleries around the globe and published in countless international magazines, to name a few, National Geographic, Guardian, Telegraph, German Alpha Photo magazine, Landscape Photography Magazine. His work was awarded in many prestigious international competitions, amongst them: Prix de la photography Paris 2019, Moscow Int. Foto Awards 2019, Tierenberg Super Circuit 2019, European Golden Landscape Camera 2018, Sony World Photography Awards 2016, Tokyo International Foto Awards 216 and many more. 
https://www.petersvobodaphotography.com

1. What was your path to become a photographer? 
My photography journey has been influenced by my father who was a passionate amateur photographer, and he even created a dark room in our house. As a young boy I was able to develop film pictures myself. As a teenager I studied also at art school and I loved oil paintings. Later on, I took pictures on transparent and BW film, and there arisen an intention to shoot landscapes having a bigger power. This passion lasted from my teenage years until now. Beside my photography, I am also a curator and international photography judge in some competitions, for example European Professional Photographer of the Year.

2. Do you prefer to photograph close to home or do you find faraway places more inspiring? Are there any special places that inspire you the most to create new work? 
That depends on my artistic plans as well as on the theme I am going for. Of course, there are amazing places that are far away from my home, and the only possibility is to travel far away to capture such subjects. On the other hand I love travelling and discovering new places on our beautiful planet and this is a part of my exciting photography journey. I love shooting in many of amazing places such as Patagonia, Northern Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Dolomites, Swiss and French Alps, and also beautiful corners of my own country, especially High and Low Tatras mountains.

3. Are you a meticulous pre-planer or do you prefer creating images spontaneously? Do you revisit your favourite places many times to achieve the required result? Can you tell us more about your method of working?
 In most cases I am planning my shooting in advance. I would dare to say I am a bit meticulous in doing that. I mean especially choosing the theme I go for, as well as the and timing of planned shooting. Letting the result only to a matter of chance decreases the possibility of success in my opinion. Regarding the method of my work, I study the subject in advance before a serious shooting. Previsualisation of the result is very important part in my artistic journey. I need to know in advance what result I wish to get, only then I am backpacking and travelling. I usually do revisit my favourite places and study the composition and light conditions of the place. I usually take some study shots before the serous shooting. Then I study such and I find what to expect from the scene, and what conditions may lead to the best result. This is why I often visit the same place until I get what I wish. On the other hand, there are still places I did not get what I intended despite my twenty visits. But as always, I am happy to visit it again.

4. Terra Quantum displays themes and series portfolios; do you like working to the project/series/theme or find creating individual images more rewarding? 
Yes, I do like working on series. There are many themes that work better together as set of pictures unlike of presenting only a single shot. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that I do not like a single and strong captures. There are times when I am really happy with just one good shot.

5. Can you tell us a bit more about one chosen photograph – what is the story behind it, when/why/how it was created?
 “Stormy winds over the Torres del Paine” was probably the most interesting, but also, the most challenging shooting I have ever experienced. I was taking this picture under really rough conditions as the winds speed hit almost hurricane force. My decision was to create a blurry effect of rolling waves of Lago Pehoe in the foreground. I was standing with both of my feet on the tripod to reduce a risk that it will be blown away with my gear. I was pushed by sudden gust of wind and almost fell down several times, together with the tripod. The wind was so strong that it took water drops from the lake surface and created a massive spray on my lens. It was hard to keep my lens dry even for a few seconds exposition. Luckily, everything went well and three minutes light appearance over the Cuernos Towers helped to make the result even better. 6. Colour, b&w or both? How do you decide about the elimination or inclusion of colour and why. When do you decide about it - in the field, or during the post processing? It depends on particular scene I am taking. In most cases I am sure what result will look better, b&w or colour. Usually I prefer colour, when the scene is attractive, mainly because it. On the other hand, there are many cases when colour distracts, so b&w helps to emphasize the mood and the story. Most of my minimalist pictures are in b&w.

6. Colour, b&w or both? How do you decide about the elimination or inclusion of colour and why. When do you decide about it - in the field, or during the post processing? 
It depends on particular scene I am taking. In most cases I am sure what result will look better, b&w or colour. Usually I prefer colour, when the scene is attractive, mainly because it. On the other hand, there are many cases when colour distracts, so b&w helps to emphasize the mood and the story. Most of my minimalist pictures are in b&w. 

7. Do you find printing your images yourself as an integral part of image creation or do you use professional labs? How important is the choice of paper for you? 
Of course, only prints are real pictures. I think that digital image is still less sustainable and can vanish forever one day. I do prefer high quality surfaces for printing, such as cotton paper or metallic prints.

8. Do you think that social media is killing photography or playing an important role in promoting your work? How involved are you in your online presence? 
No, I don’t think so. It’s ok if a photographer uses his social media profile for spreading his art. There is bigger chance for him to be discovered and seen. I am using it regularly for promoting my work and for increasing numbers of followers.

9. Do you have any plans for exhibitions, books or any interesting projects coming? Can you tell us a bit more about your artistic plans for the next couple of years? 
Last year I had a successful exhibition in the gallery in High Tatras mountains named “Under the shadows of Giants”, which lasted 3 months. I have plans to organize another one in my hometown and also exhibit in other European cities. I am working on a few projects recently. One of these long-term project is a book focused on composition and creating artistic landscapes; it will be a rather helpful guide for photographers of any skill level.

10.We are living on the most beautiful planet, yet it is over-burdened and over-polluted. As photography is an influential medium, do you use the power of your photographs to promote our Earth appreciation and environmental awareness? Any thoughts how photographers in general can become more involved in this important matter? 
Yes, I do. My favourite theme is showing human’s appreciation to nature. It is especially seen in my winter minimalist work in high mountain terrain. I am searching there for a strong story and special compositions that show how small we are on our planet. Conveying how fragile we are, the Earth and human beings is a big challenge for me every time I am out with my camera. I had a few projects lately focused on Global Climate change too. I have visited and documented some glaciers during the last 7 years. Melting of ice mass is happening faster every year. Many ice caves and tunnels inside the glaciers collapsed because of it. I created a rather interesting collection of pictures which cannot be taken anymore, as those amazing places disappeared forever. Nevertheless, I am convinced that showing public the true and fragile gems of our beautiful planet can make people understand that this beauty may not last forever, and we have to protect the Earth just to keep it for further generations. 

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