HASH OF THE MONTH - LUKASZ WIERZBOWSKI

lukasz wierzbowski's work is enchanting; fashion and the natural world mingle as nostalgia and curiosity linger. his photography is poetic, young and free. lukasz has produced an extensive amount of work, of which i have willingly spent hours poring over (50 tumblr pages in and i still wanted more). (clearly) i am a huge fan, so i was absolutely thrilled when the man behind the lens agreed to be featured as december's hash of the month. today's (fashion)high comes all the way from poland. baw się dobrze!

tell me a little bit about yourself?
i'm 28 years old [and a] self taught photographer. i currently live and work in wroclaw, where i moved to study psychology but i was actually born in lubliniec small city located in southern poland.

what do you think is more important - the equipment or the imagination/inspiration/knowledge?
all of these factors are somehow important but i would pick imagination as the most important one. it's unique and it can't be just bought like the equipment.


what do you prefer – film or digital?
i feel very attached to film. i like the fact that photos exist in physical form and not just virtual data. i adore the excitement it brings as you can never be fully sure how it will turn up.

who or what has influenced your photography the most?
i'm very much influenced by everyday life. people I meet, places I go.


do you have a favorite memory from a shoot?
recently someone tried to lock us in on a rooftop of a tall block of flats, fortunately we were quick enough to escape.

what is your favorite thing about photography? what is the most challenging?
the possibility of capturing a unique moment in time. putting people in different situations and surroundings. observing how they behave and react. i don’t like planning all the details as i tend to work on the spot instead.


are you interested in pursuing photography as a full-time career?
i would like to stick with photography as it truly brings me joy and so far [it’s going] rather well.

do you have any recommendations for young photographers like yourself?
shoot as much as you can but be selective, find your own path or style. you have to be very patient as sometimes it takes a bit before others will notice your work.



where do you see yourself in 10 years?
i would love to continue what i'm doing now. i want to travel more.

who is the first photographer that comes to mind?
wolfgang tillmans. his sense of observation is astonishing.


what have been the most exciting opportunities thus far in regards to your career and photography?
each photo session is exiting in it's own way. recently a taiwan singer waa wei asked me to shot photos for the new album which turned out to be a very fulfilling experience.

how did you develop your aesthetic?

hard to tell, it came somehow naturally.

when do you feel the most (fashion)high?
i always get this kind of bliss when i see the new location for the first time as i love using any given space in an active way. this kind of “hide and seek” game is very often fueled by clothing the model is wearing, but still the most important is the attitude - willingness to play around with body and space.


what constitutes the perfect image, in your opinion?
i find it somehow indefinable. it’s a mixture of many ingredients sometimes only one like the light or mood. being in the right place in the right time.

if you had no limitations on a photoshoot, what would do?
i kind of got used to working with limited resources but i find it very inspirational. i would love to travel around the world, meeting people and shooting photos together. and if somehow tilda swinton would like to become my model i would just puke rainbows :) well maybe one day...


aside from your camera, what are five things that you can’t live without?
love, friends, music, movies, ginger lemon tea.

if you can’t sleep, what is most likely keeping you awake?
i recently found myself browsing through the dungeons of my photo archives in search of some lost treasures.

i can't wait to see what's in those archives! check out (or buy!) lukasz' current work here.