Part of living a photographic life and developing your photography often comes from finding seeds of inspiration amongst your peers. In essence this is how creativity works; one idea leads to another and a little seed blossoms into its own unique flower. The mini profiles at Photography 24/7 is a new content series which aims to uncover creative and talented photographers that you may not have come across before, and with the hope that you come away with a little seed of inspiration.

Eva Polak

Meet Eva Polak from Auckland in New Zealand.

Eva is passionate about impressionist photography. It is a style that seeks to capture a feeling or experience rather than to achieve an accurate representation. As a traditional photographer Eva first found that a really difficult concept to grasp, but when she attended a workshop called The Art of Impressionist Photography this all changed.

Eva saw images stripped of all unnecessary detail was immediately fascinated and excited, finding the images extremely evocative. Eva has since gone on to create an amazing body of work of ‘impressionist photographs’ and even teaches her own workshops about this alternative approach to traditional photography.

1. You are passionate about ‘impressionist photography’ – how did you come across this style of photography and what attracted you to it?

I was introduced to impressionist photography in October 2007. I was attending a workshop called The Art of Impressionist Photography where I saw images stripped of all unnecessary detail. Just simple shapes, textures and colours that sent my mind into a realm of wonder and discovery.

With this style of photography I feel complete freedom to explore fugitive effects of light.

2. Can you give other photographers who might want to explore this type of photography a few basic starting points? And while you shoot a variety of subjects using this technique do you find certain subjects suit this technique better than others?

This style is highly experimental, so set your camera to shutter priority mode, choose a shutter speed of 1/10s, experiment and have fun.

Between Dreams by Eva Polak

3. How do you stay creative and come up with new ideas or projects? Can you share some thoughts about your creative process?

I have fun, listen to music, watch movies, go to a gallery and read books. Inspiration comes from many different sources. I try to keep my mind open and spontaneously react to what’s around me.

4. You have an upcoming exhibition “Tides of Light” in Devonport, New Zealand. Can you tell us a little bit about how that came to fruition?

This is my personal journey through Auckland’s west coast, the land of ever-changing colour and light. To show the subtle moods and hidden emotions of a place where land, meets sea, meets sky, from dawn to dusk, from spring to winter.

Birch Tree by Eva Polak

5. If you could travel to any destination tomorrow, where would you go and what would you like to photograph?

Western Australia to photograph display of spring wildflowers.

6. If one of your photographer friends was in a bit of a creative-rut and was looking for a quick fix, and you were asked to recommend a photography accessory and/or a photography book which you think could open up his or her vision, what would you suggest?

To have some fun. There is also one book called The war of art: break through the blocks and win your inner creative battles by Steven Pressfield.

Land of Gentleness by Eva Polak

[Thomas: Thank you Eva for participating in this mini profile and sharing your work.]

You can view more of Eva’s work on her website: www.evapolak.com

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