Interview with photographer Michal Zahornacký

                    Michal Zahornacký's photographs straddle the line between dreams and waking life, pulling one into the other, until there is almost no separation. "It's as in a dream," says Michal, "we don't set down borders for our imagination, we take our experience from the real world and let our imagination fly." The images are stunning examples of a mind taken to flight, but with feet firmly planted on the ground. The earth, herself, is also a subject of Zahornacký's photographs, reminding one that every dreaming body is housed  by gravity.


AHC: What first drew you to photography? Was there a specific moment in your life or turning point where it became clear to you that you were being called to create?

Michal: During my childhood and teenage years I never really came across photography. It was only when I bought my first camera. I remember we were planning some trips with friends and I wanted a camera to capture our moments and adventures. Actually, I was completely fascinated by the camera. I started to create different experiments and enjoyed it greatly. All I wanted to do was take pictures. I am self-taught and still, to this day, I am learning. Nowadays photography basically fills out my everyday life.

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AHC: Could you talk some about your overall process, themes & inspirations?

Michal: Since the beginning I've focused on creating projects or series that create a complete story. Each photograph is my way of telling a story about what I'm feeling, problems or issues that I need to work through. My goal, in each of my projects, is to create a whole series around common concepts. I want to show an unusual world. That's why many of my photographs are quite surreal. Sometimes they can look dreamy or unreal. That is my goal - we can create our own worlds, and everyone sees it differently. It's as in a dream - we don't set down borders for our imagination, we take our experience from the real world and let our imagination fly. 

My creative process is usually the same. First, I have an idea that I want to transfer into photography. I create a rough sketch of the photograph and I only change small details later. It takes days, sometimes even weeks or months until I finish the photograph and I am happy with how it looks. The scenes are very important to me. The objects that you see in my photographs are usually real - not photo-shopped or manipulated. Many people actually think I use photo-shop a lot. That is not true. Most of my photographs are real, not manipulated. I find inspiration in my life mostly - people, environment, events that happen.

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AHC: In your series Poems, you crafted images around Slovak poems, which poems and poets were your guiding inspiration and focus for this series?

Michal: Actually it's the opposite way. First I created the photographs and the poets created the poems based on my pictures. I created the stories for my photographs in the Poems series. I wanted them to show a hidden story, idea, metaphor. It was only later that it came to my mind that I was actually creating stories which could be transferred into poems. That's how it all came together. I asked Slovak poets if they would be interested in cooperation and luckily they were. All the poems were unique, original and represented my photographs. Basically it's a collection of poems complemented by artistic visuals.

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AHC: Do you prefer shooting more in black and white or in color? I've heard it said that black and white tends to remove obstructions form the viewer, that color distracts, while B&W allows you to show the viewer exactly what you want them to see, do you find this to be the case, since I know you shoot in both mediums? 

Michal: Actually I like both mediums. I do not set borders in my photography. It depends on the specific photograph as to which medium I will end up using. Nowadays I use more color, but I love B&W photography. I see B&W photography as a medium to capture excellent light and I think it has the power to capture the perfect moment. I would use B&W techniques to capture documentary, street or portrait as the monochrome color does not distract the viewer from the moment that the author wants to show. It shows the raw moment. On the other hand, when using color photography you reveal your inner soul through the photograph - how you see the world and your feelings.

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AHC:  Who are some of your artistic influences? Is there anyone outside of the art world whose work has impacted your own, or who just generally inspire you, writers, filmmakers, musicians etc?

Michal: I admire the works of Rodney Smith, Oleg Oprisco or Martin Stranka. Especially Martin, who inspired me in the beginning. He showed me so many different ways express myself through photography. I like to create while listening to music, it's relaxing and inspiring to me. I let my thoughts and ideas fly while listening to good songs. For example I like listening to M83 while working on a piece. 

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AHC: What is the first work of art/photography you encountered that took your breath away?

Michal: The work of Rodney Smith. His photographs are very clear, simple and yet so excellent and full of stories. Using simplicity he showed his world and how he sees it. 

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AHC: Are there times when you become blocked creatively? What do you do to rekindle inspiration?

Michal: Sure, it does happen to me. Actually I think it happens to everyone who creates. I think it's a normal and natural part of the creative process. I don't see it as a negative thing - quite the opposite. It presents the opportunity to find a different way of doing things. However, I usually try to keep myself busy with other things that can also be inspiring to me. Sometimes it's the small things that change the situation and inspire me in a different way.

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AHC: Do you have any upcoming exhibits or new projects you'd like to tell people about?

Michal: At the moment I do not have any upcoming exhibitions. But I am in a productive process right now and am working on my newest project. It will be quite different from what I've shot in the past. It's a collaboration on a fantasy book I'm creating the photo illustrations for. At the moment I can not say more, but I am really excited for when the book is finished and I can share my photographs.

For more visit www.michalzahornacky.com/

All images © Michal Zahornacký 
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