Valladolid - Marcin Ryczek, Polish Photographer

If you are interested in and have read much about Black & White photography, most likely you have seen this award-winning image called:

 "Man feeding the Swans"

by Marcin Ryczek

Marcin and I met quite by accident last Fall in Spain. 

We both were out early one morning photographing the Pisuerga River that runs through the middle of the city.

Standing on the far side of the bridge looking back toward the city, I captured this early morning mist photo. Marcin was taking photos from the middle of the bridge. He is the far figure, about halfway down the bridge, facing the river.

Crossing back toward town, I noticed a tall man taking photos with a very nice Nikon camera and lens, like what a professional would use. As is my habit of talking to strangers, I commented in Spanish about being a great morning for photography. That's when I learned that Marcin does not speak Spanish. We both tried English and that clicked for us. Talking there on the bridge we shared tips on good spots for images, angles, light, etc. Things photographers always talk about, boring our spouses to no end.  

 Marcin explained that he was there participating in a two-month-long cultural exchange program in the city which included two other international artists, one in music and the other in interactive arts.

Marcin had a translator assigned to him as not everyone in the shops and cafes in Valladolid spoke English. Even fewer speak Polish as Valladolid is not an international tourist destination.

 Marcin and I hit it off and got together a half dozen different times over the next two months. We took a photo walk to check out shadow patterns on stucco walls, looked for where the resident storks have nests, talked of image concepts, and shared views on photography as a hobby and a career.

From our conversations, I learned that Marcin is a very accomplished, talented, award-winning photographer from Krakow.

The conclusion of the cultural exchange was for Marcin to have a gallery show with the best photos he had captured during his short time in Valladolid. The daily pressure on him was intense, to capture, edit, print, and present a gallery show demonstrating his artistic vision. Nevertheless, he accomplished it on time with great images that drew admiration from his Spanish hosts and the public.

Marcin's lady friend Patrycja came in from Poland to attend the gallery showing.

 

During this last week, I told Marcin I would like to take a few portrait shots of him in the gallery where his photos were on display before he returned to Poland.

Marcin commented that no one takes his photo as he is normally busy shooting photos of others. He suggested a photo that reflected on his style of photography, high contrast black & white. 

On the final evening of his gallery showing, Marcin, Patrycja and I gathered for a challenging low-light portrait shoot. The tiny intense LED lights illuminating the walls with his photos made the photo session more difficult.

In the background of this first portrait, you can see a reflection of one of Marcin's prints

 floating on top of two other framed pieces of his work as he tries to be serious.  

He commented that people expect him to be very distant and secretive based on the subject matter and his style of photography.  While in reality, Marcin is a very friendly, engaging person. 

I think you can see both personas here trying to be serious, yet the playfulness around the eyes gives away his true nature.

Then we thought he should be holding a camera to emphasize

 that his profession is photography. Below is version #6 of the photo shoot.

I think I like the first one stronger. What do you think?

Then we convinced Marcin's model friend Patrycja that it was her turn to pose.  She jumped right into character like a professional, adding content and emotion to each shot. 

Patrycja first created a sense of painful suffering that tied in perfectly with one of Marcin's images in the background. One of Marcin's photos of a priest and a shadow of the crucifixion taken here in Valladolid.

Then Patrycja went for an uplifting Joan of Arc inspiration in front of another of Marcin's images.  

The moods she created for the camera were fantastic. Made capturing her image so much easier.

And for me?

  

Well, I felt honored that my new friends would place their trust in me to create images

 that reflected their mood and personalities, truthfully and honestly.

 It was a very fortunate pleasure to meet these two creative personalities, Marcin and Patrycja,

To spend some time with them in Spain,

 learning more about how Europeans view black-and-white photography 

with craft, passion, and dedication.

Stopping to talk to a stranger standing on a bridge opened a door 

for learning and sharing life experiences.

Thank you Marcin and Patrycja...

Ride safe and far, my friends.

CCjon

 

p.s. To learn more about Marcin and his photography, go to: https://marcinryczek.com/

       Marcin is a very talented, award-winning photographer building a career with image making.