Welcome to the heart and soul of our Fine Art Photo Contest – where the real magic happens behind the lens. In this exclusive feature, we're pulling back the curtain to spotlight the incredible individuals who brought their artistic visions to life and emerged as the brilliant minds behind our winning entries. These photographers aren't just masters of composition; they're storytellers, dreamers, and creators of worlds captured in a frame.
So, grab a coffee and settle in as we take you on a laid-back journey through the fascinating stories of our Fine Art Photo Contest winners. From their sources of inspiration to the challenges they conquered, get ready to meet the talented minds who turned their passion for photography into captivating narratives. It's time to get up close and personal with the artists who made our contest not just a showcase of skill but a celebration of their unique stories and journeys in the world of fine art photography.
TOMAS PAULE
My name is Tomas Paule and I come from Slovakia, a small state in the heart of Europe. I got into photography like almost any of us. I used to take photos on vacations as a child for film. Later it was a small compact from Olympus. I got to the SLR camera as an adult as well as on vacation. That's when I bought my first SLR camera (Nikon D60). And from then on it went on its own. I took pictures of everything and finally I stuck to taking pictures of people. Classically, I moved from portraits to weddings until I got to nudes and realizations of some of my ideas. I still do weddings and nude photos today. I like these two genres the most. At weddings, I like the hustle and bustle, meeting new people and the reportage type of photography.
When photographing nudes, I was again attracted by the fact that you can play with light, I like combining the beauty of the female body with atypical elements where the viewer always says: hmmm interesting. I love it when people stop at my photos, think about them, talk about them, and I also like criticism. I like to hear what feelings my photos leave in people. Is it something positive or negative.
I definitely want to continue creating in the future. Invent new and new projects. I want to move on and try to make the new photos always better than the old ones. I am a member of the Association of Professional Photographers of the Slovak Republic (www.apfsr.com), which in turn is a member of the Federation of European Photographers. Thanks to this, I have the opportunity to receive prestigious awards for my work, such as EP, QEP or MasterQEP titles. I already won the first one. And I would like to try QEP in the foreseeable future. Well, my biggest dream is, of course, MasterQEP.
I take photography as a kind of relaxation. A person completely shuts off all worries, from the surrounding world, he concentrates only on the photo, on the vision in his head to transform it into something material and visible.
I share my work with people on my instagram tomaspaule.sk, where there are mostly things that don't fit on the website. I have those official documents on my website https://tomaspaule.sk
LUCA RONCHI
I'm Luca, an avid nature lover with a great passion for capturing the beauty of the world through my lens. When I'm not immersed in the world of photography, you can often find me exploring the mountains, reveling in the tranquility of nature, and seizing every opportunity to capture the essence of the great outdoors. I find solace and joy in the simple pleasures of life, and nothing beats the thrill of discovering a picturesque scene during my mountain hikes. My journey into the world of photography began at a young age, thanks to the inspiration and guidance of my parents who are passionate photographers and nature lovers themselves.
If I had to choose, my heart belongs to naturalistic photography. The dance of sunlight on landscapes and the untamed beauty of wildlife inspire me to freeze these fleeting moments in time. Whether it's the grandeur of a mountain range or the delicate flutter of a small bird’s wings, I aim to capture the raw, unfiltered beauty of the natural world.
My aspirations soar as high as the mountains I love to climb. I dream of traversing the globe, documenting the diverse landscapes and wildlife that grace our planet. Each photograph becomes a chapter in my visual diary, telling stories of landscapes, animals and the beauty that unites us all.
To me, photography is freedom, it's the ability to express myself without words, to convey emotions, and to share the wonders of the world with others. When I'm behind the lens, I feel a profound sense of happiness and liberation, as if time stands still and I am one with the moment.I have an Instagram page (lucaronchi.photo), i just created it but in the upcoming weeks/months i’ll post some of my photos, so if you want you can follow me there.Â
KAZUTOSHI KAWAKAMI
The Artist Gallery Team: How did you get interested in photography?
Kazutoshi: Humans wield the tool of "imagination" to paint images within their minds. If these landscapes could be shared, how wonderful would it be? Photography becomes a medium to convey the intricacies of one's imagination, allowing for the creation of new works that share the inner world with others. I began photography with the desire for someone to explore the landscapes of my mind.
The Artist Gallery Team: What is your favorite type of photography?
Kazutoshi: I favor Fine Art and monochrome photography for their emotional depth.
The Artist Gallery Team: What are your aspirations as a photographer?
Kazutoshi: I aim to bring smiles to viewers through my work.
The Artist Gallery Team: For you, what is photography?
Kazutoshi: It's a tool for self-expression, akin to words and gestures, fostering understanding.
The Artist Gallery Team: And what are you thinking when you are shooting?
Kazutoshi: Whether aligning with a preconceived image or capturing instinctively, each click is an exploration.
You can find out more about my work in my website or if your prefer it, take a look to my Instagram.
These photographers have not only left an indelible mark on our contest but have enriched the tapestry of fine art photography. As we close this chapter, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to each winner. Your passion, creativity, and unique perspectives have illuminated the art form, reminding us that every photograph is a chapter in the larger story of the human experience.
If these stories inspired you, we invite you to take a look to our Open Photo Contests! You could be telling your story to our readers soon!