Bernadeta Kupiec
BERNADETA KUPIEC: “I look at my photos from the beginning and only see how much I have learned, how far I have come, and how much more to learn and discover.”
What are your favorite songs you play in your car/at work/bathroom/kitchen right now? : Lately, I listen to "Windmill" LOR or Abel Korzeniowski "Rome & Juliet" soundtrack
Who are you? Describe yourself in a few words.: I'm an introvert and I don't like (can't) write about myself. But I will write a few sentences. I have been living in Scotland for almost seven years. Yes, I fell in love with this place from the first impression. I love nature, hiking, sunrises, rain and wind, and dark chocolate. And the forest, especially coniferous. I have an exaggerated imagination and I believe that almost anything is possible (you just have to believe it).
I feel grateful for everything he has and what surrounds me. By taking photos, I capture the beauty of the moment. A moment that is unique and will never happen again.
I love nostalgic, romantic songs, warm, woolen blankets (I'm a deceased), discovering new tastes, meeting new people and places.
Is it important to have the support of your loved ones, family, friends?: Yes, it is very important. To have someone by your side who believes in you more than you do. To have someone by your side to push you even though you don't believe in yourself or you feel it doesn't make sense. Someone who doesn't say your idea is pointless. I had tremendous support and I know that I wouldn't be where I am today. I also know people who have great potential, but due to the lack of support from their relatives, they still sit still, afraid to take the first step.
What are you the proudest of?: The fact that I dared to quit my job and started doing what I love the most. Capture emotions, the beauty of the moment, love stories. Going to every wedding or elopement, I don't feel like I'm going to work.
Do you think that creativity involves putting your heart and soul into your work?: Yes. Definitely. How we see and feel the world is reflected in what we create and how we want others to perceive our art.
What in your personal life has influenced you to choose your career?: I think it was my dad who gave me my first camera. Old, Russian Kiev for 35mm film. And it fascinated me with the world seen through the viewfinder. I had no idea what a shutter or aperture was. I remember that you had to set the distance to the photographed object there, and my steps were quite short. So most of the photos came out out of focus. Especially with people. Anyway, to this day I have a problem with determining the distance. I just held the camera in my hands and played with it. What I liked the most was the fact that I was finally able to stay a while longer and always come back to it.
What is the best advice that you have been given?: Don't be afraid of the light. Look for the light, play with it.
Looking at what you have created in the past, would you change anything today?: No, nothing. Everything happened that was supposed to happen. Each of us started with a strange tone on photos, a crooked horizon, green skin. I look at my photos from the beginning and only see how much I have learned, how far I have come, and how much more to learn and discover.
“I was a little girl. On the way to school, I saw a tree by the road. I don't know if it was light or clouds, or just inspiration (I walked there every day). But I squeezed my eyes shut and took my first picture.”
What made you decide to follow a creative career choice (though possibly risky) rather than something more stable?: I have always dreamed of doing what I love the most and not feeling that I work. And I'm lucky to finally feel it. Besides, the very fact that I have the opportunity to capture someone's most beautiful day makes me feel even more grateful for what I do. I know that this person will look at the photo and be able to go back to that moment, to those emotions. I feel like I have a kind of machine that allows people to go back in time.
If you only had 24 hours to live, how would you spend your day?: I would have walked Aonach Eagach. I have a fear of heights that I fight wherever I can. This is one of those places where I would have to prepare myself for a long time, mentally and physically. But if I had known this would be my last 24 hours on this earth, I would have got in the car, parked it at the foot of it, and climbed the mountain to walk over it. If I had a half heart attack, that's too bad, it's my last day anyway. At least I would have beautiful views after my death.
When was the first time that you remember realizing that you are a creative person: It was many years ago. I was a little girl. On the way to school, I saw a tree by the road. I don't know if it was light or clouds, or just inspiration (I walked there every day). But I squeezed my eyes shut and took my first picture. Yes, she felt it was in my brain. I was just wondering how to trigger them ...
Have you always wanted to do what you are doing?: Yes, maybe not that since forever, but for about 15 years. Back then, these were just dreams of a girl sitting on a bus. Then I went to Scotland and my English was not perfect, which at first blocked me from taking portraits. And then, step by step, she started first with Polish models living in Edinburgh, until I dared to do the first session with a person who spoke only English. And so, session after session, I found out that I would be able to fulfill my dream of photographing weddings.
How do you deal with creativity blocks?: I usually go for a walk and listen to nostalgic songs. Sometimes I need to go to the mountains, to the forest and stay with nature longer. I also watch more artistic films. I bake, meet with my friends.
Think back to your childhood. What did you hope to become as an adult?: First, I wanted to be a princess and wear beautiful Disney outfits. I was really young at that time haha. Then my dreams became more mundane and I wanted to be an astronaut. I dreamed of admiring the stars up close and the Earth through the round window in the spaceship. And I wanted to wear a white jumpsuit. I only knew that physics was not my forte, so I ended up admiring the stars from a distance, and I only fight gravity from time to time.
Are you enjoying this life?: Yes, I do. I really enjoy this life and I wouldn't change anything that has happened so far. I believe it did. I am happy with what I have, I am grateful for what happened to me because thanks to this I appreciate everything that is around me. I have dreams that I believe will come true sooner or later.
What is for you a good story?: A story that contains emotion, interesting content. A story that makes me feel a part of it, or even I would like to be its hero.
What is your typical day like?: Boring haha. My wake-up depends on the season and time at which the sun rises. Now, for example, I get up at 5:30 (in summer, unfortunately, my alarm clock is always set to 4, 5 am. I admire the sun when it is already in the sky). I meditate for 10 minutes every morning. An hour after getting up I eat breakfast (reading a book by the way. Now it's a Jack Reacher crime story) and right after I go for a walk along the sea. I take at least 10,000 steps. By the way, I listen to podcasts, or just go and listen to the sounds of nature. Then it's time for coffee and works: editing photos, replying to emails, blog posts, studying (I love to learn), wedding preparation (if I have one the next day). And so my time passes until 5 p.m. when I put everything aside and take care of dinner, I spend time with my husband.
People usually have learned from their own mistakes, what was your biggest lesson?: Hmm, a tough question and I want to answer it at the same time. I made many mistakes and each taught me something. But is there one that I remember to this day? When it comes to my business, it will definitely not be creating an avatar of my dream client at the very beginning of my adventure with wedding photography. I did not know then that it was so important.
Do you believe art should deliver a message?: Yes. Through art, we can show how we see the world and invite others to it. We can make someone else's day more beautiful. We can show that what we considered ugly until now is not really so. Everyone will find something for themselves in it.
Do you have any regrets in life?: No, I do not have any. My mindset has completely changed since mid-2019 and I believe everything happens at a certain time for a reason. Or it doesn't happen at all. Maybe it's not the moment, not that person, or it's just not for me. Even the fact that I quit my job at almost 36, during the lockdown, and started my career as a wedding photographer. Seems to be late, but it was meant to be.
How do you fight the comparison and discouragements?: Sometimes it's tough. First of all, I try not to compare to other photographers. Each of us is at a certain stage in our career as a photographer, and each of us has taken a specific path to find ourselves where we are now. That is why I compare my photos only to my photos from the beginning of my adventure with photography. Oh, sometimes I myself wonder what I was doing then.
Who would you like to read from (Can you put me in touch with this person?)?: Nina and Darek
What would be your question to this person?: Where do you find the inspiration for your work?
If you could ask yourself a question, what would it be?: Would you like to get back to film camera?
And your answer would be ?: Yes, it's my dream to buy someday a medium format camera.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
DOB : 07-08-1984
LOCATION: FIFE, SCOTLAND
OCCUPATION: WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Copyright : PAWEL, MY HUSBAND
CONVERSATIONS AND CLASSES TO INSPIRE PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ARTISTS.
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