James Bonas - stage director
James Bonas is a traditional storyteller for the modern era. He combines imagination and intellect with a curiosity for technology and new forms, whether directing classical or contemporary theatre, opera or dance.
quote from https://www.jamesbonas.com/about
It was fascinating to meet up with James Bonas for a session at RADA, London, because in the soul of this gentle man I could see an endless fountain of imagination.
James is a naturally creative personality. It was an honour to take portraits of him.
Marie Angel - Australian soprano
I watched Marie as she quietly prepared herself for the rehearsal of Iphigénie en Tauride, an opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck about the tragic fate of an ancient Greek woman. I watched with amazement as she so naturally balanced, focused her body, and only after a while I took a photograph of Marie.
Marie Angel is a dramatic soprano. She sings in classical and contemporary operas by most renowned composers. Marie was a star of the Opera Factory staged performances, acting in most of their productions, singing the roles of Poppea (Monteverdi), Iphigenia (Gluck), Hell’s Angels (Nigel Osborne) and elsewhere in operas by Mauricio Kagel, Bruno Maderna, Michael Tippett, Harrison Birtwistle, Philip Glass, Louis Andriessen, Michael Nyman, Bernd Alois Zimmermann, and John Cage.
Opera Factory London Sinfonietta "Hell's Angels"
Nigel Osborne - composer & David Freeman - libretto and production
Joanna Jakowlew - painter
I had first met with Joanna when we were both twenty years old and she had posed for me for my first cover for a Polish magazine “Przekrój”.
Joanna’s free, dynamic femininity, which coexisted with a lively intelligence, inspired me to arrange many photographic sessions with her following that meeting.
Some years later we met by chance at a small party, during which I suggested that I take pictures of her.
One could say that it didn’t make any sense, because the lighting in that apartment was extremely ugly. Bare bulbs lit the place and space was just as plain as you can imagine.
Yet I took my camera out and looked at Joanna, who was already preparing herself for the session. She was so absorbed in those preparations that I probably did not exist for her anymore; especially as a camera obscured my face. Then she looked at me from where she was sitting, under harsh light and I saw her passionate face in a shadow.
Lucyna Sokół - painter
Once upon a time, when I was studying Italian art at the Jagiellonian University, in Krakow, I lived on the tenth floor of a block of flats, in two rooms with a couple of beds that doubled as armchairs, a wardrobe and a mysterious grand piano that was never played, though its presence was strangely inspiring – perhaps it gave that simple dwelling an aura of high culture? Wonderful parties happened often, food was cooked spontaneously by arriving guests, many of whom I’d met for the first time, wine was shared freely, music of all kinds was played, and we talked and talked and talked.
In the same place, on a calm midwinter day with the sunshine bouncing off a thick layer of snow covering a long and wide windowsill, I photographed Lucyna, whose persona was far removed from that kind of wild partying. ‘Pull back your hair’, I said, and pressed the shutter button before her fingertips touched the cheeks. Our synchronized gestures caught a fleeting moment forever.
"Anna Lutosławska - a modern Modrzejewska"
Today I received a book "Anna Lutosławska - a modern Modrzejewska".
It is a biography about my Mother, comparing her statue as an actress to Helena Modrzejewska (1840-1909), a Polish actress, who achieved great fame in Poland and USA. They were both famous for roles as tragic Polish heroines and in Shakespearean plays.
The book was published in late Autumn 2022. My Mother signed this copy for me in November 2022, five weeks before She died in Krakow, Poland, in December 2022.
A photograph was taken by me in 1977, while She was rehearsing a role of Rose in a play ("A foreigner")
Anna Lutosławska, an actress, 1927-2022
Anna Lutoslawska at home
It is often that I take photographs of family and friends in an impromptu, spontaneous way. I just take a camera out and start shooting.
One could say, it is like a street photography combined with intimate, trusting relation.
Here is a portrait of my Mother, an actress, taken some years ago.
Anna Lutosławska, an actress, 1927-2022
Guy Bourdin, the enfant terrible of fashion photography
Before I went to Paris for the first time, I subscribed to French Vogue. At that time, I was particularly interested in the photography of Guy Bourdin, the enfant terrible of fashion photography.
His photographs fascinated with sudden eroticism, unbridled desire, visual surrealism, elegance and insolence of discovering the secrets of femininity. At the same time, Guy Bourdin was known for his uncompromising perfectionism and reputation for ruthless treatment of world-famous supermodels.
An unexpected encounter occurred one sunny morning, in Paris, at the Place du Palais Bourbon, when I went to a meeting with an art director at the Vogue editorial office.
Guy Bourdin invited me for a quick breakfast at the brasserie on another side of that small square. He was sympathetic, smiling, interested in who I was then in my twenties. In his movements, when he offered me a warm croissant, in the way he turned to the waiter, there was calmness and sensitivity to other people.
I thought then that Guy Bourdin was someone who acted with a gesture and created situations with his hand; I felt safe with him, because there was neither aggression nor fear in him, but only the unambiguousness of existence.
This very important meeting for me gave me confidence in myself, the conviction that only from the unity of my personality on the basis of the richness of visual culture and comprehensive knowledge of technology will I create my own photography.
Jacek Ostaszewski
Many years ago I took photographs of Jacek Ostaszewski, a prominent Polish jazz musician and influential composer.
Jacek is a co-founder a group Osjan, which was seen as one of precursors of “world music”.
He also collaborated with hugely popular at that time, Marek Grechuta and the band Anawa, with famous jazzman Tomasz Stańko, with Adam Makowicz, with Krzysztof Komeda and Don Cherry.
We talked a little before session about his time, when he played on a double-bass with Andrzej Kurylewicz Quintet, but while I was taking his portraits, Jacek played and I listen.
This is my favourite manner of taking photographs of musicians as our relation flows on a sound of melody, which in turn, is an inspiration for my images.
My entry into adulthood
We rode around Kalatówki, in the Tatras, like small wildcats, skiing on couloirs, on steep slopes, on frozen snow, on crocuses protruding from under it, because we were teeming with childhood, joy of life and fun together without borders.
At the age of fourteen, I went with my father on a winter trip to the mountains. The sky was blue, fluffy snow covered the branches of spruce trees, and we got lost in the fairy-tale landscape, going skiing in an unknown direction and therefore instead of lunch we returned for a late dinner.
It was the most beautiful walk I've ever gone on with my father.
I started my studies and during the winter break I went to the Karkonosze Mountains. I stopped in shelters, I went down the slopes that my foot never touched, and on the eve of my return to Wrocław I moved on, although someone warned me to wait, because difficult weather conditions were announced, and this trail was considered dangerous.
But I went on my way anyway to open the virgin snow with my skis soon, and although the fog was wrapping me tighter and tighter with its veil, there was no fear in me.
Suddenly, out of impenetrable whiteness, a man emerged whom I had never met in my life and informed me that we were on the edge of a precipice.
So, I turned left and, moving along the path of his skis, I reached an open space. Suddenly, the mountain clouds parted, and the sun shined on me again, reflecting rainbow rays from the snow crystals.
At the beginning I discovered the world by skiing, and later photographing what I met or searched for on my way. And now I see that by rushing through open spaces, glades, paths covered with snow, I learned to react instinctively to the dynamics of the situation and these lessons became the key to my photography.
And then it was an adult life on the edge of what was possible, when I entered relationships with other people, getting to know them and my scale of feelings, the intensity of passion for life, the depth of spirit, as well as discovering in myself a belief in the beauty of another person and the desire to create.
Sacha Rattle - a prophecy at the Royal Festival Hall
In 1987 I was at the Southbank, The Royal Festival Hall, London, listing to the London Sinfonietta rehearsing modern music (which I didn’t know), Simon Rattle was conducting and his very young son, Sacha, was dancing next to the podium.
It was so charming, so natural. Simon Rattle even praised the orchestra for playing so well that the child responded in a such exciting way.
Slightly later I started to take photographs, while Sacha was sitting on a stool and instrumentalists were playing towards him. Little we knew, that this little boy would become a highly accomplished musician himself. Maybe that moment was like a prophecy about his future?
Sacha Rattle is a clarinetist, performing with a range of ensembles and as a soloist. Even today as I am writing this story about him.
New postage stamp in Poland
Today I received a very warm gift - a postal stamp based on my photograph of Stanislaw Lem, a famous science fiction writer, philosopher and thinker, an author of many books, which sold in millions and a number of films were created based on his stories like Solaris.
This stamp has an issue of 168 thousands and will be available as from now in normal distribution for postage.
Francois Baschet and Sculptures Sonores
A few years ago, I went to the top floor of the Barbican Center, in the City of London, to meet again with a friend from Paris, Francois Baschet, who was opening the Sculptures Sonores exhibition there. His sculptures, metal peacocks with extended tails appear in the imagination, and the feathers are long glass rods which, like crystals, flirt with the full spectrum of the rainbow.
He greeted me warmly and invited to the exhibition, so I walked in. I knew these sculptures / instruments from his studio, but there were not only many more of them, but also the space was different, because it was full of people who created sounds on the sculptures as if they were organs. And although everyone played music with the fingers slidng along glass rodes, it did not result in a cacophony, but a symphony for many hands.
No, I wasn't playing back then, just watching with a smile seeing so much happiness all around. I love to see the world so unequivocally joyful.
Then I saw Francois Baschet again, explaining to some old lady how to wet your fingers in a bowl of water and then stroking the glass rods to create sounds. And she put her purse on the floor and, excited by the possibility of composing a piece, slid her fingers along the long, transparent rods, which vibrated with deep sounds.
A moment later, a little boy pulled Baschet towards the tin elephant, because he wanted the artist to hear his music flowing from the statue.
And I stood beside him and photographed Francois Baschet.
Become a bowman in order to become a swift, hunter-like, almost silent photographer.
Many years ago I happened to take up the sport of archery. What started as a weekend hobby, soon turned into a fundamental cornerstone of my photography.
I realised that learning the correct stance and the use of lower trapezius muscles could teach me how to remain steady and yet flexible while holding a camera. After a few months of releasing arrows from a stretched bow, my hands became more dexterous, which is a crucial skill related to manual focusing and pressing the camera shutter on the gentlest touch.
So I studied the technique of Kyudo, with its eight stages of shooting (hassetsu), and related this to my photographic sessions.
But most of all I was able to understand the essential factor in intuitive shooting, which is to trust my conscious and unconscious proprioception.
Proprioception – a sense of inner body strength and movements – is the key to choosing the precise moment when to release the camera shutter.
Therefore I encourage you to become a bowman in order to become a swift, hunter-like, almost silent photographer.
Meeting after a lockdown
Too long, but it is so good to feel that the strength of emotions is just as natural as ever
Meeting with people
I love the sense of humanity, being human, that pervades each and every one of your photographs, Bo. Somehow too, at the heart of each, the mystery of our condition caught in light and shadow. I so enjoy seeing and reflecting on these beautiful images.
William Goodchild, composer and conductor
Kazimierz Dolny, Poland
Kazimierz Dolny is a small, very beautiful town in east-central Poland, which was set up in late mediaeval time and prospered during the Late Renaissance of 16th and 17th centuries.
It was a major hub of the trade in grain, which was shipped along river Vistula to the important Hanseatic port in Gdansk on the shore of the Baltic Sea.
Since the 19th century it has become a very popular holiday destination, with many artists setting their studios and galleries there. That is why Kazimierz Dolny is an important art center in Poland with various cultural events taking place during summer months.
Including our wedding some years ago too.
This photograph was taken in a Tea House (Herbaciarnia u Dziwisza), famous for the highest quality tea. Do not miss this special place, when you visit Kazimierz Dolny.
In a studio with John B Spencer
This photograph was taken through thick soundproof glass at 3 o’clock, in the middle of the night during a session in a studio in East London.
John B Spencer was a highly praised songwriter in the rock tradition. In 1974 John formed John Spencer’s Louts group with multi-instrumentalist Johnny Gotting, Dave Thorne and Chas Ambler. Spencer himself played lead guitar. Performing his thoughtful, funny and poignant compositions such as ‘Mary Lou And The Sunshine Boy’ and ‘Bye Bye 69’, the Louts built up a following on the London pub and club circuit. Recording contract with Beggars Banquet Records resulted in the band’s only album. Spencer’s deep voice and the power of his lyrics brought favourable reviews. In 1990 Spencer formed the semi-acoustic Parlour Games, who recorded a self-titled set and Sunday Best for Round Tower..
Amsterdam
Today, at breakfast, I went wandering (in my mind) in Amsterdam, in the area where I stayed for a few weeks some time ago. My host had a house on a corner of a narrow street without a canal. Close by was a small café on the other side of the street, right in front of a bathtub fixed to the wall, hanging just above the ground; in the bathtub, there was a dummy of a woman with a bunch of fresh flowers in her hand and the indifferent plastic face, the hands frozen in motion…it was a body without a heart and without a breath, whose future could be decided by anybody’s whim.
It was on my first Sunday in Amsterdam, when I went to that café, sat outside, at a table with a view of the soulless lady in a bathtub.
A girl in a grey, silk dress left the building. Her décolletage was adorned with red and black flowers, arranged in a geometrical pattern around the neckline with a pale blue shawl around her waist.
As she walked by in her purple shoes, the girl spoke to me in Flemish:
- Amsterdam was designed to rest on powerful undercurrents of all kinds, wasn't it? – And smiled, as if to herself.