Turning Memories from a Trip into a New Found Calling: Meet Photographer Peter Koleják

New Zealand – Port Hills

Peter Koleják was born and raised in the northern region of Slovakia, a small country in the heart of Europe. Although he always been motivated by a deep creative drive and he attended art school during his childhood, he only discovered his passion for photography in 2018 when he decided to take a break from his corporate career and set off to live for one year in New Zealand. It was there where he fell in love with its varied, breathtaking environments and landscape photography. Curiosity and hunger for more led Peter from hobby to passion and he has been chasing those spectacular moments in nature and the “perfect light” ever since. After living in New Zealand for one year, he moved to Calgary in the close vicinity of the Canadian Rockies where he continued to develop his landscape photography skills. The Rockies are truly spectacular and with their scale, it really is an endless sandbox for nature and landscape photographers. Currently back home in Europe where he returned after spending two years in Canada, Peter is looking forward to exploring more of the local nature in Slovakia.

By Al Gord

Peter, we are so glad to be able to chat with you. I understand that you only discovered photography in 2017. What was it that first drew you to this art form?

Thank you Al, it´s my pleasure. To answer your question, it really was more pragmatic than artistic at the very beginning. Before leaving to New Zealand, which is well known for its diverse and beautiful nature, for one year I figured that it would be nice to have some memories of this experience properly recorded and that my smartphone would not do it justice. Without knowing anything about photography, I bought myself a very basic mirrorless camera with two lenses hoping that it would do the trick and that I would return home with some nice pictures. As it turned out it was not going to be so easy. After few weeks with the new camera, I was getting really frustrated. I could not understand how to set it up with things like Focal Length, Aperture, ISO, Shutter Speed, Exposure etc. in order to use them to my advantage. I set off and explored YouTube to find some knowledge and came across the channel of UK photographer Mike Browne who was able to explain all these things, and more, in a simple and intriguing way. It was then that I realized that I really liked photography and that I wanted to learn more about it and get better at it.

It is amazing how sometimes learning a new skill or hobby suddenly becomes a passion. A year later, was your turning point when you knew that photography was for you. What was it that solidified this belief?

The vast beauty of nature in New Zealand became something that I was really drawn to the more time I spent there. I also realized that standing alone in front of amazing natural scenes during sunrise or sunset filled me with indescribable joy and inner peace. It became kind of a meditation for me as well. Being able to capture those moments and then revive their mood and emotions felt in post-processing was something that I started to thoroughly enjoy. In early 2018 I realized that this is something I would like to do as often as possible and on more serious basis.

New Zealand – Milford Sound

While born and raised in Slovakia, you spent one year in New Zealand and two years in Canada. What was that experience like for you both culturally and photography wise?

New Zealand, although very remote and exotic, felt more familiar to me from the very beginning and somehow closer to the European mentality. Maybe also due to limited space available people there were more conscious about conservation efforts and need to be efficient with resources they have. In Alberta, where I spent most of my time in Canada, was very different. There it was more about not limiting yourself at all – do, build, and spent big, there is plenty for everyone, and you do not need to be thinking about limited resources or about sustainability that much. What I liked a lot was that in both New Zealand and Canada, people were friendly, tolerant, kind, and polite, and how in general people of different colours, religions and beliefs could live in peace next to each other. Lastly, comparing the two, apart from what has already been said, I found Kiwis (New Zealanders) more genuine and open.

Photography wise New Zealand was a dream coming true for landscape photography. It is very exotic because most of its fauna and flora is endemic and the landscape is very diverse. There are beaches with sand dunes or black volcanic sand, volcanoes, geothermal areas like hot pools and geysers, rain forests, redwood forests, dense jungles, caves, fjords, glaciers, big mountains, pristine rivers and lakes, and giant waterfalls, all within a relatively small area. You could drive for only an hour or two and suddenly feel like you were in different country. As a bonus no matter where you were you were never further than 130 km from the coast. If you tend to get bored quickly, ever-changing seascapes were always at your disposal.

In Western Canada, I was struck by the sheer size and beauty of the Canadian Rockies. The scale of those mountain ranges is just enormous and driving to the west from Calgary you could go for hundreds of kilometers and still be roaming through the mountains. That sense of endless wilderness was something that I have not felt anywhere else before, and even though I saw a lot during my time in Calgary, I still left with a feeling that I barely scratched the surface. Azure glacier lakes, scenic vistas from peak summits and frequent wildlife sightings are something the Canadian Rockies have a trademark on. I would say it is simply true alpine heaven.

Peter, you recently returned home. After what sounds to be an incredible journey, what drew you back to Slovakia?

I only had a visa for limited time in Canada and during the pandemic things got complicated for me. Since I was already missing my family at that time, I decided it was time for me to go back. With a short break, I spent three years on my own outside of Europe. I felt it would be good to return home finally and use my newly gained photography skills to capture European nature and landscapes for a change.

In viewing your work, landscape photography is your primary focus. What is it about landscapes and nature itself that you love as an artist?

Serenity, if you just aren´t in the middle of the storm or other brutal weather conditions, endless diversity, the possibility to convey emotions and tell a story through photos, that sense of adventure and moments of surprise as you are not in control of all the variables in the process. You need to be patient and determined to get a great picture. In addition, you need to be humble and willing to accept failures too. Nature will not bow at your will, you can´t control it, you can only respect it and work with what it gives you. You may have days when you do everything right but then no light will happen, because there has been a last-minute change of forecast or that one cloud just blocked the whole sun. There´s nothing you can do about it, just respect that, learn a lesson from it and come back next time.

I find that each artist has a piece that he or she has created that is special to him or her. Is there a specific photo that has extra meaning for you?

That´s a tough one. Every single picture I´ve already chosen to be part of my portfolio speaks to me in its own way and has its own story behind, but if I would have to pick just one for this occasion, I would go for the black and white capture of Canmore’s Three Sisters. That was my go-to spot in the Rockies and the place I visited the most times. I have many pictures of these iconic mountains and several good memories related to moments when I captured them so that spot and especially that one photo does hold sentimental value for me.

Canada – Three Sisters

From a personal standpoint, I too am drawn to landscape photography. Do you have any interest in photographing other subject matter? If so what subjects and what is the draw to these subjects?

I recently found out that portraiture is something that speaks to me as well. With the nature of this genre, it is the complete opposite of the landscape photography, more people involved, more action and less waiting. Contrary to waiting for the interesting light in landscape photography, portraiture is all about catching the emotion, the right moment and so it can get very hectic. Still, I found it fascinating how much one good picture of a person tells you about that individual. A photo can sometimes reveal more about the person than even his or her own words.

As with any other art form, photography requires hard work, patience, and a special talent. When you are in the field, how do you know that the image you are taking is just right? Is it a gut feeling; are there certain elements for which you are looking? What are your determining factors when deciding which images you choose to share and represent you as an artist?

I think it´s bit of both. I like to approach landscape photography as a thought process combined with instinct. Therefore, when I am in the field and have that gut feeling that this may make a good photo, I also like to ask myself several questions to decompose this feeling down to smaller pieces and understand why I feel about the place that way. For example, what is it you are about to shoot, what is your subject? Why does it speak to you and what message / emotion do you want to convey through this photo? Is the scene simple enough? Are there any unnecessary distractions, which can be left out of the frame? How can I best compose it to support my message / emotion?

In my ideal world, perfect landscape photography is the one that will have a clear and interesting subject, nail down the composition and be supported by great light. While it may sound easy, it is actually very difficult to achieve. Only a fraction of the photos I take are close to that and make it to the portfolio. The one, which would perfectly tick all three of those boxes, I am still missing, and it is still yet to be taken…

There are so many elements when it comes to photography. What equipment do you use and what is your process?

I started out with a Panasonic DMC-GF 7, small mirrorless camera and two lenses (12-32mm and 35-100mm). In addition, a light travel tripod was necessary and later I introduced a circular polarizing and ND filter. That was my gear for the first two years, while I travelled and photographed in New Zealand.

Later in Canada, I upgraded to my current setup, which consists of a Sony A7III and two lenses – the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 and the 70-200mm f/4.0 from Sony. Although I have also amassed some other gadgets after this last upgrade, I am still trying to keep it simple so I usually only carry my camera, tripod and those two lenses. Sometimes I will bring the polarizer or ND filter but only if I have something particular in mind and know that I will actually use them. Over the time, I´ve learned that less is more so sometimes only having a camera, tripod and one lens is a way to go. It is very liberating to forget about the gear, which in turn lets me focus on the creative aspect of photography. A camera and other photographic equipment are just tools in an artist’s hands so it´s good not to get too obsessed over those things. It really is the same as trying to learn to play a guitar. Buying a fancy expensive guitar and all kinds of branded accessories will not make you a great guitar player instantly.

When on location I like to have some extra time before the expected best light so I can just walk around freely for some time and look for potential compositions. At this point, I would only use my phone to get a rough idea about the options that I have. Only when I find the spot that speaks to me, will I take out my camera and move around with it, trying different things until I am happy with what I have in my frame. After that, I set up the camera on tripod and the light waiting game begins.

Canada – Lake Louise

In my opinion, photography is a very complex art form. Who, if anyone, are the photographers who have inspired your work and what about their art do you like?

There are quite few of them so I will try to keep it short. Mike Browne and his YouTube channel taught me the basics and sparked that curiosity which later grew into my passion for photography.

Karolina Stus, who is incredible fine art photographer, was, and actually still is, a great inspiration for me because of her style of work and constant creative flow that always surrounds her. She shared a lot of knowledge with me and gave me the confidence to further develop my skills, and she has been supporting me along the way. It may sound like a cliché but she saw something in my work even before I did, so until today I am very grateful that while in New Zealand, I had a chance to meet and work alongside her.

Pavol Piroha, is an excellent wedding photographer and videographer from my homeland whose work is amongst the best in Slovakia. He has a great eye and can always spot a key detail, which makes a difference between a good and a great photo. He has been providing me with valuable feedback and sharing his knowledge with me since I started which has helped me quickly grow as a photographer.

Tom Heaton and Nigel Danson, who are both from the U.K. Tom is master of simplicity, and Nigel has such a unique style, which I love. He also is a great teacher whose enthusiasm is very hard to resist.

Mads Peter Iversen from Denmark is a master of creating pictures out of nowhere and his post processing style and skills are just out of this world.

New Zealand´s William Patino has unique vision and ongoing ability to explore and find new pictures in hidden corners of New Zealand. Even if the place is familiar, Will will eventually find a way to show it from an unknown perspective, which is something I honestly admire. He also keeps his photography very simple, even to that extent that he doesn´t even use a tripod.

Peter, I am really glad that we got to connect and learn about your work. I am excited to see what is next in store for you. Where do you hope to travel to and or live next and what is the draw in these locales from a photography standpoint?

Thanks for making it happen Al, this was fun. For the future, I am hoping to do more photography around my homeland, Slovakia, and present more of its beauty through my work. I am still drawn to big mountains and diverse landscapes so later I would like to visit and photograph Switzerland and the northern parts of Europe, especially Iceland and Norway. The last year and half taught me that planning too much into the future might not make sense so will see what the future will bring. My fingers are crossed for good things to come.

My fingers are crossed for you as well. It has been a pleasure learning about you and your work.

Peter’s beautiful photographs can be found on various sites. You can connect with Peter on his website, Instagram and Open Sea.