Henryk Lobaczewski a fashion photographer from Brisbane, Australia tells Fotoflock.com about his unique style of working. The man has picked up the art of photography without a formal training and believes that one can do better when there are no rules to break. The interview reveals more aspects of this self - taught fashion photographer.

Your work is uniquely identifiable in its style and presentation. Do you use technology extensively to achieve the effects or is a lot of it natural?
I do whatever is necessary; anything that needs to be done is done but I always like to make it look untouched unless it's a desired style or it's something that calls for a heavy or obvious retouch.

Your fashion photography captures models in unconventional settings. Do you work independently or do you have a team or studio?
Both: I work independently but also with a studio here in Brisbane. I like to plan my on-location shoots but I also do a lot of studio work. Location work, even when planned, can go in a completely different direction on the day and that's normally an exciting element of the job.

Your portraits feature a photograph of a young girl with eyes that seem enlightened. How did you approach that shot? Do you do a lot of portrait work?
I don't do enough portrait work as such. I do model profiles for magazines here but I would like to be doing more. It takes time and thought to read a person and frame the correct setting for them; it's very different to fashion photography even though it can be strongly driven by fashion! The young girl had beautiful eyes and it was the right time of day and they worked together. That photograph was always about the eyes, and the excitement a child gets from the world.

How has Australia been inspirational for your work? Do you get to travel a lot for shoots? How have the experiences been so far?
Brisbane is actually quite a hard place to shoot and so it was good to learn there. Melbourne for example (as long as it doesn't rain...) is much easier and more forgiving in terms of natural light and makes for more mouldable shots in terms of lighting.

I can get inspiration from anywhere: a dodgy street, a bridge and how the light falls, a wall with peeling paint etc. and that kind of inspiration is more prominent overseas. Australia is still such a young country but the landscape can inspire for sure.

Sometimes it’s a feeling that starts a shoot; sometimes it’s a location that inspires the feeling.

Have you had formal training? Do you believe that it’s important for a photographer to be trained in order to work professionally?
I'm completely self-taught. My father dabbled but never took it past the family albums. I believe that studying can be a hindrance - all you need is passion and you can accomplish anything you want. If you want to figure out a lighting technique, try it – you might even do it better. Originality is what the industry needs, and it's easier to bring that to the table when you have no rules to break. However for the basics in photography, study has its place- but why not just buy a book?

Who are your influences, past and present? Who turns your head now?
Troyt Coburn is the most recent, but definitely Georges Antoni, Jez Smith, Annie Liebovitz and Camilla Akranz (she's amazing).

Your 'Beauty' work showcases some amazing work. What kind of technology do you use to help with your photographs?
Some nice lights and a good understanding of Photoshop. I love detail and texture so I bring that out a lot if it's called for. I also love dodging and burning.

What advice to photographers who're interested in diversifying their work and creating a unique style.
I'm still diversifying mine; it's a hard game! Everything amazing comes from passion; get passionate about something and let that drive you.

Photos by Henryk Lobaczewski | Fotosocial