ELSEWHERE: the Dreamlike World of Olga Karlovac’s Photography
Welcome to this edition of [book spotlight]. Today, we uncover the layers of 'elsewhere,' by Olga Karlovac . We'd love to read your comments below about these insights and ideas behind the artist's work.
Picture this: it’s a rainy night, and you’re wandering through deserted streets where every puddle reflects a world of mystery and every shadow hides a secret. The streetlights cast an eerie glow, making everything look like a scene from a dream. This is the kind of magic Olga Karlovac captures in her latest photography book, “elsewhere.” Her photos pull you into a realm where emotions and memories blend into a surreal landscape, making you feel like you’re on a journey through your own imagination.
Olga’s story begins in the enchanting city of Dubrovnik, known for its historic charm and stunning views. Growing up in such a beautiful place, she developed a unique way of seeing the world. But Olga’s path to photography wasn’t traditional. As a self-taught artist, she broke free from the conventional rules that often constrain others. For Olga, photography is about capturing the essence of a moment, not just its appearance. Her work is deeply personal, driven by an inner need to express what words cannot.
Whether she’s navigating the narrow lanes of Zagreb or exploring the foggy corners of London, Olga’s camera transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. She works mostly in black and white, finding beauty in the contrasts and shadows. Rainy nights, blurry windows, and the soft glow of streetlights become her canvas. Her images are more than just pictures; they are windows into another world, a world where you can almost hear the rain and feel the night air. Each photo is a piece of a larger story, inviting you to lose yourself in the beauty of the unknown and the magic of the moment.
“as i write this i long for new beginnings,
i crave for illusions of a reality that never truly existed
like driving along...
echoes turning into bursts of dust,
shining underneath the shades of a pale moon
way up above ...
somewhere we long to disappear...
somewhere we might collide...“ - Olga Karlovac
Inner Catalysts: Your work is deeply intertwined with challenging emotions and a quest for peace. Can you describe a specific moment or emotion that sparked the beginning of your latest project, "ELSEWHERE"?
as i completed the trilogy, in some ways i felt that ended a big chapter in my life. i felt quite drained, but in a positive way. therefore it took more then 3 years to finish "elsewhere". as a catalyst and spark that triggered the inner need to start making it, was a simple need to create and express, and as a book lover to make it in a form of a book, as when i do so i feel all those memories have been kept safe in a tactile form of a book.
probably it has a sense of inner self preservation to it as well. also, along the way, as my life changed, i spent more and more time in a different places, many times those places felt like completely different worlds, so fundamentally different but also had something very similar at its core, therefore affecting me in many different ways, that inspired me to shoot more again and as stated, after 3 and a half years i created "elsewhere"
Embracing the Unconventional: Many photographers strive to avoid elements like water on the lens or light pollution, but you embrace these as part of your aesthetic. How do these "imperfections" contribute to the emotional depth of your images?
it is the way i see things, for me this is natural, and being "imperfect" is just so perfectly human. i always, even subconsciously seek a rainy blurry windows, dirt on the glass, reflections in polluted water, scapes of old rusty walls behind glass etc...it just looks perfect to me and feels right. i think shooting the way you feel has major contribution to the depth of the images. many times i feel attached to an old empty rusty damaged and abandoned places, and many times when i come back to the same area later on, i find these places change, they get demolished to be rebuilt and most of all that energy simply disappears...i seek the connection through photography, and being very open to feel something that just draws the attention and emotion probably also has a contribution to it.
The Intimacy of Black and White: Working predominantly in black and white, especially under the cover of night and rain, lends a dreamlike quality to your photographs. What draws you to this particular style, and how do you feel it captures the essence of your subjects?
i developed it naturally as i just kept shooting in motion using slower shutter speed and movement, also i predominantly shoot at night and during rainy snowy weather, much more during autumn and winter months then summer. i think i can relate best with the atmosphere and the feel during those days/nights. why exactly my images look like the way they do, to be honest, i do not have all the answers. what i can say is that for me it is how i see everything around me and how i emotionally connect. also black and white for me just feels strong but also simple and timeless.
The Serendipity of the Shot: Your process involves capturing fleeting moments that resonate with your inner state. Can you share an experience where everything aligned perfectly to capture such a moment?
well, to try to look back and remember those perfect moments, i would say they just happen, you can not plan that ahead. one of those moments comes to mind, while standing at the back of the tram behind the window, in my zagreb neighborhood, rain is pouring outside, and you can barely see outside from behind blurry rainy window, and tram is about to depart, daylight but a bit darkish, smell of rain everywhere, the lady runs in a coat and a handbag, i do not know why but it triggered a lot of emotion trying to capture it and as a result a few shots that ended up in the disarray book.
Beyond the Visual: Your photographs are more than just images; they are a sensory experience evoking smells, sounds, and warmth. How do you approach creating such multi-sensory dimensions within your work?
i do not plan the shots, i let them happen, trying to feel and not think, and to capture the moment, the smell, warmth or coldness, human attachment and detachment, a memory, it is also what stays with me and what i remember when i look back at my images in my books. i think it has something to do with the energy and emotion you put into it on many sensory levels, and something that happens as you click the shutter at that particular moment in time.
Journey to Photography: Having come to photography later in life and following a personal impulse, how has your background influenced your approach to the medium?
i think certain life experience helped, also being self-taught and not being put under pressure to achieve anything from the start i think helped a lot, motivation was simply to give something to myself to feel better and help cope with every day life, also to find my way of expression, later along the way i think the fact that by profession i am an economist helped me understand better how art world functions.
Influence and Inspiration: While you mention being influenced more by writers and poets than by photographers, could you share how these literary influences manifest in your visual work?
my influences and inspiration came mostly from reading books, as during the period before i started my photographic journey in my thirties ( i did love photography from very early on, and was into shooting when i was a child. i got my first camera, canon t 70, as a present from my father when i was 14 years old. but when i started university my life just changed direction, so i came back to photography in my thirties ) i was reading a lot and it helped and inspired me, reading makes me imagine more and see things that in general maybe i would not pay as much attention to, it changes perspective and adds so much to it, at least for me. it slows me down and lets me feel more and think less...of course i am a huge photo book lover as well and as i dived more and more into photography they became a must have in my book collection.
Looking Ahead: Following the success of your trilogy, what themes or challenges are you eager to explore in your next project? How do you see your style evolving?
it has been quite intense journey so far,
and if someone told me 10 years ago this is how things would turn out for me i would have not believed this would have been a possibility,
for the future i hope to continue to shoot the way i feel and to capture different moments that cross my way..and
see where this takes me...
To discover more about this intriguing body of work and how you can acquire your own copy, you can find and purchase the book here.
Olga Karlovac
Olga Karlovac is a self-taught abstract and street photographer hailing from the picturesque city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. With a keen eye for the unconventional and a penchant for capturing fleeting moments, Karlovac’s work transcends the boundaries of traditional photography. Her unique style, characterized by black-and-white compositions and an embrace of imperfections, has garnered international acclaim, earning her recognition in esteemed publications and exhibitions around the globe. Through her lens, Karlovac explores the depths of human emotion, inviting viewers to embark on a journey where reality blurs with imagination. (Website, Instagram)
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