Fellow Passengers by Tomáš Křivka
Welcome to another captivating photo essay, this time by Tomáš Křivka. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to comment below and, if you're interested, share your photo essay with us. Your perspectives add valuable dimensions to our collective exploration.
During my train travels, I noticed the diverse people sharing the journey with me. Multiple times I thought to myself, "If only I had my camera with me to capture this person sitting across from me." After repeating this thought several times, I decided to try it and began carrying my camera with me.
I contemplated how to approach the photography. Initially, I thought I would shoot from the seat opposite, focusing more on portraits. However, I eventually opted for a consistent view into the compartment from the aisle opposite the window. It turned out that besides the people, the window in the frame also holds significance. Although it often captures the landscape randomly, the composition of the image framed by the window can be intriguing. I can definitely say that I wouldn't have consciously thought to photograph the landscape in this way. Over time, I increasingly emphasized the window view, adapting my choice of routes accordingly. If there was something interesting visible from the track, I would happily travel back and forth all day around that interesting spot until I managed to take a satisfactory photograph. I always took multiple shots of the same scene to have a selection from various combinations of the landscape in the window and the people in the compartment.
I always began my photography by walking through the entire train, scouting people I would later approach. I tried to cover as diverse a spectrum of individuals as possible. I aimed to include people of different ages, professions, interests... both individuals and groups in the collection.
From a technical perspective, I had to deal with the reflection of the interior in the window on the photograph. The biggest problem was my own reflection. This was eventually solved by wearing dark clothing and covering the window and the wall of the wagon behind me with a large piece of black fabric. This occasionally attracted the attention of the railway staff. However, everything was always quickly explained, and I could continue taking photos.
The photography of the whole collection was accompanied by a great willingness of those photographed. Only a minority of people refused, and most didn't mind the longer photography sessions. Often, we would delve into interesting conversations, which was always enriching. I took contact information from those photographed and sent the photos to them by mail.
Tomáš Křivka (Website, Instagram) is a photographer whose work stems from meaningful interactions and unexpected journeys. His photographic journey has allowed him to meet and connect with diverse individuals, delving into the uniqueness of ordinary people through his lens. Křivka believes in the power of conversation and the personal connections formed during his shoots, which often lead to deep, enriching experiences. His quest for capturing life has taken him to remarkable places, not necessarily distant or grand, but filled with a distinctive charm that contributes to the overarching narrative of his work. Even if he were to lose all his photographs, the invaluable experiences would remain. Křivka's educational background in photography includes studying at the Studio of Photography at the Faculty of Education of Palacký University Olomouc under Ing. Petr Zatloukal from 2004 to 2008, and further honing his skills at the Hradec Photographic Conservatory under the guidance of doc. MgA. Josef Ptáček and MgA. Ivo Gil from 2013 to 2014. His journey reflects a continuous exploration of the human condition, landscape, and the interaction between the two, through the intimate and revealing medium of photography.
We'd love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to comment below and, if you're interested, share your photo essay with us. Your perspectives add valuable dimensions to our collective exploration.
In an era where the rapid consumption of single, fleeting images on social media platforms has become the norm, we yearn for a return to storytelling that is deliberate, deep, and deliberate.