Wojtek Kwiatkowski Photography

Excellent portfolio. You are Wojciech Kossak with a camera. Regards!

Excellent horse photography!

Teraz wiem, dlaczego temat konie w fotografi to niekonczaca sie przygoda..... fantastyczne portfolio pozdrawiam Adrian

what a wonderful portfolio.Wowwwwww.Congrat...

I am not horse fun, but this...

great work here....im simply speechless ...and fan of your work

I have to take my hat and lift it up. Chapeau!!

Your style looks like something that should be hanging up in an art gallery. congrats

znam Twoje Konie - sa rewelacyjne

Superb photography

I'm amazed!! You capture the strength of these animals in an incredible way. The processing is also brilliant.

Some off the best horse photos I have seen. Fantastic work.

Exceptionnal horses portfolio!

Fantastic art photos!

oh, I am ridding horses since my childhood and I had this opportunity to live in Tunisia and to ride some Arabian Horses, but not so beautiful as YOURS here in your wonderful portofolio!

YOu are giving me a pure Poetry of Horses with your Photography!

I am amazed by the beauty of each horse, they are dancing for you in their own force and beauty!

Thank you for sharing the Magie of Arabian Horses with us :)

My compliments, B:l:ana

Your photography is breathtakingly beautiful, and the Arabian horses you have captured so perfectly are simply exquisite.

Thank you so much for sharing your magnificent talent with all of us.

Kat

More, more! Absolutely beautiful work with horses, you have a true talent for portraying the spirit in every moment. Congratulations, keep shooting and sharing!

Your way to represent horses is spectacular. Congrats!

P.S. Thx for your rate

Niesamowite zdjea koni. Gratuluje i pozdrawiam.

Oh my gosh! When I opened up the front page just now, it caught my breath. Beautiful!!! (~going now to look more~)

Davinci could have used these for models for his horse. Great work

Bardzo mi sie podobaja! Niektore wygladaja troche jak rysunki. 7/7

Pozdrawiam, Michal

(przepraszam za polskie znaki :)

This is Timeless Art. Thank you very much for sharing. You've fought hard.

Shawn

The best horse portfolio I have seen. Bravo!

Amazing!

I am amazed that this beautiful portfolio of horse pctures is considered photography.

The pics were - i assume - all originally taken by the photon-light process and a camera. Then they were massaged into dreamlike arty artifacts that look more like oil paintings or pencil drawings (like those over the couch) than actual photos.

All legit, as this is art. Formally based or debased on/from the use of light and photons. Ok and very pleasant to see.

But it is not photography. Let me explain, please:

A relative of mine goes the other way around: she likes a photo of mine and then sits down to recreate it in oil. Some come out very nicely!

Would/could her output be considered photography as well? On this site?

What is the difference between painting with photoshop from a photographed model and painting with oil from a photographed model?

Photons were the origin either way.

Among the best that I have ever seen. Keep up the GREAT work.

This is great art but not photography.

I have been a member of this site since October 2003 and this is one of the most remarkable folders I have ever seen. My heart felt congratulations.

Frank - I tend to disagree. This is photography, and great photography at that. I had an art teacher who was a painter by trade but also taught photography. This was long before the digital revolution. He used to take a photo, enlarge it to 16x20 and then take his palette and paint brush and paint right on top of the photo in various places (but not completely paint over it). It was his method of manipulation. Some of them were marvelous. Also, consider the old timers (of which I am one) that used to use Marshall photo oils to add color to B&W images.

Are these old methods still photography? Of course they are, the photos remained intact and visible just embelished one way or another.

Now consider what Wojtek has so beautifully done. He has added something to his photo (albeit digitally) in much the same way as my old teacher did with a paint brush or as I did by coloring a photo.

The underlying element is the photo image regardless of techniques used to enhance.

The comparision to a painter copying an image is faulty in that the photo in that case was used merely to visualize what was to be painted - from scratch - no different than looking out the window and painting what is seen. That is not photography.

Great work Wojtek. You have an amazing collection and demonstrate great skill in your methods.

Photography or not? I think this could be a long discussion. For me though, this does look like, for the most part, photography trying to emulate painting. Having been to several rodeo and western art exhibitions in the US, these are very similar in content and style to a large number of painters at such shows. The work is not particularly original and I think if I were attracted to this type of art, I would prefer a painting to an altered and manipulated photograph. On the other hand, I am sure these would find great appeal to those who do like the paintings that this work emulates.

As photographic art, I prefer work that is true to the medium, or as described above, mixed with other media, it becomes mixed media work. Both of these are very legitimate art forms. Here it is photography trying to be something else, in my opinion and does not fall into the mixed media category. Is it photography, I guess that is a matter of opinion!

Fantastic style - you have captured the essence of horses superbly with the images here!

Since the images were taken with a camera it must be photography. The relationship to painting is only coincidental. Photo shop is not painting, its a form of artistic manipulation using a computor program. Copying photos in paint is also a dumbing down of the artistic process that suits comercial illustration more than fine art ( art that goes beyond superficial values)) . Wojtek's horses nevertheless are easy to look at and reflect a true love for the subject. I would like to see the unvarnished versions.

Wojtek, This is an excellent portfolio. Every photo whether digitally altered or not is beautiful and exciting. Congratulations on being the featured portfolio. You have quite a talent and I Appreciate it. 7/7

Sue.

I had to call my wife over to see these, she loved them.

Excellent photos.

cg

...shocking good pictures. I am not into horses - but you have your very own dramatic style. This is a true marriage where best photograpy meets best painting dramaturgia...

Regardless of the nonsensical debate over photoshop...This is great work. Who cares what it is called. I actually would love to own one of the prints.

Chip

Excellent work. I don't understand those who question whether this is photography - obviously it is, with heavy manipulation to express the artistic intent of the creator. Bravo, superb work. 7/7

IMO pure unadulterated kitsch - anyway well done - regards Heinrich

Beautiful, beautiful work. I am a huge horse fan and have tried unsuccessfully to capture the beauty and majesty of these animals. You have succeeded not once but repeatedly.

In reading the posts for this portfolio, I was amused that the question has become what we should consider a photograph to be...a little over a hundred years ago the art world asked the same question and we can look backwards with the improved vision of hindsight. In the mid to late nineteenth century a group of artists decided to go against tradition and began to paint street scenes and contemporary life...worse yet, they didn't paint "photo realistically". The Salon refused to accept or acknowledge the work of these artists so they exhibited at the Salon des Refusé³ in 1863 and they held their first exhibition in 1874. The reviews from the press were harsh; "This school does away with two things: line, without which it is impossible to reproduce any form, animate or inanimate, and colour, which gives the form the appearance of reality." EMILE CARDON, LA PRESSE "The exhibition of the Revoltes", April 29, 1874. For those of you who have not guessed at identity of the artists and this movement, it is the Impressionists. Perhaps we need not be as short sighted as our predecessors when we look at these photos, the issue should be that of this portfolio...a collection of stunning photographs that I cannot criticize. I applaud you work. For those of you that may fall prey to the argument that by virtue of the fact that these pictures were captured by the photon-light process and now resemble paintings; therefore, should not classified as photography, let us 'see' things from another perspective. The fact that you can examine these photos and view the world around you is because photons travel through the lens of your eye back to the retina which interacts with photons of light. It matters little whether we are looking at a photograph or a painting, the way we see does not change. For anyone who takes issue with photos because they are not true to the photon-light process...I suggest you cease the process immediately by closing your eyes.

I want to thank you for putting up your photos. It's not often you see a talent like yours. Thanks again!

YOu have an amazing portfolio. Your pictures are full of life, energy and dynamics. I like your style very much! Hope one day I'll be able to learn to do what you are doing with your photos! Thank you for sharing them with us! Excellent!

Wojciech, My wife has always loved Arabians and as a Thoroughbred owner she acknowledges that thoroughbreds are the descendants Polish Arabs. Your renderings take advantage of light and time without over stylizing. You know your subject so well. For horse owners everywhere these moments you have captured are so real. Thanks for working very hard to bring them to us. Very respectfully, Andy

In Great Britain we have people called 'chavs'. These are ignorant layabouts whose idea of taste is a Burberry baseball cap. These horrible horses are the sort of 'pictures' they hang on their walls. Tasteless, poor renditions of ghastly kitsch.

Excellent photos.

You really must have put a lot of work into these photographs, and, I think it really has paid off! Very interesting portfolio and a very artistic approach!

To continue the discussion:

If I were to post photographs of my relatives' well done artistic paintings of my photos, would those then be considered photographs? Worthy of serious discussion in a photographic forum?

How about the pictures in a museum catalogue? Are they art, are they photographs worthy of a "Photo of the Months" merit mention?

Mind you callous rejectors of the work in painting from a photograph: it is highly interpretive work and art in itself, since it conveys a sense of beauty and wonder.

Could a photographic crop (highly artistic, showing NEW aspects of composition etc etc ) of the self portrait of van Gaugh in the National Gallery in DC be considered for photographic merit? Used as "Photo of the Week"?

I am just wondering what you think.

What a GREAT protfolio!!! I love it.

First of all Wojtek, you have a very impressive portfolio that captures the majesty of these horses in their true essecense.

Regarding the photography debate. This is absolutely photograhy ! It came from a camera. Who says that photography is limited to a photojournalistic or documentry style? Photography is art captured by a camera and finished by the artist. Stop limiting photography by claiming it's not photography if it's been digitally altered. Photography has a huge umbrella and artistic photos like this belong under that unbrella.

...doskoniale zdjecia...perfekcyjna robota...pozdrawiam rycho.

As I said above, whether this is photography or not is, indeed, a matter of opinion. I think digital manipulation can be wonderful and there are several fine examples of people doing great work here on PN. But those people maintain the integrity of the medium and are not trying to emulate some other medium. The question isn't whether we limit what can be done with photography, the question here is whether we should imitate a painting with altered photography or should we learn to paint if we want to create a painting! I think there should be integrity to the medium in a work of art and lack of skill is not an excuse. That said, again, those that do like the paintings in this genre I am sure would also like this work.

The only thing I cant understand is the rason why you need critiques: you dont need it at all, you just fly high! Your photos have their own personality, their specific appearence, in a way that once someone looks at a photo-paint of yours recognise your hand immediately in all the others, wherever they are. Good, very good! Bye

you are my hero. there is nothing more to it.

~much love

Mona, In this age of technology gone wild, it should be expected that new species evolve. Its a little like genetic engineering, dont you think? The days of pure photography or painting are soon to be the good ol days. Even illustrators begin their paintings by hand and finish them on photo shop these days. Many questions will become known as this process evolves. The Artist hopefully will transform as well to meet the challenge of avoiding mediocracy.

Pardon my french, but screw anyone that tries to find fault with this collection. Weather your looking at them as photos, paintings, drawings or other they are truly phenomonal.

Wojtek, you have truly created a collection of masterpieces worthy of nothing less than total admiration.

Absolutely stunning - beautiful!!!

I'll believe that the "purists" are being intellectually consistant when they sell their digitial cameras, remove photoshop from their computer, and remove their photos from this forum, returning to the "pure" medium of silver and emulsion.

Photography, in many ways, is all about compromise and choice. Aperture vs Depth of field. Iso vs detail or noise. Sharpness against motion. Light and dark. Texture and form. No one photograph can encompass all the elements of photography. It's up to the artists to make their choices, and evoke what ever muse they can summon.

The debate here only proves, in my mind, that this IS art. There's no question in my mind that these are also photographs, and of the highest quality. Because a subject is overworked and often trite, shall we abandon it? Who will suggest that Edward Weston said it all about nudes, and that we should forget to try to see what WE can see, say what WE have to say? Horses are as highly evolved as humans, in their own niche, and we sometimes percieve them in the Heroic nature protrayed in these photographs.

But, Hey, that's just MY opinion!

photography n 1: the act of taking and printing photographs [syn: picture taking] 2: the process of producing images of objects on photosensitive surfaces 3: the occupation of taking and printing photographs or making movies (Source: WordNet 2.0, 2003 Princeton University). This discussion began with one comment which was based on the opinion that these photos resemble paintings and a suggestion that they should not be in this forum. It has prompted some of the most mean spirited comments that I have seen here. These critics would elevate the photos to the the tactlessness of black velvet 'Elvis' paintings and plastic lawn ornaments. As a photographer I welcome critiques that are on point with a desire to help others to improve. I appreciate and applaud their efforts. That being said, the harshest of critics for this portfolio do not have photos of their own posted. With all of the talk of being true to the medium it makes me wonder what their medium could be? What better way to influence the photographers of this forum than to post your photographs and dazzle us with your brilliance? Perhaps it is easier to sit on the sidelines and throw stones?

The same question troubled my mind-"whether these are photographs" or 'digitally manipulated images' and to what extent the later images acceptable? I have read with interest the debate over this issue here. Even in the days of early days of photography, manipulation was done to achieve desired result. When color films were introduced, the B & W purists raised alarm and objections.But color films and prints were accepted. Now that Digital SLR cameras & digitally manipulated images have been introduced, I feel it is going to stay and prosper. Photograph is art, when photographer is an artist. All Black & White and color photographs are not work of Art. Similarly all images manipulated in ps are not work of Art. I feel Wojtek Kwiatkowski is an artist extra-ordinary and his few images(not photographs) are work of superlative Art.

Right on point Gail - I totally agree. I take great offense to the use of the word "kitsch" to describe these or any other renderings that members have referred to during this discussion.

To wit:

1. kitsch kich, n. trash: work in any of the arts that is pretentious and inferior or in bad taste. --adj. kitsch'y. --adv. kitsch'ly. [Ger] Definition from Chambers dictionary

2. kitsch kich noun. trash; art, literature, fashion, etc dismissed as being of merely popular taste or appeal, vulgar, sentimental or sometimes pretentious. Also adjective. kitsch'ily adverb. kitsch'y adjective. [German] Definition from Larousse plc.

3. kitsch In the arts, anything that claims to have an aesthetic purpose but is tawdry and tasteless. It usually applies to cheap sentimental works produced for the mass market, such as those found in souvenir shops and chain stores, but it is also used for any art that is considered in bad taste. Definition from Helicon Publishing Ltd.

4. kitsch Derived from the German verkitschen etwas, kitsch means to 'knock something off'. Today it is synonymous with objects of bad taste that are so bad they're good in an ironic way. In the fifties and sixties kitsch was - and still is - highly collectable. Kitsch can be anything from flying ducks to Tretchikoff paintings and Elvis toilet roll holders. Definition from BBC News Online

These definitions are all very subjective - negative - and in my opinion the images in Wojtek's folders do not meet those criteria. Kitsch is something that could be applied to many of the images you will see if you look at the end of the list of TRPs - there's alot of junk there.

If any of you 'critics' have ever even tried to photograph horses, you might have a better appreciation of what it took to capture the original images. And while they may be fabulous and could stand on their own merits, Wojtek has chosen to enhance the images in one way or another to reveal or hide details which may have been distracting to the original intent of the image.

I am not a horse photographer, but can certainly appreciate the time and energy spent to arrive at these results.

I would like to see critiques be a bit more purposeful rather than demeaning. While you may not like it, and while to some it may seem overly-commercial, the technique has become valid in today's electonic age, and is no less valid than manipulations which have been done to photographs in the past.

Just my 2 cents... --Rich

"Good Horses are few, like good friends, Though they appear many to the inexperienced eye." I own Arabian horses and I must say that these images portray with great justice the grace and beauty of the Arabian. The Polish people have been great lovers of the Arabian horse and have immensely contributed to the preservation and betterment of the breed. I can't understand why some people must degrade the experience of the enjoyment we get when seeing these wonderful images by making inanimate, lifeless, insipid comments... very much like their portfolios.

The pictures are simply awesome, I think the way you have captured the horses is very surreal, they almost look like paintings. great work .. very inspiring

Your photos are amazing. You have a great talent to really capture the moment and make the photos 'calm'.

This work is beautiful, it does wonderful justice to the power and splendor of the breed of horse he had chosen to photograph. Let's not get caught in the trap of becoming snobs by choosing to claim one horse is better than another.

If another photographer can claim this is not pure photography, let him or her try to capture any of these moments, much less turn it into any type of art form. Art moved and evolved throughout past centuries, so did photography. To get caught in the trap of claming purism is to claim one has closed their mind to learning new methods of transition. You may not embrace new techniques, but you must achknowledge them, and understand that the rest of the art/photography world is using them.

To deny that essence of movement and change, is to become stale, to founder in your jealousy. To wonder why artists like Wojtek gain a following while others remain unknown is no mystery. Those that continue to educate themselves will succeed, those that only complain and remain stuck in 'pure' styles will fall further behind.

This folio is pure horse pleasure, horse movement, horse joy. For anyone who loves horses of any breed, we find the passion, speed, and grace we love in our equine friends in his photographic arts.

Bravo Wojtek, and keep up the great work!

As I read all that has transpired since yesterday, I find it quite amusing. In my case, I don't think I have made any attacks on the work here, other than to suggest that it has not remained true to the medium.

I think my point against this type of manipulation was aptly put by Alan Katz, "The Artist hopefully will transform as well to meet the challenge of avoiding mediocracy." How mediocre will art become if we all buy the same programs to convert our photos to paintings! I think it is great that illustrators and others "create" art work on the computer. And yes, there will be blurred lines where someone uses a photograph and various paint programs to create hybrids, but the key is that something is being "created" from scratch or pieced together, not that someone is pushing a button, if you will, that changes a photo into one of several canned choices to yield the desired look, and a look that can be achieved, with so much more nuance, by someone willing to learn the actual skill of painting. As a painter, Alan, you of all people should have the knowledge of how important the brush work and the way the paint is applied is to a painting. And so are we really going to be willing to accept a computer generated algorythmic conversion of a photo as a painting, that is mediocrity!

I can't wait to see what all the computer will continue to allow us to do in the arts, but I hope it is not this! (no offense to the work, it is just the process)

Wojtek, I think some of the critiquers here forgot what photography is really all about. You have achieved a great result in providing viewers with beauty of your images. Your photos are not only pleasing to the eye, but also interesting, thought provoking and inspiring. Congratulations!

p.s. I really wish I shared your talent as well as surname ;)

good luck! jk

I would not offer my comment except some of the above "critiques" are annoying. There is a lot of influences in Wojtek's photographs coming from the Polish school of painting. There is some bits of Kossaks (both Juliusz and Wojciech), there is some Brandt. For those interested in Polish school of painting, go to: http://artyzm.com/to/konie.htm. It is all about the beauty of a horse, nicely done and in a subtle, poetic manner. The rest can be debated or criticized by those who "know better". In polish we call places of those kind of discussions: budka z piwem. Translated, it means an outdoor kiosk serving beer where local drunks, malkonents, ignorants and "know it alls" are changing the world and setting their mission statements to make it better. At times, photo.net reminds of those kiosks. Congratulations Wojtek! 7/7 all the way.

Wow, you really inspire me. Those are some beautiful photos.

It is easy for us to think that our generation has the most cutting edge ideas as well as technology. I have included some examples of photography (above) circa 1850 to 1860-62. Some of them have a very painted quality about them, yet, they are all photographs. When you look back into the history of photography it is fascinating and educational. The portrait of the man with the cat was taken in 1850 and I find the photo incredible. What direction would these early photographers have taken with the techniques that we have available now? When we talk about being "true" to the medium of photography, to what do you refer? Personal perceptions and preference and your definition of this art form? For those that are interested, you can view historical photos online from 1839 to present day at the George Eastman Photography Archives. http://www.geh.org/taschen.html I think that these forums can be educational and can serve to improve the art of photography.

I'm not going to comment on Wojtek's work at all-beyond saying it's a shame for him that his page has been hijaked for a debate which probably belongs in the forum section. Hopefully he'll get in touch with abuse@photo.net and they can wipe most of these comments for him.
My concern is with Mona and Alan Katz. After reading your comments I rushed to see your work only to discover you have posted the sum total of nothing between the two of you. So far-not so good. Then again, you may feel safer leaving comments when you know nobody is going to revenge attack your own work. However, as you are both probably aware, by not submitting anything for critique nobody has any means to respond to any criticism you make of their work. I attach an image, called white with black border, which you can freely use. By submitting this image for critique you will present fellow PN'ers with a means to respond to you. This will lend you some semblance of credibility which, imho, you somewhat lack at at the moment.

Darrell, do you think that the elves are so naive that in choosing this portfolio that there would not be a discussion about what photography is or isn't? Second, have you even read the comments here? Maybe I am wrong, but I think Alan Katz actually supported this work and the process. And am I to believe that it is part of accepted behavior on PN that people revenge attack someone for having an opinion? For my part, as it was suggested by another, I would like to see the "photographs" from which these works were created, it is the process to which I take exception and feel it diminishes not only photography, but art in general. But I am sure Wojitek does very well with them.

Gail, the photos you posted are not inconsistent with what I have said. Daguerreotypes, collodian and albumen are all wonderful examples of photography and what it can be. Maybe a better example would be the Photo Secession movement which first tried to legitimize photography as art. Later, they were challenged by the f-64 group as being anti photographic. In reality, understanding that feud for what it was at the time, I do appreciate the work of the photo secessionists as, even tho many were trying to emulate and rival painting, the work still remains essentially photographic and the manipulations were organic.

Although I have to say that these are very beautiful horses with gorgeous settings, something seems very false. The photoshop job you did on these photos makes me want to see the original picture because it seems too perfect and the lighting almost looks like it was done in a studio. The backgrounds have this dusty haze, and you can tell that you have altered the picture. The photograph of the brown horse looks like it had edge definition, and the color is pure white, yet the rest of the picture is dark. My suggestion: use photoshop wisely.

Question-will you be willing to create the mechanism by which people you critique can respond to you directly-in other words will you submit one image for critique....if not could you explain why not? As I indicated before, the image does not have to be particually real. A white space with black border will suffice.

Darrell M. This section of PN is not a gallery. It is a forum for discussion on all things as they relate to Art. Contributors are nowhere required to submit porfolios as a prerequisite for posting. Contibutors in this section respect each other. They do so because by doing so they will gain respect. It has far greater value than any ratings scheme. We do not always agree and that is the essence here. If there are attacks or differences, they are usually worked out between the parties. Open discussion with intellegent minds is the big draw here. Visual perception is the reward. Personally I have found that contributors who post no work are here for other reasons. This is not some childs game where if we say something that someone else diagrees with , we should be attacked immaturely for it. Listen to the dialog. Contribute to it. The dialog demands your civility if you are a part of it. Monas voice is one that I respect. She has proven (as so many others with no photo posts) that she truely cares about whatever she involves herself in. I do the same. Try if you can to act a little less superior. For the record , I visited your porfolio and was genuinely impressed. I hope that in the future your words will live up to your images.

Keep in mind that the elves do not choose the featured portfolio. I am almost positive the Brian alone chooses it.

Absolutely stunning work, I think the process that you have put these through just enhances the beauty of the Arab horse

AWESOME..AWESOME AND AWESOME!

Alan, you write-'This section of PN is not a gallery. It is a forum for discussion on all things as they relate to Art.' Sorry. I thought it was Wojtek's portfolio page.
It's interesting that my comments led you to my portfolio and i thank you for the very kind words you say about it. I imagine the thought process that led you to visit it went something like, 'Hey, this guy's got a lot to say for himself. And it's personally addressed to me. Wonder what his photos are like.' One click later your curiosity is satisfied.
Like you, I'm all for dialogue. My preference is for dialogue on equal footings. I do not understand when you write 'Personally I have found that contributors who post no work are here for other reasons...' and would love the opportunity to be enlightened. However, I don't think this is the place to engage in any further dialogue. I think I've been civil so far.. Let me know if you feel otherwise. Perhaps we should start a thread on the discussion forum as to the purpose and validity of critiques submitted by people who show no work and offer no mechanism for direct response.

Meanwhile I hope that in the future your images will live up to your words.

Photografy or not, It is an excellent portfolio you here. Great art.

I've discovered a new schoool of photography upon reading this thread: Nilism. Some of the critics herein have no portfolio, and by this means, their photography can be everything that somebody else's portfolio is said not to be. This is an amazing extension of art's frontiers, and should be recognized as the seminal breakthrough of the century in photography.

Reminds me of a Nursery Rhyme from Space Child's Mother Goose: Probable Possible,, my black hen,/ She lays eggs in the relative when./ She doesn't lay eggs in the positive now/ because she's unable to postulate how!

Shall we stand in awe of unseen eggs, or shall we admire the beauty of these horses?

I've awarded 7/7 for the horse, and the nonexistent photo has a suitably nonexistant rating.

First of all nice portfolio.
I think that in the digital world there's no true photography or painting anymore. They merged in a new medium - digital image (made out of 0's and 1's). In a digital world all boundaries are away. You can make a photographically realistic image in a 3D program or a painting-like image in PhotoShop or Ilustrator. The result (achieved by artistic effort) counts.
Do you remember the Picasso quote? "I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I have nothing else to learn."
There's a digital world to discover these days.

The most powerful horsephotos I have seen. Unique. Best regards V.A. Rating is not necessary they are all of top class.

I don't know much about anything, but I don know something about nothing, and that's what this debate seems to be all about. In the early days photographs were created on plates but were highly unstable and faded in a really short amount of time. Then we discovered fixers, what a technological advancenemt that was. After plates came the good old black and white films, first in sheet (another technological advancment) then in rolls, 120, 200 etc, another great advancment then god help us all 35mm, aka the mini format and the 'Experts' and 'Purists' started to rant. I've only been using digital technology for photographic purposes since the early part of this century, as in 2001, but my experiences cover all aspects including 10x8, 5x4, 35mm and others. I wonder what the photographers at the end of this century (2099) will say about the antiquated systems we used to create art and record history and what our children and those of us that live long enough will say about their new fangled gadgets and techniques not being pure. My sole point to all this is that photography is an evolving process and always has been since it's invention, so weather your a purist or someone that creates artistic images using all the available technology available "judge not lest yee be judged"

Good work Wojtek I look forward to more.

Firstly, well done to Wojtek Kwiatkowski for creating a stunning collection of dynamic, evocative and beautiful pictures.

Secondly, shame on you who say that it's not art. Let ye who has a workable and universaly agreed definition of 'art' cast the first stone.

Thirdly, of course people who don't have photo.net portfolios can air their views - this isn't a private club.

Fourthly, Henri Cartier-Bresson used dodge and burn when developing his snaps, so let's not disappear up our own f-stops arguing the purism of photo-realism over the evils of manipulation, because that way madness lies.

Lastly, art is about perception. The perception belongs to the recipient, not the donor. In my view, Wojtek Kwiatkowski's work is art. Personally, I'd go further and say that it's good art, but that's just because I like it.

I admire the many thousands of images on this website, and I'd never discriminate on the basis of whether or not someone has tweaked the levels, or cloned out a distracting detail.

Wojtek Kwiatkowski - your work is inspirational. There is some background noise, which you should ignore, about the definition of art.

Carry on, artist.

what a beautiful series. I like all of them.

wow.

You have wonderful portfolio. excellent.

I love these photos, whether they fall under that catagory or not. They are stunning, and even without the effects added, they are stunning. I work a lot with horses & horse photography and I can promise getting results like these are no easy task!

The only thing I would agree on, since they are so digitally edited and border on photography-or-not? it probably shouldnt have been picked for Portfolio of the Month as that should be reserved for stand-alone photography (seeing as this is PHOTO.net and not ART.net or similar)... I'm probably not expressing properly what I feel, but I tried.

Well done Wojtek - your photo's inspire me!

The essence of what I have tried to say is that there have been more than one school of thought and more than one movement in photography. There is not one style per se but many...all of which are valid expressions of this art form. How can you "maintain the integrity" of a medium with such variety? Your pseudonym is Mona Chrome and while it might imply one color it does not need to mean one idea. Both the Photo Secession movement (1902-1917) and Group f64 (1932) were two movements in photography, it should be noted that the secession movement ended fifteen years before Group f64. The latter only met a few times, had eleven members and held three shows so it is presumptive and incorrect to assume that the two groups were feuding. The Photo Secession movement wanted to elevate photography to an art form that 'stands the test of criticism' in that the composition, color, tone and lighting should have esthetic charm. The idea was that photographs should be judged on their content and composition whereas, Group f64 did not delineate between good and bad photography. While I believe that everyone should be allowed (without fear of retribution) to comment in this forum. It is also fair to note and consider the credibility of those posting comments and one of the ways is to look at your work. If your choice is to lurk anonymously in cyberspace, your expectation should be that your opinion is not given the same weight as those willing to 'stand behind their comments'. I would also suggest that any sweeping claims and historical references be thoroughly checked for fact before posting.

When I look at your work I can almost see the brush strokes in it. They are beautiful. They appear as if they were painted directly to the film right out of the imagination. Excellent job!

Simply wonderful! You can fill the life, the srong and powerful force of the life. Great! Maria

Gail, I am glad my comment stimulated you to do some research in the field. If you do further research, you will note that f64 was opposed to the pictorial style of photography that the photo secessionist movement had championed, we cannot always write a book in our comments, and there was a bit of a feud between members, or former members, of the groups over the styles.(edit: the primary feud was with the pictorialist William Mortenson, not technically a member of the photo secession movement)

Integrity in a medium has nothing to do with styles, it has to do with whether the work remains essentially photographic or has it become something else. When the work loses all photographic qualities, then is it still photography? That is the question I posed and I am not sure if posting work would have changed my meaning or the idea I was trying to put forth. Posting seems to be an issue only to somehow deflect grappling with the issue at hand or to somehow insinuate that only a posting person can think. If photographing was the only prerequisite to valid opinion in the field, there would be a lot of museum curators, gallery owners and critics without a job.

I may have misread what you were trying to say, but I was not in anyway trying to attack what you said, I was trying to further define where I was coming from and give an example where a similar issue had arisen. My only goal here was to raise the issue of what we are willing to accept as photography or even art. I don't think I ever attacked anyone or even the work, balking at the process-yes, and so don't understand what has generated so much heat. I hope it is not just an alternative opinion.

fantastyczne portfolio, rzeczywiscie w iscie Kossaka stylu, gratulacje i pozdrowienia

I love the results!

CLASSIC ART. Amaizing page. I love horse photography. This page is a Wonderful" PHOTO PAINTING".

What can I say that has not been said..Thank you for your vision..Thanks for sharing these amazing creatures and your talent in which you presented them.Thank you for the gift you gave us all. Carolyn

I cannot believe I hadn't found this until now! Call them whatever (photo/art/beautiful things/kitsch!...) I just love these. I am a horse fan, but even if I weren't, I would still love them. Thanks for sharing.

I absolutely love your portfolio! I love horses. these are beautiful!!!!!

Whatever effects were aplied after, the shots, each one in the folder, are fantastic and show the eleganca, power of Arabian horses. To do this it takes talent, great talent.

Awesome folder.

I would like to be a horse to be pictured like that. Congratulations and thanks for sharing

Is it photography or not doesn't matter. The key issue is the making of art which is defined as a thing of beauty (Heritage dictionary). Who cares if you used charcoal, oil, or watercolor.... art is an interpretation of the real thing we see, or fantasy! Is it therefore wrong for someone to use film to also interpretate what they see? In the traditional darkroom, texture screens/different toners/masking techniques were also used to enhance the image, and today photoshop just makes it faster. Artists have the right to interpret what they see in their own way, it is their eye, their observations of things around them, and as long as it is beautiful no one has a right to object to how they achieved the art piece. Artists today are using cameras (Robert Bateman) to capture images and assist them when painting. Is this a traditional watercolourist, because now they are capturing detail (including lens distortion) very close to what the camera sees? Why is it okay for watercolor/oil and other artists to use mixed media (inc. camera), but it is not okay for the photographer to do the same? Art is about seeing, there is nothing in the definition that says it must be done in oil,watercolor,camera, combination of, or employ specific methods. If I see an image I like, I buy it, I don't ask how it was done, and in most cases most people would not have a clue (there not artists).

"Here it is photography trying to be something else". Huh, take away the camera from 90% of the painters using them today to assist them while painting. Animal paintings have never been so detailed like they are now, they are not from memory (eg- www.speraart.ca). Is this watercolor painting trying to be something else, and does it matter so long as you love his images? If it was taken with a camera, it is photography. Great image!

Wonderful portfolio, excellent photos, great PS tecnique. Thanks for sharing!!!

I love horses and in my humble opinion, this is without a doubt the most beautiful, the most awesome, the most positively brilliant collection of horse photographs to be found anywhere...

Best regards from Kenya,

so great!!!

It's not easy getting a "good" picture of a horse; you have several "great" pictures of them. I agree that a debate on whether photography or art doesn't belong here. I admire your work, Wojtek.

Magnificent. Real classics.

This is such art! Your work leaves me speechless. Your compositions and timing ...How do you capture these horses at just the right second? This is my granddaughter's favorite animal and we look at your work over and over. Thanks for sharing.

The light in your pictures reminds me of the light in dutch paintings. Very beautiful.

whow! I will sit the 1Ds in front of the monitor and make it contemplate what can be done.

Great work Wojtek Kwiatkowski. Well done. Thanks for sharing.

I wanted to remove most of my images from PN after I have read majority of the comments here. But then I looked at your pictures again and I changed my mind. Your horse portraits can talk without words. Thanks for them.

I wish one day to be able to capture and create images as visually stunning as these...

Your work is awe inspiring. Some of the best I've ever seen

I know that this is called "photo.net", but what are we doing here? We're all mostly expressing ourselves and our visions. So again, we debate what is "art" and what is "photography". Well, you can surely find clean and clear definitions for the word photography...but have you tried looking up definitions of the word art? that's a little more difficult to do. That's because art is subjective...it's different things to different people. So...this discussion is good, and it hopefully will help us grow and move on to what the question really is...Does this image spur any emotion, and is it good or bad? who cares if it is a painting, or a photograph...or something inbetween. Wojtek posted this work probably to share, but also to obtain feedback. So let's answer his question with a yes or no, and perhaps back it up with an explaination. I really enjoyed this portfolio. Real, fake, enhanced, painting, photo...whatever...quite simply...my eyes translate the images to by small brain and "Ricky likes" :)

This portfolio reminded me of two things: the horse formerly on the logo of Adobe Premiere, and a great photograph by David Alan Harvey. All in all, very nice. You obviously have a love of these creatures.

congratulations from italy

Very very good portfolio,excellent horse photos. Congrats.Best regards.

An inspirational, competent and captivating portfolio. Many thanks.

Firstly, what an amazing portfolio of photographs, many many congrats.

Secondly, the photos of the horses are packed with beauty, drama, action and power.

Thirdly, the techniques employed to process the final images detracts nothing from the quality of the captured photograhs, but merely enhances them.

Lastly, you bet they're photographs.

I love horses! I love these photos, too! Thank you for giving me something to aspire to in my photography. And, please continue to create great works of art.

Amazing portfolio ... very nice photos horses ... Iam ardent

U ARE THE HORSE GUY HERE!!!!....OUTSTANDING PICS!!!!

Sir, Your work is beautiful and I offer my very sincere compliments!

I can't find the words to articulate how extraordinary your work with horses is. As a serious equestrian, artist, and beginning photographer, I must say that this work rivals that of the great equine photographer Robert Vavra. With your talent and vision I would not be surprised if we one day see your work published in breathtaking harcover masterpiece books as he has done. Many congratulations and please, keep shooting and sharing!

I sure wish i could submit one photo like these, the pose, the light are marvalous. You are an insiration for me. Again fantastic portfolio.

Great images,for sure it's photography Wojtek(Fuji is a camera as I know). For my taste little overdone in PS(or anything else you used) but it's a matter of personal taste and vision. You have vision of beautiful creatures,captured often in the peak of action. What a pity that your personal portfolio became a place of public debate on basis of art and photography-not on your photos in fact. Respect for not wasting time on dispute with malcontents-I think you went out to take some photos,what I'm strongly recommending to the others. (sorry for my English-I'm not a native speaker,mayby I should write in polish)

You have an incredible talent! Your horses are breathtaking. It is obvious you take great care in polishing up your work and presenting an incredible finished product. Thank you for imprinting these horses to my memory! Kindest regards from Canada, Iren

u make me want to shoot some horses. those images are easily some of the best

Fantastic portfolio Wajtek!

Your photographs are like paintings. They are so full of art, life & feelings of joy and liberty. Looking forward to see more of your wonderful work.

Some work is just sublime. Fantastic.

M

Hello from Germany

what wonderful pictures. They are really brilliant.

Best whises Manuela

I read all the comments and I don't care to analyze your work...Not technically per se, it is masterful for sure, your images stir me, they make me feel. Isn't that essentially what we want from all forms of art..photography,painting, and even the art of writing. I like how the contributers spoke..I like what they wrote..all of them have excellent points. Wojtek..I saw your work, I felt it, It is beautiful

love

john

Awesome portfolio. Manipulated to look like paintings or not, it doesn't matter, they look superb. Digital photography is a licence to be creative, and that is what you have been here. Very well done! Regards.

A lovely portfolio, a credit to photo.net. The best, Michael

Excellent folder, you're welcome to see this shot http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=4609779

This collection of pictures is just amazing!...Awesome Pictures...To have the opportunity to photograph extremely beautiful creatures is a bless.

Regards

OG.

.....compu-graphy? or photography?

..you do them. Your works is art and its amazing. Keep it up.Hope to be able to see a lot more of your expressive pictures. Sonja

With the advent of digital photography all is being redefined, and the debate of whether alterations are excessive will likely never end. As with all forms of art, the final judgement lies in the eyes of the beholder experiencing the final product. I own and ride horses and have loved them as noble, majestic creatures my whole life. They have been captured here not just in body, but in spirit as well. Years ago I purchased Robert Vavra's book--"Horses of the Sun" containing beautiful photographic images of horses and wonderful quotes and stories. At the time it was some of the best work available. I paid 50.00 US dollars for those images. The book is beside me now and I can say without hesitation that your photos exceed his work. (Haven't kept up with his current status but if he's still out there I'm sure he is also doing digital alterations) It is extremely disappointing to see these debates that address such philosophical issues on a portfolio rather than in a forum. With that said, stunning work and a hearty well deserved "congratulations!"

Great portfolio!! Yr Horses serie is beautiful!

Best regards, Nicola.

Bravo... 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7 7/7... Saludos desde Mexico.

In the true sense of the word. The equine portraiture is absolutely breathtaking. Beautiful images of beautiful animals.

Wojtek, you are horsing around too much! Brilliant images. Each one would be great for a horse calendar. Ihaha, Micheal P.S.: do you check your hands and feet regularly?...any hooves forming there?

From my opinion one of the best photo.net photographers, really! I really love every and each of your photos...

G.N.

Imponujace portfolio, czesc prac znam z OB pozdrawiam

Wojtek- I've admired your PHOTOGRAPHY work for some time and it is all very ARTFUL- I couldn't help but notice the raging debate your work has created! Just do us all one thing-- keep doing what you are doing! If you manage to get a book of your photos published, I would be more than happy to purchace one from you! Photography is "drawing with light". Learning how to be good at it is an artform. I still struggle with it! You are a master at it.

What a gallery!!! Superb Works...of Pure Art... You know your Equine... wow..

Some people that say your photography isn't photography or that isn't right to change the originial unaltered photo are ignorant. I guess that means they don't care for Ansel Adams work either. I have studied photography for years and have a college degree in photography and desk top publishing. I have worked for years as a graphic designer and a photographer and I speak from qualified background and education not to mention all the many hours I have spent on my own time learning and self education. I have also had the pleasure of viewing some of Ansel Adams famous pictures before he took them into his dark room and did his magic of enhancing and editing. If he would have had photoshop, painter or other digital editing software I feel he would have taken advantage of it.

Your photography is yours and your mastery is also in how you edit and present your work. It took great skill for you to take these pictures and geat skill to edit them the way you have. Your work is professionally sound and outstanding.

Your photos are breath taking. I enjoy them immensley. Horeses are one of my passions, thank you for capturing them in your unique way. Janet

I have noticed your horses a long time ago. I have even saved one photo as a screensaver. It is beautiful portfolio, photos like paintings. Bring some more! Pozdravenia - Jarmila.

I had to come take a look at everything u do!!! I am sooooooooo in awww. the light the color the composition...I wanna do that...You have mastered the horse in motion.

Congratulations !! This is a great portfolio that is an inspiration for amateur photographers like myself. I want to know more about your techiniques to capture these stunning images of horses. Please teach us.

Happy Holidays!

Congratulations!!! They are all EXCELLENT!!! KEEP SHOOTING and we will keep watching ;):)

Kind Regards

Amazing photo's you make really great! I love you way of photograpy so please keep your work up I love to see more of you. Regards Wendy

Impressing work!! Excellent in all- composition, captured light, color... I congratulate you and give you thanks for sharing with us the magic of your images. Regards. Super fotki Wojtek. Nie moge sie doczekac nastepnych. Pozdrowienia z Canady.

I'm not so eloquent and I'll try to say all that I feel while I'm looking at your pictures in one simple word - BEAUTIFUL. And that I'll be wery happy to come back and enjoy in your great work.

hello Wojtek....sooooooooo glad that i made the stop here.....what an incredible photos you have...i am a very much horselover............you will see in my small gallery......i am totally speechless what i saw.....some portfolios do that to me, and this is for sure the best horse shots i have ever seen....congratulations !!!! all my best from nassau, bahamas.. ~trish~

Hi Wojtek, your portfolio is truly breathtaking. I love horses, but don't get the chance to see them much. So I'm so happy to have discovered your work here. Thanks a lot for sharing!!

Such a beautiful portfolio! Excellent work! , http://www.photo.net/photos/MDehghani , Regards and thanks for such a great collection

Bravo, maestro!

It was quite a surprise for me to find this kind of discussion here. Anyway, I started reading - and I just couldn't hold it any longer:

OK, all you pretentious people who use the word "kitsch" so freely: why don't you take your cameras out just to show the unwashed masses how this is really done ? It is said that art critics are the artists who couldn't cut it. You give both a confirrmation and a new meaning to this definition.

If not for the fact that I never use certain words publicly - I would say "pocalujta w dupe wojta". Amen.

Simply said, this is Great Art and your whole portfolio shows and confirms it. Amazing, stunning!

I am so empressed - you have so many fabulous horse photos - some of the best I've seen - congrads!!

Wow... what a phenomenal portfolio! Your use of light and compositon is outstanding. Beautiful work.... Sincerely, Christine Sharp

Piekne zdjecia wyjatkowo pieknych koni. Gratulacje!

To my eyes a super fine portfolio!

Your studies on the arabian horses are a pleasure for the eyes, very inspiring photographes. you got another fan

You have a wonderful portfolio.

stunningly breath taking equine imagery.
really beautiful stuff :-)

An Akhal-Teke

Checking in on your portfolio once again, I can't help but comment on your continuing work. Every subject you shoot is the epitome of the Arabian breed at their healthiest and happiest...they play and move in a way that suggests that they certainly know their own extreme beauty as they dance and flex, loving the chance to put on a show for your camera. Cheers to the owners, managers, trainers, and all others who have these animals at the peak of health. I see