Monika Maroziene
TIFA 2024 Interview with Monika Maroziene
1st Place winner in Fine Art, Professional, “Woman Is Like The Sea”
Q: What drew you to the specific genre of photography you specialize in? Was it a personal experience, a mentor, or something else that sparked your interest?
The Curonian Spit, with its amazing and unique landscape created by wind and sea, has been part of my life since childhood. Its rare wildlife and fascinating sand dunes, reminiscent of the Sahara Desert, alongside the powerful sea, have always inspired me. Women – powerful, endless, giving, mysterious, dramatic, dangerous, calm, fragile, ironic, and poetic – remind me of every tiny sand particle sliding in the wind. Women have so many faces and are never fully understood. My passion for women stems from my grandmother, with whom I grew up. She was so feminine and fragile, yet with dirty thoughts. I took it from her, that is probably why my photography is intertwined with poetic irony and melancholy.
Q: How do you approach a new photography project? Can you walk us through your creative process, from concept to execution?
It’s a very different way. If it’s about my personal projects, when the idea pops out in my head, I start to see the fragments and pictures everywhere. I have so many ideas, sometimes when I don’t have the right model or subject, I include myself in pictures. I will accept the modelling role, provided I can actively participate in the creation process.
If it’s related to documenting others, I take inspiration from them because I want it to be about them. Preparation is very important for me, but arising situations and surprises are very welcome. Usually, it surprises me and shows me something I didn’t know or was not able to imagine. I am a quick photographer but a very slow editor.
Q: Your winning project stood out to the jury for its unique perspective. How do you ensure your work maintains originality and authenticity in a competitive field?
I don’t think about that, if I think it just doesn’t work. I’m trying to be myself, work hard, dream…
Q: As a photographer, how do you balance technical expertise with artistic vision? Do you lean more heavily on one, or do they work hand in hand for you?
Well, I hold a master’s degree in chemistry, and I have a bachelor’s degree as a chemical engineer. Nevertheless, I always felt an emptiness where art was meant to be.
This yearning led me to discover a passion for photography, allowing me to blend my scientific background with my artistic aspirations. I use my technical experience for photography and chemical/physical experience for post-production. In the end, photographs come not from cold equipment but from the inside of you, from the heart. Perspective is more important than technique.
Q: What role does post-processing play in your work? Do you consider it an extension of your creativity, or do you aim to keep your images as natural as possible?
Editing for me is like creating a movie, it can breathe new life into your work. However, I love natural skin textures, to make imperfections perfections, I’m aiming to keep the edits in Photoshop minimal.
Regardless of other post productions, I was always seeking innovative methods to merge art and chemistry. I experiment by melting pine tree resin onto my prints, adding both warmth and durability. In my world, colors feel out of place. Black and white create a comforting distance from reality, while the touch of pine tree resin transports me to warm, sunny days.
My latest project, “Woman and The Sea,” incorporates pine tree resin – not fossilized amber – and is called “Amber Coast.” The pine tree resin not only imparts a slightly warm yellow color, but also acts as a natural antioxidant, preserving the images indefinitely. Amber, on the other hand, is fossilized tree resin, prized for its color and natural beauty since the Neolithic era and used in jewellery and folk medicine since antiquity.
Q: How do you stay inspired and motivated in an ever-evolving industry? Are there any specific sources—books, films, or other art forms—that fuel your creativity?
I’m always learning something, it makes me feel alive. Books, art, people, and nature keep me inspired and motivated. But I have learnt that there are so many beautiful things happening around us; there’s no need to go anywhere else. You just have to learn how to see.
Q: Winning this award is a significant accomplishment. How do you plan to leverage this recognition to further your career or make a greater impact in the photography world?
I want my work to be seen by a wider audience. This award is motivation for me to work harder and to move forward.
Q: How do you approach connecting with your subjects, especially in projects that require a deep level of trust and intimacy, such as portraits or documentary work?
I’m always trying to be open and respect them. Being polite is the key. I believe my photographs are not erotic, more ironic. I love the natural beauty of a woman’s body, skin, and shape, but I use it as an art form, not as an erotic subject. It would be too boring for me. Some of my nudes are my own self-portraits, I want to be equal with my subjects being naked in front of the camera.
Regarding documenting people’s lives, I usually create stories for them, they trust me. I always take it very seriously, I talk, read, search for information about them, always looking deeper, trying to take photos with feeling, life, memories.
Q: In what ways do you believe photography can influence societal change? Have you worked on projects that aim to raise awareness or advocate for a cause?
There are so many depressing and sad things in the world. I grew up in it. Through my lens, I capture moments to liberate myself from the past. It’s my form of freedom. I want to create beauty and find beautiful poetic things in daily life. We decide what we see, right? I want people who will look at my pictures – smile. I want that in challenging situations, trying experiences they find inspiration from my pictures like I do, and the most important – that women fall in love with their body as it is.
Q: What advice would you give to photographers about finding their unique voice in a crowded industry? How can they stay true to their vision while appealing to a broader audience?
Recognize what makes you happy, otherwise, your body is shaking when you are shooting. Direct 100% of your effort towards your dream, but not in too many directions; this way, it will find you. You don’t have to push yourself to find it. Concentrate on one thing.
The most expressive and resonating photographs often develop from simple concepts. In the beginning, when I started photographing, I did it easily, without any pressure, just for myself. Later I thought I needed to push myself more and more. So, I overdid it. One of my best shots is from my early work, when I didn’t know much about photography or about technique. I don’t say that you don’t need to work hard or prepare, I’m just saying feel the limit, trust your instincts. If it didn’t work, it didn’t work, move on. Stunning photographs can be shot without you even realizing it. It takes years to understand how to see.
