Basia Pawlik: First Impressions of the Daguerreotype Achromat 2.9/64 Art Lens

Polish photographer Basia Pawlik has such a good eye for portraits we decided to lend her the Daguerreotype Achromat Art Lens to test her skills out on this stunningly soft-focused lens.

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into photography?

I always say that photography became a real thing for me 8 years ago, when I started doing some more serious work with models and on events. However, I was always somehow into photography, ever since I could hold my parents' classic Smena and Zenit cameras, I used to "borrow” one frame every once in a while. Then I got my own Zenith and Minolta and it started, I guess at that time it was a way to express myself, nowadays I can't imagine not to photograph. I currently mostly shoot fashion, beauty, and portraits with models, but I'm a big fan of natural, documentary style. As a regular work, I do product e-commerce photography, which is also fun and challenging to me. I like experimenting, but still, my favorite is classic 35mm film, although I shoot mostly in digital format.

How was it shooting with the Daguerreotype Achromat 2.9/64 Art Lens?

I loved it. When I heard about the Daguerreotype Lens at first I thought it may be nice, but mostly as an addition, and not for everything. Testing it made me realize how wonderful and magical it is, with it's blurry, soft effect. I changed my mind, shooting with it made me want one for myself too. The Daguerrotype is very original, unique, it works great with natural light outside, but, as I tested it in the studio, I can tell it's a great tool for studio shooting, it gives a romantic mood. As usual with Lomography lenses, I enjoyed the different shaped aperture plates.

Have you had any difficult or challenging situations throughout your photography career?

The photography industry is both difficult and challenging, no doubt about it. I keep struggling with jobs, getting paid, finding fair and honest people to work with. It's always challenging to get a creative team, as there are loads of promises never kept. I've learned the key is not to give up, even when times are hard. Obviously, there's plenty of people trying to become successful, but I try to stay passionate about what I do, and honestly, I think I wouldn't be able not to photograph at all – for me, it's more the way of living.

Anything coming up in the future?

Hopefully only better things! I'm focusing on shooting with more professional models, I would also like to cooperate more with designers, go out from my comfort zone to create something else, develop my style. The spring is almost here, this means more outdoor shootings, how I like it most. I also promised myself to try shooting more on film, 35mm and maybe 120. All I want is to be better and stay passionate.

For more of Basia's work visit her website basiapawlik.com

2017-03-12 #news #lens #lomoamigo #daguerreotype #first-impressions #art-lens #da-lens #basia-pawlik