Quiet Pictures: Agnieszka Sosnowska
Trespasser's newest book will calm your mind
Sometimes photography can slow us down.
Like many of you, I’m on this American election roller coaster, and it’s entirely overwhelming. So, I’m always looking at images to calm my mind and help me find a balance. It works for me, and I suspect it also works for many of you.
I’ve been brainstorming a new feature for the newsletter called Quiet Pictures. You know what I mean: images that fill the space with visual silence. It’s hard to explain, and I want to explore it further in the coming months. As usual, I’ll work my ideas out publicly and in collaboration with you, my readers. I’ll publish these Quiet Pictures posts occasionally. I hope they help. Naturally, I’m open to your suggestions.
I was delighted when Matthew Genitempo sent a copy of Trespasser’s newest publication, FÖR, a collection of images by Iceland-based photographer Agnieszka Sosnowska. I found Agnieszka on Instagram a few years ago. I messaged her to say Hi and asked if she’d tell me about herself. Her reply was simple and to the point and told me everything I needed to know:
Hi Andy, Thank you for your interest in my work. I photograph everyday. I am not working on any particular projects. Just photograph what's around obsessively. Take care, Agnieszka.
That resonated with me because I see photography similarly: as a way of life. Sure, it can be used for various purposes, commercial and otherwise. But another approach is integrating picture-making so closely into our existence that it becomes an intuitive way of seeing. Honing our ability to notice is one of photography’s greatest gifts. Learning to see is the ultimate goal. I’ve been practicing for twenty years, and it’s starting to pay dividends.
Most of the time, I want to know the stories behind the pictures I’m looking at. But with Agnieszka’s work, I thought it might be nice to relax and not overthink things (something I struggle with occasionally). Would letting her photos wash over me be better than thinking too hard about their meaning or why she made them?
Sometimes, the vibe is all you need. If you want a backstory, Agnieszka’s short project statement sets the stage:
I grew up in Boston and traveled to Iceland 25 years ago on a whim. I fell in love and remained. With my Icelandic husband I chose to live in nature, not visit it. This decision has not been without tests. Together we have made a life that I feel we are only beginning. Everyday, I search for corners of quiet. When there, I stop and listen for a long time. These places exist around our farm, with friends, and the students I teach. These places are my everyday. They are my everything.
Beautiful, right? I can already feel my nerves tingling less. My shoulders are loosening up. It feels good. Really good.
With so much political noise in the world right now, I thought you might appreciate a break from it all. So, sit back. Relax. Spend a few minutes just looking at these beautiful pictures. Really look. Breathe. Take your time.
This format is slightly different from what I usually publish — it's more spacious and less formal. I’m not entirely sure if it works, but experimentation is one of the points of this newsletter. It felt good to write it. I kind of like it. Let me know what you think.
I’ll leave you with this short video of Agnieszka in the field. It’s a lovely introduction to a talented artist and her vision of the world. I plan to learn more about her and hope you will, too. You can see more photography on her website. Enjoy!
One more thing…
Matthew tells me fewer than 200 copies of FÖR are left in the Trespasser shop. It’s a beautiful book and one of the best I’ve read this summer. I can’t recommend it enough. If these pictures resonate with you, grab a copy while they last.
Also, do yourself a favor and follow Agnieszka on Instagram. I hope each of you is hanging in there. Take care, friends. Be well!
I like quiet photos. It feels like so many of us are "self censoring" by only considering/elevating/publishing photographic works that are flashy and dynamic, i.e. the kind that get lots of social media Likes after a couple of seconds' consideration. How much introspective, quality work have we sacrificed on that altar? It's good to know that someone appreciates the kind of approach Agnieszka Sosnowska takes in life/photography.
Andy, thanks for the insight and tidbits on the book. I never stumbled across the YouTube of Agnieszka Sosnowska and found it very interesting and inspiring... Hoping to pick this book up soon!