Leading NZ impressionist photographer set for K Road exhibition next month – Auckland Uni course changed her life
Polish-born impressionist photographer Eva Polack is one of 10 emerging New Zealand artists who will feature in
Auckland’s K Road art exhibition opening on December 2, thanks to an Auckland University course which changed her life
three years ago.
Polak will exhibit her ballerina works at the Te Karanga Gallery on Auckland’s Karangahape Rd. Proceeds from sales will
go to Children on the Edge, a charity assisting refugee and migrant children on the border of Thailand and Burma.
She has written and published two books on impressionist photography and she will write a third book and hold a workshop
on the subject next year. Her photos have been selected and appeared in the British Practical Photography magazine, also
other magazines and in the New Zealand Camera Book for the last three years.
Polak is now regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading fine art photographers. Her images are represented in private
collections in New Zealand, Australia and as far afield as Europe.
``I have an exhibition confirmed for next year for the Depot Artspace in Devonport in June and I will enter the annual
Wallace Awards. I will also publish my third book. I only shoot digital with my Nikon D300 and I plan to create a new
body of work and activity around next year’s Rugby World Cup could come under consideration. I want to be known
nationwide for my impressionist work.
``As far as I know I’m the only person who does impressionist photography exclusively. I’m quite involved with
Photographic Society of New Zealand, being a panel judge for them and an editor for Camera Talk magazine.’’
Breaking the rules (taking photos out of focus) helped Polak discovery her passion for impressionist photography. Her
husband gave her a camera for Christmas three years ago and soon after she saw an advert for an impressionist photo
workshop at Auckland University. It was love at first site. She was overwhelmed by the free style of photography and
knew it would be her artistic and career passion forever.
``That workshop really changed my life and my way of looking at photography. Almost from the first photo shoot I knew
instinctively this was what I wanted to be doing. Somehow everything made sense, as if I was born to become an
impressionist photographer. As for inspiration, I find it all around me. I’m very lucky living in New Zealand. This is
such a beautiful land full of contrasts and extraordinary light.
``Since that day, I’ve been thrilled to show my impressionist work at various exhibitions, festivals, in magazines and
books.When I started out, taking photos I was merely pointing and shooting what I saw. I wasn’t thinking about
composition, light, shade, or any other aspect of the creative process.
`I learned how to use the camera properly, read up the subject, subscribed to various photography magazines, attended
workshops and generally absorbed myself in the art of creating images.
To my delight, my photography started to change. ‘’
Formerly a graphic designer in her homeland of Poland, Polak fell in love with the landscape when she arrived in New
Zealand towards the end of the 1990s. Her impressionist photo works are now a reflection of that.
ENDS