1Can you introduce yourself and talk about how you got into photography?
Hi! I'm Aleksandra Kud! In one sentence, I am currently IT Manager from Monday to Friday and a Photographer after hours who likes to spend hours walking and observing.
It really looks like I had this inner voice which guided me and allowed me to show my potential and destiny. As a kid, I was amazed by my father’s camera, an old Soviet Zenit. Then, for some reason, my teenage dream was to have a DSLR. I finally bought one when I started working. Somewhere at the same time, my drive for traveling woke up and became a big part of my life. By a very fortunate coincidence, those 2 activities just started working together.
Therefore, it’s not a surprise that my favorite “photo environment” now is travel photography, mainly focused on street photography, nature and intriguing details. What I like the most about this genre is that I can develop my craft in multiple photography styles. Also, I never know what I will experience.
Apart from photography and traveling, my other passions are languages. I speak Polish, French, English and Spanish. When possible, I develop skills in the 'travel version' of an Italian. I studied Swedish for 2 years, so I'm not completely lost when I visit Nordic countries.
2Where did you study photography?
Easy - on the street while traveling!
3Do you remember your first shot? What was it?
I remember one photo in particular, a photo of a dolphin in the aquarium in Genoa, which I took on my very first trip abroad without my parents when I was 13. I had an analog camera. I think I remember even more the stress of overexposing the film and losing all my memories and the challenge of managing 36 frames.
4What equipment do you use?
I am a Canon girl. My gear now is Canon 80D with 15-85 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens which for me is the best for street photography.
5What do you hope to achieve?
I have this dream of having my own exhibition to show to others the beauty and diversity of the world's streets and how I see the world.
6What compliment inspired/touched you the most?
My friend told me once that she goes back to my photos whenever she wants to relocate somewhere to feel the vibe of a place.
7What inspires your unique storytelling?
My favorite style of art is impressionism. Like artists of that period, I am fascinated by the transience of the moment. I look for the play of light, contrasts of colors, funny scenes with people, and surprising compositions. This preference for impressionism definitely influences the choices I make when photographing streets.
8Congratulations! As the winner of the New York Photography Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?
Thank you! This is of course an extremely nice distinction and motivation to never stop wandering with my camera in search of "that one special shot". I am also excited about what recognition in such a competition can bring to my adventure with photography.
9Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the New York Photography Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
The winning photos were taken in September 2024, when I was on vacation in New York. I spent 2 weeks there, doing 15 to 20 km a day. Great conditions for street photography. As we know, the characteristic of this style is that you have to be lucky to be in the right place at the right time and you never what photo will find you. Immediately after taking these photos, I knew they deserved to be seen by more people.
10How has winning an award developed your career?
Such distinction, especially when it concerns amateurs, makes people start to perceive you more as a photographer. Also, your friends start to understand that photography is something serious in your life. So far I see this effect. I wonder what the future will bring.
11Name 1-3 photographers who have inspired you.
I like the work of Harry Gruyaert, Ernst Haas and Vivian Maier.
12What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out, by a mentor or your role model?
Don't worry about the settings on your camera, focus on finding the frame first.
13What advice would you give someone who would like to become a photographer today?
So that they don't demand from themselves today the level of photography that they will have in 5, 10 or 20 years. This is a field that cannot be learned as we are learning all the time while practicing.
14What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
In my case, success is that despite the passing of years, photography is still a part of my life, and it is not just a child's whim. I take pictures for myself, for pleasure, to immortalize memories and sometimes I manage to get a distinction. Thanks to this, I am constantly developing.
15How do you stay in that space of being receptive to new information and knowledge?
It happens naturally for me, I'm just curious about the world.
