Dorota Yamadag

I was born in Warsaw, Poland. When I turn 19 years old, I graduated from high school, and I’ve decided to take a year off before University, come to Canada to learn English, work as a nanny, and travel a little. Shortly after my arrival to Canada, the army took over power back home, and begun marshal law. My parents were sending me messages to try to stay in Canada as long as possible, and because things in Poland were not getting any better, I took my parents advice. But my journey with photography started long time before I left Poland.

I was not even 10 years old, when my dad bought me a camera. Very simple analog, with a film that had to be inserted while in a dark room (bathroom with lights off), and only 1 auto option. Color photography did not exist in Poland at that time yet, at least for non-professional photographers. My series “Desert Rose” is a group of photos I took last year in Doha, Qatar, while visiting Middle East.

Photographs present images of The National Museum of Qatar, designed by a French architect, Jean Nouvel. His idea for the project was inspired by a look of a local crystal, named Desert Rose. When you look at the individual pieces of the mineral, they remind of a flower, a delicate rose. I love art and the architecture photography is my passion. Everywhere I travel, my main reason to visit a place is its architectural value to me. I prepare myself and do research to see the qualities, variety and excitement that I will gain from exploring. Doha was on my bucket list for a while, and when I finally had a chance to be there in November, it was an emotional experience, as the city has so much to offer.

Modern architecture gets a lot of criticism and negative publicity. In general, people do not like change, and especially if something is unique, unusual, it becomes unpopular. I’m trying to “fight” that. I want to show the audience, that contemporary designs are amazing, beautiful. That imagination has no limits, and through the new concepts, we all grow and benefit. I like simplicity. Clean lines. Bold shapes. I also like to change my photos to black and white, as I believe it gives a stronger artistic message.

It makes the audience concentrate on the piece itself, more than everything around it. Of course if the color in the design plays a major role, and it is its very important aspect, I will keep it in the original version, without stripping it to the monochromatic look. As I’ve mentioned, architecture, especially the designs of the last 20 years or so, are my biggest fascination. I have a few favorite Architects, and I hope to see as many as possible of their works, in real life. When I admire various projects by looking over the internet, printed albums, post cards, etc. and later on, seeing them myself, in reality, that gives my a biggest pleasure, very emotional experiences.

So first I have to pay my respect to my favorite, most appreciated Architects – Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Santiago Calatrava, Foster and Partners, Snohetta, MAD. And the list could go on. As far as the Photographers, I admire Hanaa Turkistani, Ali Zolghadri, Eric Forey, Damaso Avila, Serge Zambra, Muhammad Almasri, Javier Coronado, Mark Fearnley, Ash Camas, Shoayb Khattab. They all are very different, distinct, but also share a common passion to architecture, through amazing styles of photography.

Just do it. Go for it. No matter how many times the photos will not be picked, the experience of participation, knowing that you are sharing your passion, your best work, will make you develop and grow. It takes a lot of work, a lot of time, many disappointments, but eventually, in the end, it is all worth it, so good luck and don’t give up.