TITLE: The road to modernity

This photograph constitutes visual definition of the titular "road to modernity." However, this image does not tell a story of sterile, smooth technological progress, but rather of a raw, elemental process of transformation, where the primal constantly clashes with the new and the man-made.
The mast as a symbol of a new era: The right side of the frame is dominated by a towering structure resembling a telecommunications tower or a mast. It emerges from a dark, organic tangle of trees, symbolizing technology ruthlessly encroaching upon the natural landscape. This is no longer wild nature, but a scenery marked and transformed by humans—a harsh sign of our times that rises above the surroundings like a monument to modernity.

AUTHOR: Damian Pękalski (Poland)

My interest in photography dates back to my BA studies in history, when I became attentive to material heritage (especially local heritage, related to the everyday life of small communities), and consequently – to professional, modern methods of visualizing historical data. This determined the choice of two specializations during my studies – archival studies and cyberculture. I soon noticed the potential of drone photography to document traces of the multi-ethnic material heritage of Podkarpacie. An important point in the development of my photographic thinking and competences was taking up studies in the field of Film and Multimedia (specialization: photography)
at the Warsaw Film School (from 2021, graduation in 2024).
Since then, the subject matter of my works has expanded, among others, to include the issue of the relationship between man and space (understood in many ways: among others asloneliness in rural and small town communities, migrations, local social movements). I had the opportunity to present my works as part of a lecture entitled "The World Through the Lens of a Camera" at the Przemysl Cultural Society.
I was also a co-organizer of two photographic walks in Przemysl. I have been awarded five times in international competitions: Chromatic Photography Awards (category: professionals, subject: abstraction) for the work There are many ways (2022), Annual Photography Awards (category: Architecture, subject: Buildings&Structures) for the work Bridges, Monovision Photography Awards for the work titled: "There are many ways" (2023), Annual Photography Awards for the work titled: "Footbridge in the fog" (2024), Annual Photography Awards for the work titled: "The Way". I was also awarded in the Warsaw Photography Marathon for the work titled: "Co kraj to obyczaj" (2022), in the Podkarpacka Ikonsfera photography competition (2023, 2024), and I also took first place in the District Photography Competition (2021).