TITLE: Let's Play

Brodziak’s photograph was built around one seemingly simple element from the very beginning — a ping-pong ball placed in the model’s mouth.

It becomes the true center of the entire story.

“Let’s Play” is not a photograph about sport. It is about the game we constantly play with one another — a game of glances, tension, expectations, dominance, flirtation, and unspoken signals. The ping-pong ball, usually associated with lightness and fun, takes on a completely different meaning here. It begins to provoke questions: where does innocent play end and conscious provocation begin? Who is really in control? And perhaps the most intriguing game of all takes place between the image and the viewer’s imagination.

Lying across the ping-pong table, the model resembles a contemporary pop-culture muse — confident, aware of her own power, and fully embracing the playfulness of the situation. The paddle held in her hand becomes a subtle symbol of control, suggesting that despite the apparent lightness and sensuality, she is the one defining the rules of the game. Valentino heels contrasted with the sporty setting create Brodziak’s signature dialogue between luxury, femininity, and provocation.

Because of this, the title “Let’s Play” gains a much deeper meaning. It is not an invitation to an innocent game. It is the moment when the photograph itself begins to play with the viewer — provoking them to enter a space of personal associations, fantasies, and questions that have no obvious answers.

AUTHOR: Szymon Brodziak (Poland)

What you see, is who you are - says Szymon Brodziak, the master of black and white
photography. The youngest artist exhibited at the Museum of Photography - Helmut
Newton Foundation in Berlin (2015). The best black & white campaign photographer
of the world, acclaimed by the jury of FashionTV Photographers Awards, during 2013
Cannes Film Festival. In 2019, Brodziak confirmed his mastery by winning 1st Place
in World's Top 10 Black&White Photographers contest curated by OneEyeland.
He loves to photograph women. He's inspired mainly by locations, where he brings to life
his monochromatic visions. Brodziak received Johnnie Walker Keep Walking Award for
constant fulfilment of dreams and passion for setting new paths in the search of beauty.
In Europe, Brodziak received plenty of medals and honorable mentions in numerous
editions of the renowed Prix de la Photographie Paris, both for commercial and personal
projects, including the title of Advertising Photographer of the Year (2016).
In the USA, he won first place in Fashion category in two photo competitions: International
Photography Awards (2016) and Black and White Spider Awards (2016), which
rewards the best monochromatic images from all over the word. In 2020, Brodziak
became the finalist of the photo competition All about photo, the leitmotif was Portrait.
His photo has been awarded 6 honorable mentions in the One Shot:
Movement competition organized by the International Photo Awards.
Szymon as the only Pole was also presented in the spring catalog of Saatchi Art 2020.
His first photo album ONE had its ofifcial premiere in Rome (2014). It presents the first
10 years of his professional activity. The publication starts with a personal dedication
from June Newton, wife to the legendary photographer Helmut Newton. Szymon's new
photographic album entitled “What you see is who you are” won a Gold Medal
(Book: Cover) and 2 Bronze Medals (Book: Fine Art & Other) at Prix de la Photographie
Paris 2019 and also Honorable Mention at 2019 International Photography
Awards in the USA.
The artist's work can be seen and ordered in his own galleries of photography located
in Poland and are also available worldwide at Online Shop: www.szymonbrodziak.com