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French photographer Maciek Pozoga grew up in Bordeaux and is now based in Paris. His cinematic work, which spans portraiture, reportage and fashion, can regularly be found in VICE.
When did you become interested in photography?
I don't remember. When I was a kid, I wanted to become an archaeologist, and I suppose that is quite similar to being a photographer. After all, both are about searching and collecting.
Can you explain the shot you chose for this project?
Recently I've been interested in taking pictures of fairly corny subjects, like landscapes, lightning bolts and waves – subjects commonly found in stock photography or used as screensavers – which I tried to experience myself, make my own version of them. So, after experimenting with the Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo lens at 5x magnification and taking pictures of everything around me, like bugs, water drops and plants, I decided I wanted to take pictures of eyes.
What inspired you to take that photo?
I wanted to do something using macro ever since I'd read a 1940s French novel called Le Goût du Néant (The Taste for Nothingness). It's a story about a scientist who finds out he has some kind of superpower that allows him to control the dimension of his body. He uses it to the point where he loses control of his power and becomes smaller and smaller.
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It's like a mix between Kafka's Metamorphosis and the film Honey, I Shrunk The Kids.
How did you find working with the Canon EOS 60D?
It's easier, smaller and lighter than most DSLR cameras, so it's good for taking snapshots or using in tricky situations. It would make a great travelling camera.
And the lens?
When using the Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo lens on high magnification, it's almost like a microscope. It's quite odd to see such small things in detail. It's like travelling to an exotic country you don't know, but this country is in your own flat.
What did you think of the Vari-Angle screen?
I used the Vari-Angle screen to take a picture of a ladybird that was hiding in the basil on my balcony. It can be useful for situations like that.
What projects are you currently working on?
Lately I've been working on documentary subjects as well as shooting various portraits, music stories, reportage, fashion and commercial work. I'm also going to publish something with the collective Je Suis une Bande de Jeunes in September.
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What has been your most difficult shoot?
Probably the toughest shoot I've experienced was in winter when I thought I was going to drown. I live in the city so I'm not accustomed to swimming in a cold ocean, even with a good wetsuit. I was doing a surfing shoot in cold water, and the leash of my board broke during a big series of waves. I foolishly decided to hold my camera instead of the board. In the end, I managed to swim back to the shore and pretended I was fine when I saw my friend.
www.maciekpozoga.com
