Csaba Jekkel
Csaba Jekkel
Welcome to the Artists Blog
1stAngel: When did you first become interested in art, in general?
Csaba: I think art is all around us from the beginning of our lives to the end of it. I mean, you can find “art” in everything in the surrounding world and probably that’s what makes photography so unique. I can show the most average thing of life from a different view, from a subjective perspective and with a little luck it became enough “arty” to be interesting.
1stAngel: When did you first become interested in photography, specifically?
Csaba: My father took dozens of photos about everything, I was always enchanted by photographs. I bought my first camera seven years ago and from then, there is no stop.
Phones
1stAngel: In what other forms of art do you also work, if any?
Csaba: I play the guitar. I had a garage band where I was the lead guitarist and we had some really great successes in the Hungarian “underground” culture. Lots of concerts, two tours and two studio recordings. This was before I started to be a photo-addict and with some time I felt I have to step forward. From then I play the guitar only for myself and rather put my hard earned money into lenses and filters.
1stAngel: On which style(s) of photography do you specialize?
Csaba: I try to awoid specialization because I’m interested in so many areas of photography. If I must choose, I would say I like landscapes and street photography the most.
1stAngel: Has your style changed from when you first began?
Csaba: I don’t really feel how my style is changing. Probably it has but I think the spectator should decide about the way of changing. I always photograph what I find interesting and during the procedure, I don’t think about my style. I just trying to get the best out from the subject.
The Pooh Is Down
1stAngel: What kind of equipment do you use (film, digital, cameras, lenses, PC, etc.)?
Csaba: I’ve started with film with my first camera but I was always longing for a DSLR. Now I have it and now I’m longig for a better DSLR and some more lenses - that’s the perfect circle. I use a Canon 350D and various lenses from ultra wide angle (which is my favorite) to telephoto. I mostly use Sigma lenses because they have great image quality for respectable price.
1stAngel: What made you choose that equipment?
Csaba: I would like to say that only the quality and the performance counted but unfortunately the price was the main factor. Otherwise I’ve never regret my decision and I’m still in love with my camera.
1stAngel: How do you choose what you’re going to photograph?
Csaba: I like the most when I’m just walking around and the theme finds me. That’s the best occasion. Of course I would not have too many great photos by waiting for the theme to come so in many times I have to plan the shots. I often “get inspired” late night when I’m just laying in bed and trying to fall into sleep. Suddenly and image comes to my mind and I immediately starting to think about how could I make it. Sleeping is canceled of course…
Up To The Surface
1stAngel: What kind of editing do you perform on your photographs, if any?
Csaba: All of my images which you can find on my website goes through a digital workflow. Some of them transforms more than others. I have no “templates” of editing, it always depends on the image. Otherwise I always try to make images of the same subject similar to each other. I mean I try make it like a series with similar colors, similar toning or similar effects.
1stAngel: How much time (on average) does it take to complete a work?
Csaba: It depends on the image again and on the mood I try to make. For a more complex editing, I spend up to a day but sometimes I can finish an image in an hour or so.
1stAngel: How do you know when a piece is finished?
Csaba: When I get the result which is in my head about it, it is finished. It’s that simple. When I like the result, I barely make additional changes on it because there is always the chance to make it worse. I usually re-check the final image a day after the processing to be shure about it and make it really finished when I’m not totaly satisfied.
Waiting For The Sun
1stAngel: What do you do to overcome a “block”?
Csaba: I just simply continue, take some bad or worse shots but after a while, it gets better again. Sometimes I realize only a time after that I had a “block” and just wondering how could I take that shot or what have I seen in that subject.
1stAngel: How well do you take criticism and how do you make use of it?
Csaba: Constructive criticism is always the best way to develop. I always try to learns something about the comments and critisms on my images. I don’t feel bad just because of an oppinion which is different than mine.
1stAngel: Who is your favorite artist?
Csaba: From the great old ones I really like the work of (the otherwise also Hungarian born) Robert Capa who is the “ultimate photoreporter” to me. Ansel Adams for those beautiful landscapes and a lot of photographers from National Geographic.
1stAngel: Which one of your photographs is your favorite?
Csaba: I don’t really have a favorite one. Actually I have different favorites time to time. Nowadays I like the one titled “The white mage” most.
The White Mage
1stAngel: Have you exhibited any of your work in galleries?
Csaba: I had two exhibitions in cooperation with a friend of mine who is also a photo addict. Some of my images have been exhibited on the Hungarian Press Photo exhibition last year and you can find two of my shots exhibited on this year’s exhibition in the Hungarian National Museum.
1stAngel: Will your work be included at any upcoming contests or galleries?
Csaba: I always browse the web and the photo-related magazines for photo contests and apply for them when I feel it worth the energy. I’ve already gained some success on different competitions such as the Syngenta’s, FAO’s and the Al-Thani’s one.
1stAngel: What are your plans for the future?
Csaba: I try to make my way to be a professional photographer and the best thing which I can do for it is to show as many images of mine as I can as many people as possible. I started a photo-blog last year which you can find at http://eyevision.hu on the web.
1stAngel: What advice do you have for budding photographers?
Csaba: At first shoot as much as they can, than learn from their own mistakes and finally reduce the number of shots to the most necessary amount. I think this is the way to be able to capture only the really interesting moments and subjects.
Thank you SO much for the interview Csaba. Your photographs are excellent and I think your advice for new photographers is spot on 
You can see Csaba’s work here at http://eyevision.hu