Stanko Abadzic, Nude No. 18, Gibellina, Italy, 2024
One Model, One Photographer: Inside the Creative World of Nude Photography with Stanko Abadzic, Interview by Hot Mirror.
Selected Excerpts:
"There’s something timeless and emotionally honest in the nude form. It's not just about the body—it’s about light, mood, vulnerability, intimacy, and storytelling without words. And yes, these two photographs of the same woman—melancholy and joy—are probably my best-known works."
"I lived in Prague for seven years, and those years shaped my visual language profoundly. I immersed myself in the photographic culture there—visiting every exhibition, studying the Czech masters. I was especially drawn to Czech avant-garde photography. Photographers like František Drtikol, Jaroslav Rössler, and of course, Josef Sudek—they left a deep impression on me."
"While my parents were still in war-torn Vukovar, I was walking the poetic streets of Prague. Photography became the way I balanced the horror of the war with the calm and beauty of my new life. There was an emotional tension inside me—between destruction and hope—and photography was the only way I could process that. Many of the galleries that show my work today still prefer the photos I took in Prague. There’s a certain emotion and intimacy in those images that, I think, reflect that inner conflict."
"If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, no one else will. Photography is not a hobby—it’s a way of life. So my advice is: be fully committed. You have to be 100% dedicated to the work, to the process. Without that level of focus, there is no chance of success.
Also, and this is important—there are no guarantees. Even if you give everything, it still doesn’t mean you will "make it." In my own case, luck also played a role. I was fortunate to be discovered by Alex Novak from the Jiri Jaskmanicky gallery. That was a turning point. He introduced my work to the American market, and now my photos are represented in the U.S.
But I’ll tell you this: if I had to start again today, I think it would be much harder. The world is flooded with talented photographers, all looking for a place in galleries. There simply aren’t enough galleries to support them all.
I once recommended seven Croatian photographers to Alex Novak. He said to me, “Stanko, no. I don’t want to have a hundred photographers on my site. I prefer to work with ten—ten that I know personally, ten whose work I truly understand and believe in.” And I think he’s right. A gallery should represent artists it really supports, not just accumulate names. It’s about quality, not quantity.
So for young photographers, my advice is: build your voice, stay focused, and be patient. It’s a long road, and it’s not just about talent. It’s also about timing, relationships, and yes—sometimes, luck."
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