My emigration had a completely different dimension. The first trip was for profit, but the next one helped me develop and pursue my passion. The first time I went to the US in 1999. I finished the third year of studies at the Krakow Academy of Physical Education. I wanted to earn some extra money, I looked after children in Gurnee near Chicago. After a year I returned to Poland, I graduated and I went back to the States. In 2002, I flew to Austin to the same family who I worked for earlier in Gurnee. I still keep in touch with the family.
With the money earned during my first stay in the US I bought two cameras, because I was able to afford them. I came back to the United States to Austin, Texas, to the same family, who I had worked for before. The family noticed that I was taking a lot of pictures of their children. They liked them very much. And one day they asked me: „Iga, wouldn’t you like to go for a photography course?” So I signed up for a Saturday’s photography course. I finished it. One of the course teachers worked at a local college. I went with a student visa, I went for a special course of English, I passed TOEFL exam and examinations to college. It opened the door for me. In Poland, I wouldn’t have had such a chance. I come from a small town near Krakow, I am an unknown person, without connections. During high school I was attending film classes. I was looking for some photography school. At that time there was no Internet, it was hard to get information on the subject. I even went to Katowice for consultation. It turned out that they accepted only 15 people, the recruitment was held every two years. It was necessary to have a portfolio, which of course at that time I didn’t have. I was admitted to the Academy of Physical Education in Krakow… At that stage there was no chance for me. It was the time of the 1990s.
At various outings I always took pictures. My first camera was Zenit. Someone once or twice said: „Oh! What cool pictures you’re taking. „Photography was always with me. But it wasn’t talked about. I thought a lot about my passion, but I didn’t talk to anybody about it. I remember when I had my first photographs developed. I had the opportunity to work in the darkroom, digital photography was only slowly emerging…
Liberian photography
After graduating from college I came to Poland, to go to Liberia in January 2008. Africa did not show up in my head within one day. When I was in Austin at the local church worked an organization for young people. I joined it, I met a lot of interesting and open people. Every six months there were organized weekly mission trips to Mexico, where young people mostly helped in the construction of schools. I met a person who participated in mission trips to South America. I also wanted to go for a mission, for example to Peru, I did not think then about Africa. I contacted the Catholic association in Washington which organized mission trips. I was going to go to South America, and in the receiver I heard the voice: „Africa!”. I immediately I thought, „I don’t want to go to Africa.” But in the end I went for two years to Liberia. I took photographs of projects and prepared materials for fundraising for Mary’s Meals charity. I had lessons with young people in St. Dominic secondary school in Tubmanburg in Bomi county. I also worked with young people in an archdiocese. In 2012, I left for eight months to Southern Sudan, where I worked with a non-government organization Medair: I provided current news, prepared photojournalism, took photos and sent reports for internal and external needs of the organization. In Africa I was delighted at the people. Especially their fight for life. They appreciate life much more. They view it in a different way than we, „Westerners”, do. I’m still fascinated by their culture, a different way of thinking, perception of reality.
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