We caught up with Frank Gorski, a photographer and creative from Warsaw and based in London. Frank plays with colour and light in his work to create soft glam images in a variety of different sets and real-life locations. He’s photographed for brands such as ‘We Are We Wear’ and ‘Sculpt by Monet’, as well as on personal projects for models and influencers alike. We chat to Frank about his attitude towards photography, and the shoots he’s staged along the way.
There’s something about sharing a breathtaking perspective that has always fascinated Frank, whose initial ambition was to become a pilot. The view and the scenery from up in the clouds are unbelievable and I always wished to share what I saw with the world. His introduction to photography was through a course at college, which piqued his taste for documenting the beautiful. I feel like [photography] allowed me to combine two very different worlds. The camera is like the window to my soul.
The ‘fate’ that saw Frank behind a camera rather than a cockpit still takes him on plenty of adventures, and the set environments are always varied and interesting. Every shoot and every project is different at heart. It's what inspires you, a spark of ideas from seeing something or experiencing something. Having grown up in the mountains and in the woods, and with an appreciation for travel and nature, Frank allows his life to shape his work. I feel like these experiences inspire sets and backdrops, and ultimately the shoot itself.
A Canon 5D MK IV is Frank’s primary camera of choice, but his favourite photographic medium to work with is film. When I shoot on film, it’s either 35mm on my Contax or 120mm on my Mamiya. There’s a lot of care when shooting in film, as the nature of the medium doesn’t allow for multiple retakes. There is no re-doing, you capture what you experience in the moment, and you won't see the result until later. I connect with this medium a lot because I think [it] really shows the love of photography.
Despite having worked with big-name creatives such as Edie Rose and Jasmine May, Frank puts his all into each and every one of his tasks. All my personal projects are passion projects. There is so much work that goes into each detail of the shoot.
Based between London and Warsaw, Frank makes sure to work with creatives who inspire him themselves in some way. The creative community in London is so vibrant and full of talent, it's not hard to find someone amazing to shoot with who shares the same vision as you. The most recent [project] I really enjoyed was a western-inspired shoot with two of my close friends Gilius and Keesh. While his shots tend to be glamorous, Frank’s focus stays on the models themselves, rather than the brands they’re wearing. I consider myself a people photographer. While the fashion, the make up, the style enhances the models, the key point of interest is the human taking up the centre of the picture.
Frank views Instagram as ‘the digital art gallery of the 21st century’, with his experience of the social media platform as an enabler of both local and global opportunities. Posting examples of his work on there is a way to get his name out there, connecting him with like-minded creatives and giving him a space to share his work.
The future looks exciting for Frank, who’s creative aspirations involve shooting for London-based Wonderland Magazine. He’s a big fan of their work: The magazine walks the perfect line between fashion and art and their editorial pieces are shot by most in-demand photographers working today, so getting a gig with them means I made it. He leaves us with some words of advice in terms of making your way in a creative career, emphasising not to put pressure on yourself to make everything work at once. There are no limitations to your ideas. Time is cyclical, if it doesn't happen now, it will happen, as long as you have the goal and the drive to make your vision come true. He adds that it's important to find the right people in your circle that support you and your visions, and encourage you to be better and do better.