Take Better Pictures!

Hi there, my name is Roland Pokrywka, thanks for stopping by!

As a professional photographer, my passion for capturing the beauty of nature, landscapes, and travel is what fuels my creative drive. I’ve been fortunate enough to capture stunning images from around the world, and I feel so grateful to be able to share those experiences through my photography.

As an educator, nothing brings me more joy than sharing my passion for photography with others. I’ve taught over 200 workshops in the UK and abroad, including the prestigious Xposure International Photography Festival in UAE.

I’m also proud to be one of the founders of a superb photography training company in London – DSLR Photography Courses. Our studio provides top-class courses catering to all skill levels, from beginners to enthusiasts and professionals. It’s been an amazing experience to witness our students’ growth in both technical skills and artistic creativity.

”What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that's gone forever, impossible to reproduce.
— Karl Lagerfeld

I believe that photography is more than just taking pictures, and I can not agree more with the above quote. It’s about capturing moments, telling stories, and connecting with people and the world around us. Through my work, I hope to inspire others to see the beauty in the everyday and to embrace the power of photography as a means of expression and connection.

Photography has always been a part of my life, but it wasn’t until I took a two-month trip to Central America that my love for the craft really took off. I needed a good camera for the trip (in 2006), and luckily my friends who were wedding photographers needed a website. In exchange for my services, they gave me a Nikon D70 with two lenses, and that’s when my photographic journey began.

During my travels to Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Belize, and Costa Rica, I took hundreds of pictures, believing that they were good. However, it wasn’t until I returned to London when I saw the photos on my big monitor that I realised the many mistakes I had made. So many images were out of focus, too bright, too dark, or just plain boring.

Determined to improve, I reached out to my friend Jason for some one-on-one photography tuition. We met by the pond in Barnes, and that session changed my life. It gave me the knowledge, skills, and confidence to push my photography to the next level.

Photography silhouette technique - sunrise in the Arches National Park

”You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.
— C. S. Lewis

Milky Way over the Elephant Rock in Valley of Fire - photography by Roland Pokrywka

Over the years, I’ve made countless mistakes, but I firmly believe that every mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow. With practice, patience, and persistence, my photography has evolved into a form of art that I am proud to share with the world.

If you’re just starting out and thinking that you need an expensive camera to capture great photos like mine, let me stop you right there. As Chase Jarvis once said, “The best camera, is the one that you have with you!” I always tell my students to think of photography like any other skill and the camera as a tool. It’s like learning to drive a car or play an instrument – buying the most expensive one won’t automatically make you great at it.

It takes time and practice to master the craft. But once you have the skills, you can pick up any camera and create fantastic pictures!

I use a 2014 model of a Nikon D750. And although I would love to upgrade to a newer mirrorless system, I am still very happy with my gear!

”Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
— Harriet Tubman

After spending the last 25 years living in busy London, my wife and I made the bold decision to uproot our family and we moved to a remote village in tropical Panama. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to live in Central America, and the opportunity finally presented itself. We may have to drive for 30 minutes to buy groceries, or almost two hours to reach a city, but it’s a small price to pay for the breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture that surround us.

As a professional photographer, I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to pursue my passion for photography in such a beautiful part of the world. My biggest inspiration in photography is Sebastiao Salgado, especially his work published in the books Genesis and Amazonia. Now that I’m finally here, I’m excited to capture the essence of this incredible part of the world through my lens.

TakeBetterPictures.co.uk is now my main focus, as I work to turn it into a comprehensive resource for all photography enthusiasts.

One of my biggest dreams is to produce an online photography class for CreativeLive and to travel the world, organizing workshops in breathtaking locations, much like what Dan Zafra does with Capture the Atlas.

Through my work and teachings, my aim is to inspire others to discover and nurture their creative passions, and to help them develop their skills to capture images they can be proud of.

If you’re interested in learning photography, purchasing my prints, or collaborating on a project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Let’s Start Taking Better Pictures Together!

— Roland Pokrywka

Take Better Pictures!

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