Tadas Kazakevicius: interview for IQads.ro

We live in an image-obsessed world, and we must decide for ourselves if what we share is worth it, says Tadas Kazakevicius, a Lithuania-based documentary and portrait photographer. At the same time, it’s wonderful that we have all the tools at our fingertips to tell stories from the best angles. Tadas is always returning to the same root themes, that have a lot to do with being human. He believes images need accompanying words, but that a good photographer can convey feelings through his work.

Tadas is eager to visit Romania and is especially curious about its rural side. He will be showing his work at Bucharest Photofest (October 6-15, 2023). At its 8th edition, the festival will host over 50 events under the theme IDENTITY. Join artists from Greece, Germany, Iceland, Spain, the UK, the USA, Denmark, The Netherlands and more for a meaningful visual journey.

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What are your favourite themes currently? Why? 

It is always human and its root emotions: love, closeness, sentiments, memories. But I do currently work on many themes, still it’s very much based on humans as it’s always interests me, I choose themes that make me passionate about telling story. Rural life, historical aspects, sentimentality of human. I could tell about many in detail, but then it all connects in the end.

You say you are a visual storyteller and focus a lot on individuals in your work. What storytelling techniques are you using to tell people’s stories best? Is an image really worth a thousand words?

I truly believe image needs words next to it, I do not believe, that good picture is the picture that tells much, but if we are lucky and know what we are doing it’s very often that we influence our material in such way we transport the feeling to viewer. It’s magic of photography. Still you need to be very sincere about the things you tell and show, then it’s possible.

What is the role of photography in 2023? And how has this role evolved in the past decades? 

I think photography is still the same – visual, story, feeling, 3 root things that matter the most. Though we live in a wonderful age of possibilities to present it very diversely. We should always look for the angle and the way to tell story the best way and we have all the tools by our fingers. It’s wonderful time!