Olaf first picked up a camera thirty-five years ago (see the photo above). Since then his passion for “seeing” has become a lifetime journey with photography.
Widely known as a visual poet, Olaf’s unique eye and relentless pursuit of visual simplicity allows him to capture “superbly creative and aesthetically pleasing images.” The images, along with his writings, can be found at www.olafphotoblog.com. Discussions on seeing, creativity, inspiration, landscape and fine art photography parallel the images.
Olaf is a founder and editor-in-chief of the Medium Format Magazine – the #1 publication dedicated to medium and large format photography and co-editor of the ELEMENTS Magazine – dedicated to the finest landscape photography.
Olaf spends most of his time writing and photographing in the field, usually exploring less-travelled roads and landscapes. He is a sought-after speaker and educator, leading photography workshops around the world. He is currently working on a major book about his photographic career, building two photography magazines and the industry at large.
Olaf lives in Coquitlam, British Columbia with his wife Kasia, his son Olivier and their furry four-legged companion, Bailey.
WHAT OTHERS SAY:
“A true visual poet” – Sid, podcaster
Olaf posesses that rare ability to truly observe that which the rest of us can only see – Spencer Wynn, Fujifilm X-Photographer
“I’ve seen Olaf at work, and it is poetry” – Peter Faris, workshop participant
“Real Artistic Visionary” – Tomash, a founder of FujiLove
“Olaf’s stunning photography is a visual gift to the world” – Patrick, a founder of Fujirumors.com
“A unique eye for superbly creative and aesthetically pleasing images” – Iain Palmer, a founder of 53mm
“Olaf’s photos always surprise with their dramatic compositions, reduction of elements to powerful geometric shapes and the placement of colour where it matters. All this, despite his wicked sense of humour.” – Sally Jennings, a writer and editor
SHE SAID, HE SAID!
Ever since I met Olaf, I have seen him paying a lot of attention to design and visual artistry. He takes a camera and makes the dullest place or moment memorable. He has a different way of seeing the world. He’s always searching, curious to the point where his pursuits drive me crazy. For him there are no boundaries or obstacles. He visits the same place over and over until he gets the right photo. To do so he climbs, crawls, jumps – you name it – and does whatever it takes to realize his vision.
Olaf is always very critical both of his work and of others’. When we come back from our photo endeavours, he deletes almost every image and keeps just the very best, but I think this is his strength. His motto is:
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” – Scott Adams
Taking photos with my husband Olaf is an amazing experience.
© Olaf Sztaba, Fuji XT1.
Without Kasia I wouldn’t be where I am today. She is my motivator and a great judge. When I sometimes indulge myself in the dark world of camera gear, she pulls me out and reroutes my senses to what is really important in photography. She doesn’t worry about cameras or lenses. Kasia doesn’t care about RAW conversion or all the other nuances. She just goes straight to what she does best – painting with light.
I feel privileged to travel and photograph with my wife, Kasia. She really cares about the people and places she photographs and you can see it!
Our photographic work is offered as fine prints and stock images for commercial licensing. Although the simplicity and texture of film always brings nostalgia we have fully embraced the digital medium. We spend a lot of time photographing in the field and we try to minimize the time spent in front of a computer.
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Hello Olaf. My name is Rob. I wanted to take the opportunity to personally thank you for joining yesterday’s FUJILOVE live webinar. It was nice to hear what was on your mind and the mind of the other photographers on the webinar whom I’m familiar with.
I’m a photographer who had a studio and shot weddings, events, senior portraits, etc. w Hasselblad med format film cameras . After selling the business I went digital and after using different cameras I decided on Fujifilm. Now I use my photog skills to document humanitarian efforts at home in the U.S. and abroad, and shoot weddings again when requested, except now w the documenting approach I’ve become comfortable with.
I’m now using my Covid-19 down-time to re-visit previous images Ive made. Another goal w my undetermined amount of Covid time is to improve my scarce on-line presence along with updating my web-site.
You and yours have a Lovely Sunday & Happy Easter
From Maine USA to You
Robert Houle
roberthouleart.com
rhvizcreative@gmail.com
207-251-9706
182 Libby Avenue
Gorham, ME 04038
Hi Olaf, I’ve been following you for a long time and admire your vision/approach to photography. I’ve always wanted to take one of your workshops, especially the one in San Francisco. I think having the workshop online is a great idea given the current environment. I live in Denver and the state has a stay-at-home order that will last through April 10 and maybe longer. I’m sure others are in the same boat. Since your Visual Poet Experience workshop is scheduled for April 24, are you thinking about having another one or two later in the year? I’d hate to sign up and then have the order extended through May 1. The police tend to challenge people just walking around without a specific place to go, like work.
Thx, Rob
Olfar, I have similar questions to Rob. New Jersey has “shelter-in-place” orders as well. I have been getting out to local forest as hiking is an excellent exercise and a refresher after a day indoors tethered my computer (I am fortunate to be able to work remotely) and there are very few people about.
I noticed that the registration website did not list what computing technologies the user would need. Do they need a Mac or Windows computer to attend sessions or would an iPad suffice?
Khurt,
The platforms we are currently testing will work on any operating system and any device including your iPad. Looking forward to work with you soon.
Cheers,
Olaf
Hello Rob,
Thank you for your interest. This is only a one-time even due to the current situation. To be honest with you such an extended workshop takes much more of my time than a regular weekend workshop so it is unlikely I would repeat it. I know that many of us are staying at home and the program is designed with this in mind. Please let me know if you have any other questions. It would be great to have you onboard.
Warm Regards,
Olaf
Hi Olaf
Thanks for your quick response. I can understand how time consuming an online class can be. Since I tend to shoot mainly street/urban photography, I’ll have to think about this. As Khurt mentioned, maybe I’ll re-focus on the great outdoors even though all state parks are closed.
Best wishes
Rob
Hi Olaf, I was very interested in taking your workshop in New York the June especially because I live in Baltimore. I see you’ve removed it from your website. Is that because of a lack on interest? Will you be scheduling a New York workshop again soon?
Thanks,
Eric
It was a pleasure running into you and Kasia in the Palouse. The next time either of you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, please let me know.
Bad link to my website. http://www.vinsonphotographs.com
It was great to meet you. Are you still in the hotel?
Heading to Palouse Falls this afternoon. Trying not to fall in!. I fly home from Spokane tomorrow afternoon. No plans yet for tomorrow morning.
Have a great light and seeing!
You’ve got really nice photos here Olaf 🙂
Somply: amazing pictures !
Zyga,
Thank you so much.
Regards,
Olaf
Hi Olaf, can you tell me what settings you use for Classic Chrome and street photography. thanks
Hello
Just found you today
Inspiring
And what a joy to be able to share this passion for images
thank you
Hi Olaf,
Only recently discovered your blog and I find the writing and images most refreshing (and excellent). I also noted that you may be heading to Cuba soon. I think you and Kasia will find it a wonderful experience. I started working down there in 2009 (being a US Citizen I had to have what was then known as a General License). I adopted the Fuji system as my “street photography” system beginning with the X100. Have had several other Fuji X cameras since, but currently only have the Fuji glass waiting for my X-Pro2 :-). If you are interested, you can visit my main website below and click on the “Cuba” link on the home page to see some of my “CubaStreet” work, etc.
Look forward to enjoying more of your blog posts.
Best,
Tony Bonanno
Tony,
We had an opportunity to view your work from Cuba. Impressive! Your compositions are truly beautiful and well thought-out.
If you don’t mind, we will contact you before we head to Cuba to ask you a few questions.
Thank you for contacting us.
Olaf
Hi Olaf and Kasia, I’m relatively new to Fuji and came across your blog via Ian MacDonald’s site. You have some stunning images here – your recent Canadian Rockies collection is fantastic – some of the mountain images almost look like they are etched, they are so clean and sharp.
I too like the philosophy of keeping it simple, seeing first, thinking about composition and trying to do it all ‘in camera’ without too much post processing – much like the old film days some of us remember! Not always easy, especially when you have little or no time to compose a shot in, say, a street situation or taking images out of a plane window (something I like doing). Success comes with practice I suppose!
I’ll be interested in what you say about the new Fujis introduced at the event of 15th. I have a Fuji X-T1 and X-100T and am not intending to change or ‘upgrade’ for some time yet.
Best wishes
Tim (twitter: @tim848; instagram: greycatfoto)
Hello,
Thank you for your kind words.
We haven’t had a chance to shoot with the new X-Pro2 just yet. We should get it soon for a review. Stay tuned.
All the best,
Olaf
Do you offer workshops?
Rajeev,
They are coming soon. Please check back in a few months. Thank you for visiting.
Olaf
I’m a friend of Doug Matthews and my husband and I are planning a trip to the Palouse this year. I appreciated your tips. My overarching question I need answering is what time of year is the best? Spring or mid-late September
I forgot to say, please use my email PhotosbyPharos@beaconlit.com
What an absolutely stunning and impressive body of work you both have! Congratulations and thank you for sharing your wisdom on the process of creating fantastic images.
Thank you so much for your kind words,
Olaf & Kasia
I discovered your photo essay on The Palouse on Fujiforum this morning, and am very moved by it. Certainly I am impressed by the quality of the Fuji images – I’ve been a Fuji X user since 2012 – but primarily I am moved to the point of writing to you by your terrific photographs. I’ve subscribed to your blog, and look forward to following along.
Conversely, I’d like to share my work with you: an artist’s book I’ve just produced using Blurb, “Searching for Edward Hopper.” I think you may like it.
You can see two-page spreads of the book at: rpkphoto.smugmug.com/Books/Searching-for-Edward-Hopper.
I look forward to new posts from your blog.
Rodger Kingston
Hi dear,
just wanted to let you that i follow fujifilm on Facebook, and that i saw the photographs you took last week end, and that my friends and i on it 🙂
and i m happy to be on you photographs 🙂
so to let you know the name of my friends Rick Gollino, Nathan Giesbrecht and myself Mikael Bidard .
you’re photographs are great thanks and have a good week end.
best regard
mikael
Wonderful photographs.
Thank you.
Hi Olaf and Kasia,
Ever since I gave up on dragging my Canon equipment around on my back I bought a Fuji X100s as a start for a new Fuji X kit.
Many sites and yours in particular inspired me to this step and so far I have not regret it.
What puzzles me lately is if I have to buy the Xpro1 or the XE2 as a next step.
My first lens will certainly be the 14mm. (Or the new 10-24???)
Can you tell me your thoughts on this?
I mostly take pictures of old buildings, landscape, industry etc.
Kind regards, Cees
Cees,
Since your subjects are mostly stationary I would recommend the Fuji X-Pro1 with 14mm lens. You should find a very good price for both right now.
Thank you for visiting.
Olaf
Bardzo fajne
Hello Olaf and kasia,
What great images from BC. They remind me of my native NZ and my now adopted home of Tasmania! We are guests, in our spectacular environment! Look and you shall see. Appreciate the visual inspiration and sentiments.
Cheers, Mike
Mike,
Great to hear from you. Indeed, you live in a spectacular place. Thanks for visiting.
Olaf & Kasia
Glad a stumbled across your blog. Great captures with the Fuji. Having just picked up a X-Pro1, 35mm and 18-55, I now can concentrate on the composition instead of lugging 20lbs of camera gear around. Out goes the Canons and more Fuji.
Question: Do you shoot most of your shots with a tripod? Incredible sharpness.
Steve,
Thank you for kind words. The majority of my images were taken without a tripod. I really like the freedom of shooting from hand as composition, perspective and unique vision are of prime importance to me.
All the best,
Olaf
Hi Olaf,
I simply love your pihotos, especially “Search for the Unknown”. Lovely colours and composition. Most of all, I like the mood the photos capture and the feeling it invokes. I keep coming back to this blog fo view the pics.
In this blog you wrote:
olafphoto on August 9, 2012 at 3:40 pm said:
Chris,
You can do it! All you need to do is to find an interesting location, visit it repeatedly (my record is 23 times) until you encounter great light and instead of doing some minor adjustments in Lightroom, use all sort of filters.”
i will be grateful if you could advise me on filters. Which ones do you use? I imagine you have several for different situations. Which ones are your favourites and use most often? Have come across the Singh-Ray warm up ploarizer filter. Is this the type of filter you would recommend or something similar?
I have an X-Pro1, 18 and 35mm lens. This is my first DSLR after a few point and shoots. Should one get 52mm filters or 77mm with adaptor for 52? Bigger market for 77mm should one decide to sell off?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Regards,
Vjay