Behind the Lens: Meet Photographer Justene Bartkowski
On any given day, photographer Justene Bartkowski can be found anywhere from a foggy mountain top, the sidewalks of Manhattan, to a waterfall in the Pennsylvania forests, all with her trusty sidekick in hand—her camera. The 22-year-old puts everything she has into her art and is willing to do almost anything to get that perfect shot such as wading in freezing lake water, laying in mud, and even scaling a few buildings here and there. Justene is more than a photographer, she’s an adventurer with a passion.
On a recent morning on-location, I caught up with the Scranton-based photographer, whose work spans from wedding portraits to streetwear shoots and everything in between.
How did you discover your passion for photography?
I have always been deeply moved by things such as scenery, moments, sunsets, unique ways the light hits something, beautiful features on people, and people in general. It wasn’t until my freshman year of high school when a camera was actually handed to me that I was able to release all that. I became passionate about doing photography when I realized I could pause life and kind of obsess over how much I loved it. Maybe that’s also part of being a super nostalgic person in general.
What’s an average day like?
An average day typically involves more caffeine than I need, conversation with people online, examining, studying, being inspired by work and art online, and I always have a setlist or album that I have to religiously listen to in order to experience in a personal, cinematic way. Oh, and can’t forget editing…I’m always editing images and creating content.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
I’m above and beyond blessed by the relationships that have both been created or grown deeper by doing photography. Having the opportunities to connect with other humans—connect, as in, both of us translating and processing our inner worlds in a way other than words—is just like magic. Rawness and realness are so important to me, so when I work with people, I get real with them really quickly. Photography really provides the space to open up in a different way, for all people involved.
Do you have a favorite location? Why?
Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. It’s my hometown. I know it in and out. Its got buildings, farms, mountains, woods, waterfalls, old architecture, run down houses and buildings, people I love, and more. It’s my favorite to shoot because I have so much to work with. It’s personal to me, nostalgic. I have a lot of adoration for it, therefore, I want to shoot in it all the time.
What is your all-time favorite photoshoot? Why?
Oof, I’ve had rad shoots with people I just met and personal shoots with people I’m close with. I’ve had shoots where I got the one or two shots that left me feeling more than fulfilled, and others where I’d look at all 60 images and just couldn’t get over how cohesive every photo looked next to the other. It's hard to pick a favorite. Early in the summer, I did a shoot with a musician named Mary Kate, where we shot three different scenes in one evening, and every scene made me emotional. We’re friends, so I believe we were able to access a certain wavelength of creativity. The shoot was also a release of a ton of emotions I had pent up inside, so a lot of myself was poured into that session.
What inspires you the most?
Inspiration is an interesting magic. I’m most moved by things that feel pure, untouched, raw, obscure, and any rare occurring nature scenes, such as a wild, colorful sunset after a thunderstorm, or the way light will oddly hit something, or unfiltered emotions on people that just make them weird and unique. I’m inspired by so many things that all captivate me in different ways.
What makes your photography unique?
Actually, my last sentence for the last question sort of answers that. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” type of thing. I see so many things that are beautiful, but not for why everyone else does. I’m put into awe by how engulfed I am by something, even though I can barely explain it. It all comes out in my work, whether the subject be the literal thing that I am being “taken-over by,” or some translation of some emotion that I’ve experienced that I’m trying desperately to understand.
Another important aspect that sets my work apart is the relationships behind the lens. I cultivate an important, safe, yet adventurous connection with every person I work with. This kind of work is very personal, for both sides of the lens. I have a genuine agape love for people, and I’m a people-person at heart, so like I said I get to know who someone really is rather immediately; this is all portrayed through my work.
Where do you see yourself in the future, professionally?
Professionally… I see myself still doing portraits and passion projects, still focusing on and pursing the things that set me on fire. A mix of documentary and conceptual projects. I see myself doing photo (and video) with people on a bigger level, working on bigger more global projects with bigger brands.
Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers?
Personal first. Roots first. Know yourself, try new things (because you will always be experimenting and learning) but remember your roots and what sets you apart from everybody else. Take time to develop your style of photography, remember the importance of the relationship you have with the subject (even if it’s a dang tree), know the role you play in society and its value as a photographer, and seriously just take what you have and run with it.
