The only way I know how to look at things is from the standpoint of an artist, that is what I identify with, it’s what I have been battling for decades now and still there is no escaping. I am an artist and as such I comment on the culture and the society I live in through my work, my language, my tool is photography. I grew up in defiance, I was raised to question, to ask, to speak up. My whole life I have felt like I have been punished for it. Yet, I am grateful for having an opinion that is my own. I am happy to have a way to communicate it and most of all I am proud to have the freedom of fear to speak it.

What am I talking about?

Maybe it’s thanks to growing up in a system that blatantly lied and manipulated it’s citizens and thanks to my Father who always asked questions that made me think despite living in constant fear of persecution, that I never have blindly followed a trend. I have always been more of an observer then a consumer. I watch and listen, I process and communicate my ideas through visuals.  There has been some discussion about this image, but mostly the whole idea of it’s existence was being swept under the rug.

I didn’t come up with the idea to offend anyone, neither did my friends who bravely and maybe even rebelliously stepped into the shoes of the imagined characters that I carried in my mind to create this image. It simply is a reflection of how my subconscious felt about my yoga practice. It was done with sense of humor as a metaphor and didn’t come from any kind of negative feelings towards my teachers or practice of yoga itself. After reading the current article in the New York Times and recent revelations and out-pour of opinions about people once perceived as gurus, this image to me just gained another layer of depth I never considered before.

Even with all that has been happening, I don’t feel betrayed or even disappointed, I don’t think it’s my place or right to judge others. As a mater of fact it is my responsibility to always strive to look at things objectively and make my own decisions on facts I know are true. Expecting perfection is a big burden to place on others and ourselves. Not giving up my power and giving in to peoples judgements and expectations is what keeps my integrity intact. That is the only way I can retain self respect and continue working and producing meaningful work.

I am still waiting for constructive opinions and commentary on this image. Perhaps it is time, the right moment that all fear can be put aside and true ideas can be shared. I hope for more than just sales and porn site spam, kids. Tell me what you really think, I can take it.

It may come as a surprise that this image inspired the Paper bag Lovers below. I drove 3 hours in the dead of the winter to shoot this portrait for an editorial client and had to drive back home in a snow storm the same night, but meeting this couple was worth the dried up eyeballs and sore back from being glued to the stirring wheel.

Eleanor and Donald may not be famous, may not be rich, may not be young anymore or pretty, but one thing they did have, that is so precious and they should be envied for is the beautiful love they have for each other. They met after each of them had a collapsed marriage, several children and nothing cheerful to look forward to in any near future. They are no longer young and some of their family ties have been severed, their health is in decline and they share a weekly free meal in nearby community center to save money, but the affection they have for each other is palpable, deep and more real than any money could ever buy.

You could look at people like Eleanor and Donald and not think twice before calling them nobodies. Yes indeed that is who and what they are. The exact opposite of perfection as we like to imagine it. On my trip home I kept thinking of how lucky I will be if I survive and make it home, of  how happy I will be to fall into my boyfriend’s arms and how grateful I am for having his arms to fall into.

The Paper bag Lovers are how we like to idealize love, our first date, our first kiss. But they are not special, they are same as everyone else. They found love without having a face and so can each and every person in this world regardless of their age, looks, social status, sexual orientation or wealth. Eleanor and Donald inspired me with their love for each other. I hope Paper bag Lovers will inspire you to see your love as the most perfect one too!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The Paper Bag Lovers inspired my friend Josie Houpt to write this sweet poem:

FIRST KISS

I remember the day you surprised me with flowers

With a little imagination you can create a whole story around a single image. Karen’s letter to her mother offers a little insight into the workings of this family.

My tendency is to look at things with a bit of humor. So when I read an article in a magazine (honestly can’t remember which one, but it was captivating) about a convention for people who suffer with Obsessive Compulsive disorder, I started imagining who the participants may be. And as it often happens, once you start thinking about something everyone around you seems to be talking about it too! Thus came up the idea of a guy who eats his chocolate bars with knife and a fork. That visual got stuck in my head and the only way to get it out was to create the character and photograph it. I admit, I am obsessive compulsive that way too! So I had the idea, but I thought it would be so much more interesting if he had a family as well and the real work began.

I was so incredibly happy when one of my favorite models Jerald agreed to work on this with me! He is great with creating characters and playing them out. He brought so much to the shoot, just amazing! And he brought along his beautiful daughter Sage, who I can honestly say has a great career ahead of her! She was so delighted when I asked her to spill ice cream onto her dress. She wanted to giggle, but stayed in character and gave me some fantastic shots to work with.

The always beautiful Karin made our perfect mother of the family. I’m always happy to provide a challenge for models. Each character in the dessert shot is photographed separately and the image is a composite. We worked with expressions and ideas and later on I edited the images down to get the true moment and the tension at the table between the family members.

This image and the other two in the series worked out better than I had imagined!

Ah Amsterdam! You are so much fun! My week spent there had totally cemented my adoration for it. It was all bout work and Art this time! I want to go back already! Here is a slideshow with a few pictures I shot with my iPhone! Enjoy!

There is more on my FB page too!

It’s been a few years since I went last. But the week I just spent in Amsterdam cemented my love for this gorgeous city completely. This time it was all about work and art. I really hope I’ll get to go back soon! Very soon!

Here is a little slideshow of some of the pictures I took while I was there. Enjoy!

4 Euros for 20 roses!

And here is the finished product:

© Henrieta Haniskova Photography

I hope you love it as much as I do! Thank you Josie Houpt for being such a fantastic yoga teacher and friend and for being a sport and putting on the leather outfit!, You looked hot!!!
Chrys Muszka! Thank you so much for playing along and letting me put the dog collar on you! And holding those poses for EVER like you did, so that I could get a shot!
Thank you Terri Dacquisto for the wonderful styling job and playing along even when I come up with the craziest ideas! Thank you Mila Veronica! The hair and make-up were PERFECT!
And no small thanks to Kula studio, for letting us use the fantastic space for this!

So a lot has happened in the last month or so! Very exciting news I haven’t had the time to share here yet! And since I keep getting asked for the link to the short film I shot with an amazing team and ended up winning first place in the 24 hour Toronto Film Challenge, here it is!

There is a long story that could be made into a movie that comes with this short film! It was a long day and night! Very long! But really fun, filled with hard work, tons of creativity, positive energy and love! This was my first try as a DOP other than documentary style work and camera work.
This was a new experience and I really love it! I hope there will be other opportunities for us to make more short films together in the future! The team was fantastic! Damon Runyan, the director gave me this opportunity and there was no way I would turn it down! Damon and Jodie Dowdall Runyan, his lovely wife and the producer on this film did a great job as well as the rest of the crew, all fantastic actors, Kristi Angus, Justin Mader, Darius Jones and Carlos Velis. The editing was done by a creative and fast editor as well as a very brave man who broke his leg the night we won and celebrated, hope he’s feeling better, Sean Stanley!
And I have thanked my Big Daddy personally twice now, but will thank again! Thank you Hasnain! And Thank you Zach for being so kind and letting us use your gear!

But I really want to know what YOU think! So leave me a comment!

Last Saturday we drove with my assistant Adam up to Collingwood area. A beautiful place called Timpano Farms. It was a crisp morning, but it was sun filled and gorgeous!

My friend Lance is writing and recording beautiful country songs and we went up to a horse farm to photograph him. The images are still in works, but here is a couple I just love and couldn’t wait to share!

Thank you boys!

Thank you Amanda Lowe for this video! Thank you to Persilia Caton for the great curating work and Contact for giving me this fantastic opportunity. Thank you to Adam Scott, Bruce Stewart, Will Thompson, Lance Dobinson, Thane Dunn, Christopher Ayotte, Thor Bonfig and all other  Elvis Tribute artists who helped me make this happen. As well as Adam Coish and David Larraguibel for giving me a hand!