INTRODUCING: Luiza Michalewicz

Luiza Michalewicz with one of her photographs of Havana, Cuba, displayed at George’s on
Waymouth. Pic Mike Burton

WHO Meet Luiza Michalewicz, the 37-year-old mother of two who formerly turned her back
on psychology and marketing to follow her calling — photography. Michalewicz grew up in
Warsaw, Poland, and moved to Australia with her husband Matthew 11 years ago. “We’d
been here for a vacation to Australia and visited Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney and
Adelaide. We just fell in love with Adelaide.”

NEW HORIZONS “I grew up in a communist country where you had very limited
possibilities. This is one of the reasons why I never even thought I could follow my dream.
There was just one photography school in each big city and in each place there were about
hundreds of other young adults trying to get in,” she says. “I used to be an acrobat so my
focus was on sport. Once I got married I had more choices. I have a passion for biology and
psychology so I chose them because they seemed more sustainable (financially).”

UP START Michalewicz used to raise her hands (like a frame) when her mother was
pushing her along in her stroller. “Photography was sitting in my head since I was a child,”
she smiles. In 2011 she enrolled in a course at CCPC (Centre For Creative Photography).
“After the first three hours I literally couldn’t breathe because I was so excited. I knew this
was I was supposed to be doing with my life. It was so overwhelming — I learnt so much in
the first three hours and it gave me perspective on everything.” She pauses, thoughtful. “It

was like someone took a veil from my face and I could see for the first time. It was
unbelievable.”

SNAP HAPPY Inspiration unleashed, Michalewicz couldn’t stop snapping. “It’s my passion,
my curse and my love. I think about it non-stop. I don’t go out with my camera every day …
instead, the desire develops. The new idea comes and it’s a very long process for each
photograph but I think about it 90% of the time. I fall asleep thinking about photographs and
wake up thinking about it.”

OPEN AIR Her first solo exhibition in 2013 focused on Hindmarsh Island. They were
sleepless times. “Sometimes I barely breathe because I’m so focused. I’d go there for the
whole day trying to capture as much as I could. For 12 hours I won’t eat, drink or go to the
loo. It’s such an incredible feeling to be in that zone. Everything stops.”

MOMENT IN TIME In April Michalewicz travelled to Japan to photograph the
“mysterious” country and in August “dragged” her husband to Cuba. “I went to Cuba
specifically to take photographs. The main reason was because I grew up in Communist
Poland and witnessed the change to a capitalistic system from day to day. I saw this
incredible change … I was about 11 years old and people’s faces changed. It was an
incredible mood and uplifting for people. I wanted to be in Cuba at exactly the same time.”

HANG RIGHT The results from both trips can be found on the walls at CBD restaurant
Georges on Waymouth. Michalewicz uses a technique using HDR (high dynamic range)
which results in a vibrant, almost 3D effect. “You take between three to five
exposures of one scene and stick them together. It’s an old technique. It helps to bring the
textures and colours that we don’t see with the naked eye. There’s no stitching, or funny business, just the
setting on a camera.” Future snaps will be taken on home turf. “My next project is
to focus only on Australia. We have such a beautiful landscape and scenery on our doorstep.”

GOOD CAUSE Michalewicz is passionate about the importance of business, government
and individuals supporting local artists. “It enriches our culture and us as humans.” She is
also devoted to the wellbeing of young South Australians. Proceeds from sales of her work
go to Kick Start For Kids, a charity providing breakfast, lunch and mentoring programs to
disadvantaged children. “After breakfast they focus, behave, are happy and actually retain
what they learn. The little people are so pure and innocent. It brings immediate change to
their health.”