Interview with Erik Tomasak from Slovakia

I learnt photography at the University of Zilina and on my own!

It was a toy car in the forest which is funny thinking about it now!

I'm currently using a Canon R5.

When someone told me that I am an artist.

To become a part of the journey of those who are more successful and influential.

Magic, OCD and high-end.

This presents us with the next chapter. Winning in the 2024 MUSE Photography Awards has opened the world for me/us.

I combined my knowledge in a unique way and the result is a multidisciplinary discovery beyond photography. We have been working with various leading specialists for several years to understand and apply the method and the result. It is a new way to evoke and capture an authentic facial expression - emotion.

Portrait 2.0 differs from the classic portrait in facial expressions. Facial expressions can be dually divided into conscious and unconscious or subconscious. The moment the camera is pointed at a person, a conscious facial expression is activated. On the contrary, unconscious facial expressions hide a much greater facial expression potential, because the face engages muscles that we cannot control with conscious facial expressions. Human facial expressions are a key tool of non-verbal communication, and the face reveals a person's current emotions. The possibilities of the new mirrorless technology, knowledge of psychology and other fields, allowed us to control and capture an authentic facial expression for the first time.

This photography is then converted into the unique perspective of the human eye. Such a portrait can communicate a wide range of emotions. However, communication takes place on an emotional level. A person who looks at such a photo can feel the same emotion as in the photo. It is thanks to mirror neurons that allow us to learn and empathically feel the emotions of other people. Mirror neurons connect our visual perception with our emotional experience.

This breakthrough in facial communication opens doors to diverse applications in art, science, psychology, technology, education, marketing, and ethics. The essence of Magical Realism infuses Portrait 2.0, enriching the project with depth and uniqueness.

It gave me a confidence boost and it was as if the the universe is inviting me to play a bigger role.

Alhazen, John Cromwell Mather or Maria Svarbova.

Do what gives you that feeling of freedom and recharges you. Keep doing it and never stop! If you want to understand the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.

Be better every day, in anything you do. Talk less and listen more. Then it's simple: think (bigger than you can imagine) – talk – act – let go, and repeat. With every press of the trigger, you become a better photographer.

Create your own space. Be alone as much as possible, whenever possible. Learn how to quiet your mind. Once you master this, you can turn your creativity on and off at will, without feeling overloaded. You need to create space for new ideas and things. Learn new skills, read, or better yet, listen to audiobooks. Step out of your comfort zone!

Photography continues to unveil new perspectives, shaping our understanding of the world and ourselves. This is my story - a testament to the transformative power of photography.