(Research from www.maciedakowicz.com/cardiff-after-dark ) - accessed 23.07.19
I was advised by my tutor to review this set of images following my submission of "Identity & Place" assignment 5.
During my research for my assignment I researched several photographers but did not come across this particular set, mainly through a lack of knowledge and experience on my part.
Dakowicz has produced a set of images which are the complete opposite of the set of images I wanted to create. His images are accurate, shocking and very dramatic and are the samples of "partying" images I would expect on the current trend of Police documentaries shot on body cams. They are also accurate and create an immediate emotional response: mainly in the negative comedic sense, for me personally but a set of images I could view over and over again and I believe like many photographers before him, this project may receive greater plaudits in 20 years or so as we look back and question how society allowed us to behave in such a way.
This set of images are confirmation of the average person's stereotypical Saturday night at three O'clock in the morning after the clubs close. They are technically brilliant and contain some very dark humor within them.
I chose to shoot the non stereo typical view of people who enjoy their weekends getting dressed up and partying. To show their behaviour may be slightly more exuberant than the majority of us, but in doing so, does not have adverse affects on the rest of society. They enjoy " social highs" without the involvement of the emergency services, whether Police of medical. Dakowicz chose the other side of the nightlife story.
My project was to show the people, they are real people who in a few years may become top lawyers or doctors or whom may work in a supermarket, serving our groceries. Dakowicz has focused purely on the act.
I would have completed my shoot and be in bed when Dakowicz was taking his images. He would probably still be sorting his kit out whilst I was shooting. Same subject matter but differing ends of a very big spectrum. I am purely interested in the psychology of the evening, Dakowicz the drama.
The fact the images were used by the "Daily Mail", not to discuss their photographic prowess but to demonstrate the "typical city" Saturday night behaviour shows these images re-enforce our own stereo typical ideas. Sadly to view them being used on the front page of the Daily Mail is quite sad for myself as a photographer.