Warsaw Insider: You have a great eye for composition. What speaks to me about your photos are the directly overhead shots of the city. They are very graphic and sensitive to key spots of the city. Can you tell me more about this process and how you go about finding the places that look so engaging?

Cezary Warś: The process of creating drone photos begins with the fascination with the structure of the city, which is revealed during the flight. When choosing a location, I am often guided by intuition, but also by experience. I also use satellite photos and oblique aerial photos, which allow me to discover unusual shapes that are invisible from the ground. I must also admit that many of my photos were taken quite accidentally, during exploratory flights, and it is those photos taken in the least expected place and moment that I remember the most.

What have you learned about Warsaw since you started photographing it?

By photographing Warsaw, I learned to appreciate its dynamic character and diversity of architecture. Each district has its own history and unique atmosphere, which makes the city never boring. Warsaw is changing so dynamically that a photo taken today in the same place in a few months will have a completely different character.

How much planning goes into your photos?

Before I go out into the city with the drone, I check the weather conditions, lighting and plan my route to maximize the time spent shooting. Legal aspects play a very important role in planning drone photos. Before the flight, I must also carefully check whether the object I want to photograph is not in a prohibited zone where you cannot fly a drone. There are also places that require consent from the managers of a given zone, so you must remember to meet the deadlines for submitting the appropriate documents.

Are there special places in the city you love to photograph?

I try to look for new places all the time, but my favorites are definitely the area around Rondo Daszyńskiego, which has changed beyond recognition in a few years. This is where most of the skyscrapers are located, which create the character of this place. I also like to explore lesser-known places that may surprise you with their uniqueness.

What are some things you have learned about making a good photograph and yourself as a photographer?

I learned patience and that sometimes you have to wait for the perfect light or conditions to capture a unique shot. I realize that technology and equipment are important tools, but it is the photographer who decides what will be captured in the photo. Each photo I take is a lesson that allows me to develop my artistic vision and technical precision.

I also love the closeness you capture to the things far away from the person looking up from the street. What makes you select the things you zoom in on?

I try to choose objects that can surprise the recipient. Something that seems well known can be shown in a completely surprising way from a drone’s perspective. A good example is the Column of Sigismund III Vasa on Castle Square in Warsaw, which we all see from below. By photographing the sculpture from a drone, I managed to bring out details that surprised my viewers (e.g. the beautiful decoration of the royal cloak, but also the details of the hands).