Episode
33 Marcin Kornacki Photography in Conflict Zones Ethics, and Storytelling
- Podcast
- Talking Frames
- Published
- Mar 4, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4211
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Summary
Marcin Kornacki is a photojournalist and documentary photographer whose work focuses on places and communities shaped by conflict, social inequality, and historical memory. He is based in London and studied photojournalism and documentary photography at the University of the Arts London. His practice is grounded in long-term projects and spending extended time with the people he photographs, combining visual storytelling with personal testimony. In this episode, Tim speaks with Marcin about his artistic development, working practice, and the ethical complexities of photographing communities affected by conflict and social marginalisation. The conversation traces Marcin’s journey from early inspiration through to his current, more contemplative approach to image-making. His professional work has taken him to Haiti, Bolivia, Lebanon, Jamaica and Nepal, with Haiti becoming one of his most significant long-term projects. There he documented gang violence, displacement and political upheaval, including direct engagement with gang leader Jimmy Chérizier. Marcin reflected on working in Port-au-Prince during a period when gang control, humanitarian crisis and political collapse converged, describing both the risks and responsibilities that come with photographing conflict. A major turning point in Marcin’s career was his year-long mentorship with acclaimed photographer Laura Pannack. This mentorship was described as profoundly transformative. Under Laura’s guidance, Marcin shifted from fast, reactive photojournalism toward a slower, more intentional way of working. This slower, more reflective approach to image-making became visible in his exhibition “Outer Land”, which explored liminal spaces and transition. Preparing the exhibition highlighted the difficulty of editing one’s…