​I am available to undertake global commissions for NGOs, corporations and private commissions. Please email me to blanka@infinityimages.co.uk for get in touch. 

STRONG MIND
​(2008-present)

I started working on my personal project “Strong Mind” in the rural mountains of China, where I got invited by the Shaolin monks to the training grounds of the Shaolin Temple, stay for the summer 2008 and learn from them about life. All they wanted in return was to bring it back to the west. Since then I’ve been doing my best to fulfill the promise.

I trained with the monks, learned Meditation, Kung-fu, Tai Chi, Feng Shui and Mandarin language and their approach to everyday life. During my stay in Shaolin, I woke up just before 4am with the don to go for a run with the monks and children who studied to become monks themselves. The run was about an hour in a high altitude 3200 meters above sea level, followed by Tai Chi energy and breath work, then breakfast, daily hygiene, chores, rest, more meditations and training Kung-Fu, Mandarin class, acrobatics, dinner, meditation. All of that from to dawn to dusk. 

I trained about 7 hours every day during the week, rested and traveled during weekends. My expedition to Shaolin Temple was in conjunction with the 2008 summer Olympic Games in Beijing and I felt like I am preparing to compete!

At the end of my stay, the monks tested what I learned: how strong my mental powers were. Through meditation, affirmations and mainly breathing, I was able to focus my inner strength, my chi energy on one spot of my body, my right tight, while, in a ritual, the monk broke a wooden stick over my leg. The stick didn’t break the first time so I took two hits within few seconds. The wood splinters got scattered across while I remained standing motionless and strong, focused and motionless. I passed the test.

Then, my journey to disseminate the monks message to the world began. The monks gave me 8 secret treasure breathing techniques and embodied in me how to trust in the power of my mind, making impossible possible as they displayed to me in various occasions when physical pain didn’t exist as they broke an arrow with a throught, or laid on the bed of nails or sharp machetes, lifted up on sharp spears- without spilling a drop of blood. Years later I too broke through my fears and broke an arrow with my throat as well as walked on fire. Mind over matter. Truly.

I published my first photography/poetry book Strong Mind, in 2014, featuring Shaolin monks and their philosophy. I am very grateful for this journey, however difficult and challenging it was at the time. The monks directly influenced the rest of my life.

The series of photographs from this project were part of a photography exhibitions: “Altered States of Minds” in Ambika gallery, London in 2015 Solo photography exhibition “Street Souls” in Chelsea Gallery, London in 2011 Solo photography exhibition “Street Souls” in Snezne Gallery, Czech Republic Group exhibition “Walls and Interpersonal Relationships” Prasna Brana Gallery, Prague

This is an ongoing project​

INDIGO
(2012, 2018)

In search of Inca's civilization, architecture, agriculture and traditions, I travelled around with backpack while portraying and interviewing 
indigenous people while documenting their everyday life, shooting a calendar for FBE.

 I met shaman Adriel Garay on my first trip to Peru, on the way back from hiking Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. He came to meet me in Cuzco and performed a coca leaf reading and important things in my life. Adrian has foreseen me coming back to Peru, writing a book and becoming an avid environmental activist and coming back to Peru with more people.

I returned in March 2018 and this time I went deep into the Amazonian jungle with shaman and visual artist Moises Llerena and a group of friends and we set on an extra(un)ordinary journey learning about plan medicine and exploring  consciousness during  ancient sacred ceremony.

Published Calendar Reaching South 2012
​

I

Hollywood Dreaming 2013-2014

.

FACE OF NEPAL
​(2009) ​

Personal project, editorial and commissioned calendar for FEB and this project was one of my most significant experiences. I spent six weeks hiking in Nepal in 2009 working on calendar, editorial and documentary. I hiked in the Himalaya mountains- Annapurna circuit with a group of friends including professional tennis player Janette Husarova, whom I was documenting while this trip was marking the ending of her professional career. We walked 6-7 hours a day for 21 days, often intense hiking in high altitude, ascended up to 5,410meters above seal level. I met and portrayed local Nepalis people and Tibetan refuges and I had the chance to stay with some of them and observe their approach to life, their values, philosophy, everyday rituals, family connections, portrait them in traditional clothing while performing the art of archery and this iconic photograph was the a cover of CARL magazine.

We had no electricity either hot water or heating most of the time during the trip. It was freezing cold. I constantly struggled with taking pictures and freezing fingertips, extreme cold and really rough conditions were challenging and humbling, it was beautiful to experience so much time hiking, soul searching, revisiting life, lots of thoughts were directed to my childhood and my family. Meeting people and the whole families living in these harsh conditions, learning from them. Watch them doing house choirs and telling each other stories around the fireplace, cooking food together, having true connection. It really puts our western culture and our media obsessions into perspective and promotes simplified life. 

The series of photographs from this project were part of a photography exhibitions:

Faces of Nepal, solo photography exhibition at Zdar Theatre, Czech Republic in 2010

Solo photography exhibition “Street Souls” in Chelsea Gallery, London in 2011

Solo photography exhibition “Street Souls” in Snezne Gallery, Czech Republic in 2011

​And in CARL magazine as a cover and 12 pages editorial in 2014








​





NEW YORK, NEW YORK!
(2009-2010)

A small photo essay and a calendar. Fascinating city observed by a European. Photos were produced during my first two trips. 

Eccentric characters dressed in the most unusual and fascinating ways. Artists in Chelsea, modern day Nuns jogging in trainers running in their ankle long religious habits around Hyde Park, homeless people sleeping on 5th Avenue, snow ball attack on my taxi ride which felt like a terrorist attack as I was approaching Ground Zero memorial.

I was very lucky to experience extremes- the record temperature in summer days and winter's snow storm which stopped the city and the subway for two full days. 

NY! 2011

​Solo exhibition in the Town Hall Gallery in Zdar mad Sazavou, 2011



​

The Other Side to Tsunami (2011)

.

LOST MAYAN CIVILISATION
(2011-present)

Just a year before 21st December 2012, the end of the Mayan calendar cycle, I’ve travelled to Mexico To collect photographs for my Mayan Calendar 2012

 I went into the communities and met local people,  witnessed the mysteries of the Mayan civilization in Yucatan, and interviewed and photographed the Mayans descendants. We spoke about their heritage, traditions, closing circles and the beautiful beginnings of the new calendar cycle on 21st December 2012.

On the same journey, I watched wonderment of millions of butterflies flying from North America to the the mountains of Mexico, completing their thousands of miles journey to fulfill their life purpose, selfless devotion of their lives for future generations. It moved me inspired in so many different ways.

This is an ongoing project



CINEMAGIC (2010-2014)
Film Festival

I was official Cinemagic Press Release and documentary photographer between 2010-2014

Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People is an award-winning charity that has been educating, inspiring and motivating young people for the last three decades.

Cinemagic is an organization with international networks and a worldwide reputation for excellence in children’s and youth programming. 

As the largest film and television festival designed for and by young people in the UK and Ireland around 40,000 young people (aged 4-25) participate in Cinemagic events in Belfast, Dublin, London, New York and Los Angeles each year. 
Since it was established Cinemagic has engaged with almost 1 million young  people.  Cinemagic's film production projects have received international acclaim for their ambition, quality and reach.

Cinemagic embraces the magic of film, television and digital technologies and offers young people the chance to develop real skills, explore opportunities, and reaffirm their belief in what they want to do and their own ability to achieve it.
Cinemagic has recently  produced two feature films, A CHRISTMAS STAR and GRACE AND GOLIATH; secured worldwide distribution for both films; developed award-winning “behind the scene” documentaries; produced over 150 short films; and supported hundreds of young trainees to secure work in the film and television industry.

Cinemagic has incredible patrons that share in its ethos such as, Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Saoirse Ronan, Colin Farrell, Suranne Jones, Paula Malcomson, Julian Fellowes, Hayley Mills, Saoirse Monica Jackson and Lord David Puttnam to name but a few. 

Cinemagic Festival Belfast is funded by Department of Communities through Northern Ireland Screen.
​
Cinemagic Festival Belfast is funded by Belfast City Council.
Cinemagic Festival Dublin is funded by Department of Education and Skills and funded by Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.



NGO Eden Mozambique




​