OREANDA-NEWS. April 06, 2009. A new album by artistic photographer Romualdas Rakauskas came out. Ukio bankas, too, made a significant contribution to its publishing. R. Rakauskas is one of Lithuania’s most prominent photographers whose photographs are abundant in flow of spirits, reported the press-centre of Ukio bankas.

The artist’s black and white photographs show a bright world without any negative and dirty things. The photographer gave the interview about the album that is unofficially called “Gyvenimo knyga” (The Book of Life) as well as his future plans.

Tell us about your new album “Romualdas Rakauskas. Fotografijos”. What is it distinguished for?
First, this is a monograph. I put all the best works of my life into this book. Therefore, sometimes I call it “Gyvenimo Knyga”, and this title was proposed by poet and a good friend of mine Donaldas Kajokas. The 456-page album contains my most memorable photographs from the very 1959 when I started my career. In this album readers will find the most famous cycles of photographs taken by me, including “Vilniaus siokiadieniai”, “Musu Kaunas”, “Svelnumas” and “Ikvepimo zeme”, which show our best-known writers in their native places etc.

How much time did you devote to album compilation?
It took around 3 years to compile the album as I had to select from all the photos ever taken by me. By the way, I would like to take the opportunity and express my thanks to all Ukio bankas team and its head Edita Karpaviciene. My monograph would not have appeared without their financial aid. I am very happy to able to keep such a work in my hands. It often happens that works of such a volume appear after the artist is dead…

What was most difficult in writing your “Gyvenimo knyga”?
The most difficult thing was “to control” all the material. I have made hundreds of photographs and thus it was not easy to choose the best ones, and I had to deny some of them. Those thrown overboard include a series “Zalgirio vyrai”, showing the legendary basketball players of Kaunas. But I still believe that one way of another it will see the daylight.

What are your plans for the nearest future, maybe you intend to present new albums?
In fact, you are right. Presently, I coordinate the details of my new album “Vilniaus prisiminimai” with the publisher. All formal details are already arranged. Soon, works should start and I will have to go back to my archives. Well, talking of photography, I always remember my wife’s spot-on words: “It’s enough of you taking photographs yourself, leave something for your grandson”. I still take photographs but leisurely and relaxed, and intend to quit this job some day.