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Peter doesn’t purposely talk to his subjects to make stand what he is working with; constantly looking for a
them feel at ease. Instead, he relates very directly to the meaningful connection with his surroundings. Instead of
subjects. He explains that it’s his responsibility how they following strict guidelines, Peter prefers to learn by doing
look in the photograph. “ My subjects can’t change the way and from experience. By creating this relationship with
they look. I can, with the way, I use the light, the way I everything he does, it is as if he is giving a voice to the ob-
angle the camera. They should never think about the way jects, or the projects he works on. It is no longer a single-sid-
they look. But they have to establish some level of trust in ed creation, but rather a conversation with whatever he does
themselves and with me, or at least the camera, so that in the process. “I enjoy the quest for Arete, by knowing the
there is a good handfull of “here I am”, and whatever feel- main variables and then applying hands-on practice and
ing and look that brings. We are in the middle of making attention to every tactile feedback from the things at
a photo, a portrait, together. And with an ordinary person, hand. It’s much more fun than following strict recipes and
not a model or showperson, perhaps this interaction, this weighing out everything, I think.”
state of being is only there for five minutes out of a whole
hour. And you know for sure, when it’s there, and when it Passing on the Arete
isn’t.”What Peter describes is like making a good cup of
coffee. You need a process in which what is inside comes Another “conversation” Peter has created is the IS-
to its full potential. You need to reveal its inner greatness SUES magazine. It is a creative workshop where teenagers
and flavour. To do that, you need to roast, grind, steam get together to discuss issues they care about, and then
pretty decisively. Peter comments “I don’t roast my subjects they make a magazine out of that, in words and artwork.
for a portrait (like Avedon someties did), but I am very He believes that the younger generations have a lot to say
direct and know I have to work at it, to work them, give but they often don’t get to express it enough. It is a platform
them a good steam and a nice cup to land in.” for them to have creative freedom to express what they
want, and how they want it. A conversation that creates
A Craftsman’s Mindset new perspectives of young voices often unheard or misun-
derstood. Peter also hosts workshops teaching people
Peter’s quest for Arete isn’t just in the final product photography and eco-friendly film development. He teach-
itself. He is dedicated to understanding every detail of his es the caffenol method which uses coffee as one of the
process. Rather than purchasing a new espresso machine, main components of developing his films. Aside from
he chose a faulty second-hand lever espresso maker. He is being a delicious beverage, coffee also contains a chemical
interested in tinkering and fixing the machine to under- compound called caffeic acid.
Film developed with beer, thyme and coffee respectively.

“Photo of Polish Roasting
This chemical compound is not only present in coffee commodity coffee market. Coffee transparency is a great
Champion Mateusz Karczewski
of Audun Coffee (and his dog). but in many other foods like strawberries and beer. A way to understand where your coffee is coming from and
The photo was taken while mixture of ingredients including coffee is concocted to ensure that your coffee producers and farmers are being paid
teaching a caffenol workshop at create this environmentally friendly film developer. It takes a fair share for their hard work. There are many different
Vintage Photo Festival in
longer to develop the films but the results are beautiful in components within the coffee chain from bean to cup. It is
Bydgoszcz. Mateusz gave me a
their unpredictable way. Through this tactile and engaging easy to neglect the big network of people who have connect-
bag of Robusta beans that I used
in my caffenol developer.” workshop, he teaches his participants how accessible it is ed with the coffee that is in front of you.
to develop their film with common household items that With higher coffee transparency comes well-paid
are not harmful to the environment. It is clear to see that workers and higher-quality beans produced. What coffee
Peter’s quest for Arete isn’t by taking shortcuts. He is professionals and enthusiasts can learn from Peter is the
committed to understanding the process, what makes sense importance of creating conversations and connections with
and what is right. While the world is moving towards people and our surroundings. By doing so, we can generate
frontiers we don’t understand, Peter chooses to slow down dialogues with everyone involved in the coffee journey. This
and learn the way to connect with his surroundings. The is a crucial step to raising the standards of the quality of
coffee industry as it moves through different waves is also coffee and more importantly the quality of the lives of peo-
experiencing its quest for Arete. ple who work so hard to bring this much-loved beverage to
This is no small fleet, as commodity coffee still makes our daily routine. Revisiting what makes specialty coffee
up the majority of the coffee consumed around the world. great and improving its transparency of origins and trade is
Coffee farmers are often underpaid and overworked in the the old way to a new order.

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