So, when I decided to leave my studio job and pursue photography as an independent artist, the image of that poppy came to mind, and I knew Mak Polny was the perfect name. It honors my mom, and represents the utter strength and beauty in standing out. Mak Polny Photo is about being the wild red poppy in a field full of daffodils.

The name Mak Polny is a Polish phrase that translates to "field poppy" in English. 

My beloved mother left Poland in her twenties with a heart full of hope and a desire for adventure. She headed to the U.S., where she met my father and had me. She left this earth when I was nine. My passion for photography is rooted in my mom. One of my earliest memories was her handing me a wind-up disposable camera and saying “Here ya go kid, go to town!” So, at just five or six, I started taking pictures – mostly of my parents. I’d tell my dad, “kiss mom on the cheek,” or direct them to pose on top of a mountain or sit in front of a pretty fountain (a pro in the making!). They never missed a chance to immerse me in nature, and I always had a camera in hand.

After losing my mom, change became the only constant in my life. My dad tried to fill the void for me with hobbies… at his wallet’s expense. From drums, painting, jewelry making, tie-dying, and sports lessons – but none lasted longer than a roll of film! That was until I set my sights on a shiny digital camera. By then, my financially fed-up father told me I’d have to buy it myself (thanks for the life lesson, dad…). So I saved for years. When I finally got that camera, something clicked, behind the lens, I found a sense of joy and presence that made life’s difficulties melt away.

I know, what the heck does this have to do with field poppies? Just after high school, I decided to go to Poland to explore my heritage, to feel closer to my mom, and to find adventure like she did. I couch-surfed, met family, learned the language, got citizenship, and took a TON of pictures. One image, however, was forever embedded in my mind – that of a single bright red poppy growing tall amid a sea of thousands of yellow flowers. It grew out of the edge of some concrete, forcing itself into existence as if it knew it was meant to stand out. I felt like I understood that resilient little poppy that had grown through adversity, longing to be out in the world, only different.