About
Daniel Skwarna is a multi-award winning documentary photographer and published writer. He has worked in the United States, Iceland, England, Scotland, Ireland, Cuba, Turkey Israel and the West Bank, Greece, France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Serbia Croatia, Bosnia & Hercegovina, Kosovo, Slovakia, Sarajevo,
Poland, and Russia.
Daniel attended the University of Toronto and holds a degree in History, Fine Art History, and Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations.
Select commercial and editorial clients include: Apple, BDC, Celestica, Mercedes-Benz, Invesco, Report on Business, Fortune Magazine, Spacing Magazine, Beside Magazine, and the Globe & Mail.
He lives in Toronto with his wife, Sarah, and daughter Lumen.
Praise
Desert Dweller
Daniel Skwarna's riveting portraits of desert dwellers living off the grid without modern-day conveniences bring to light the beliefs and conventions of a subculture outside the mainstream. The trust between the artist and those he photographs is palpable, resulting in images of strong authenticity and respectful humanity. Set against the harsh Sonoran Desert, we can almost feel the dry heat and dust in his stunningly intimate portraits.
– Ada Takahashi, Principal, Robert Koch Gallery
The aesthetic of Mad Max isn't far from reality. Daniel Skwarna's works, both color (as in this series) and black-and-white, reflect the energy of anarchism and tender pleasure of its moments. His images stir up jealousy in the viewer to be there, to feel and experience what the photographer has. His art is full of empathy; he makes the smells and noises continue to exist (still hot) in the images.
– Irina Chmyreva, Art Director, PhotoVisa International Festival of Photography
American Desert-Ed
The composition is traditional, but very rigorous. In the desolate environment, the portraits present a kind of solemnity.
Interesting and sincere portraits, a disturbing side of society or better an example of failure of society which needed to be shown and told, and it's been done in the best way with discretion and high level knowledge and style.
Recent Awards & Recognition
2021 - American Photography AP37 Chosen Winner
2021 - Lensculture Portrait Award Finalist
2021 - Lensculture Critic’s Choice Top 10 Selection
2021 - Lensculture Portrait Award Editor’s Selection
2021 - Lensculture Black and White Awards Editor’s Seelction
2021 - Lensculture Home ‘21 Editor’s Selection
2021 - Lensculture Critics’ Choice Award Editor’s Selection
2021 - IPA, 1st Place, Analog/Other
2021 - IPA, 3rd Place, Deeper Perspective
2021 - IPA, Jury Top 5 Selection, Series
2021 - IPA Jury Top 5 Selection, Portrait
2021 - IPA, Analog Portrait, Honorable Mention
2021 - IPA, Analog Other, Honorable Mention
2021 - IPA, Analog Portrait, Honorable Mention
2021 - IPA, Analog Portrait, Honorable Mention
2021 - IPA, Best of Show
2021 - LifeFramer Home Sweet Home Editor’s Pick
2021 - Applied Arts - Photojournalism
2021 - Applied Arts - Other
2021 - Applied Arts - Covid Response
2021 - PX3, Gold, Portraiture
2021 - PX3 Silver, Portraiture
2021 - PX3 State of the World, Short-List
2021 - Fine Art Photography Awards Nominee
2021 - 16th Pollux Awards Honorable Mention
2021 - MIFA, Silver, Editorial Photo Essay
2021 - MIFA, Bronze, Portrait
2021 - MIFA, Bronze, Portrait
2021 - MIFA, Honorable Mention, Portrait
2021 - ND Awards, Gold
2021 - AAP Particular Merit Mention
2021 - TIFA, Official Selection
2021 - TIFA, Official Selection
2021 - TIFA, Honorable Mention
2021 - TIFA, Honorable Mention
Recent Print & Web
2021 - Lensculture Critic’s Choice Photo Book (print)
2021 - Esquire Russia Feature
2021 - Lensculture Feature Portfoio
2021 - Photomuse Journal: Middle of Nowhere (web)
2021 - Beside Magazine - Besider Feature - Desert Dweller (web)
2021 - Spacing Magazine Summer 2021- Empty City Feature (print)
2021 - Lenta.Ru - Freedom Without Convenience (web)
2021 - PhotoEd Magazine, By Dying Sea Feature (web)
2021- Don’t Take Pictures: Photo of the Day (web)
2021- Private Photo Review (web)
2021 - Here & Now: Pressure (Dir. Michael Beets) (web)
2021 - OFF Bratislava, Slovakia
