Zsolt Varanka Photography
Jacaré
I am a biologist by profession (PhD in Environmental Biochemistry and Biotechnology), but life’s challenges led me to transition into the IT field. Since 2000, I’ve been working as an IT professional. However, photography has always been a central passion in my life. While I don’t take photographs for a living, I simply cannot imagine life without it.
My nickname, Jacaré, was given to me by my Brazilian friends when I told them a few indigenous Portuguese animal names during our first meeting. The first name I mentioned was "jacaré," the word used by the indigenous people to describe caimans in Brazil’s forests. I learned these words as a child from the thrilling novels of the famous Hungarian hunter and writer Gábor Molnár, who led expeditions to the Amazon between 1930 and 1932 to collect exhibits for the Hungarian National Museum.
I take pride in being a self-taught photographer, having learned primarily through my own experiences, as well as from books and videos. In 2015, I won my first significant photography awards despite not attending any formal photography school or course. However, I did participate in several studio photography evenings organized by the local photo club. These sessions gave me the opportunity to experiment with studio equipment, implement my own lighting ideas, and learn how to direct and photograph models.
As my daughters grew, I became increasingly interested in portrait and studio photography. My goal was to take unique, beautiful photos of them, as well as professional images of other models. To improve my skills, I began subscribing to online courses offered by some of the best commercial and portrait photographers, which helped me make significant progress within a few months.
In 2016, I attended a "right-brain drawing" course to enhance my artistic vision and creativity. While online learning has been invaluable, I believe face-to-face education is also critical for self-improvement. In 2017, I completed an advanced course in Budapest, where I learned professional studio lighting and portrait retouching. The following year, I attended an outdoor wedding photography workshop in Austria to further expand my skills.
As evident from my journey, I am deeply passionate about photography and visual arts. I constantly seek new adventures to satisfy my creative drive. There is so much beauty in the world, and I am addicted to discovering and capturing it!
When asked what kind of photographer I am—nature, portrait, fashion, or something else—I prefer not to categorize myself. I consider myself a passionate photographer. That said, my favorite genres include landscape, wildlife, studio portrait, beauty, and glamour photography.
Although I primarily create photographs for my own enjoyment, I occasionally participate in photo contests and have won several awards over the years.
In 2019, I was honored with the "Artist FIAP" distinction from the Fédération Internationale de l’Art Photographique (FIAP – The International Federation of Photographic Art). In 2021, I achieved the "Excellence FIAP" (EFIAP) distinction.
I live in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, with my family. Whenever I have the opportunity, I enjoy rediscovering familiar places or exploring new areas within Hungary. I also organize photography tours to foreign destinations, with a special interest in mountainous regions like Norway, the Faroe Islands, the Tatras, the Balkans, and the Alps. More recently, I’ve started exploring nearby subtropical regions, beginning with Madeira, as well as far-off tropical areas like Indonesia. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m already addicted!
Finally, I’d like to express my gratitude to the exceptional photographers who have inspired me and from whom I’ve learned the most:
