Yearning for Water
Pragnienie Wody (Yearning for Water) is a series of documentary photographs depicting former athletes who were involved in water sports, especially kayaking. It is a story of passion, determination, and nostalgia for moments of past glory. The photographs showcase both their portraits and the spaces where they train and spend time. The images capture the unique character of the subjects and their strong connections to water and nature. This project celebrates their achievements and shows how sport has shaped their lives and personalities. The photographs invite viewers into the intimate world of former kayakers. Through this series, I explore the beauty and challenges of the sport and the ways in which it continues to influence people’s lives even after their careers have ended.
The title is difficult to translate from Polish into English. The word “pragnienie” can mean either “desire” or “thirst,” depending on the context.
I have been working on this project for two years, documenting the community of former athletes. I began photographing in Kraków, at a riverside marina on the Vistula River, but the project is now evolving to include other cities and countries. These athletes have been pushed to the margins by a system that has forgotten their achievements and the sacrifices they made in their youth. Despite this, they persist, meeting and training in often makeshift conditions, in old barracks and improvised gyms. They swim year-round, even during the winter. The oldest among them are more than 80 years old.
The project was included in the international travelling exhibition WATER, organised by Slovak Press Photo. Pragnienie Wody was on display in Slovakia (Bratislava) in fall 2025, Hungary (Budapest) in October and November 2025, and the Czech Republic (Opava) in May and June 2026.
In 2025, I published a book under the same title. It is still available in a limited edition.
Bart Krezolek is a documentary photographer based in Kraków, Poland, currently pursuing a PhD at the Institute of Creative Photography, Silesian University in Opava. He is a Grand Press Photo category winner and holds an M.A. in Photography. His work focuses primarily on long-term documentary projects, with a particular interest in personal and subjective documentary practices.
