The meeting of art and artificial intelligence – ATM Grupa presents a surprising 2024 calendar! I, AI marks the eighth and final edition of this artistic project.

Who’s afraid of artificial intelligence? Certainly not Szymon Szcześniak, a portrait and commercial photographer with 20 years of experience. He is the creator of the images for ATM Grupa’s 2024 calendar and took on the challenge of incorporating AI (artificial intelligence) in the creative process. His goal was to blend traditional photography with modern technology to create unique and inspiring images. “Meeting and confronting AI was a true challenge for me on many levels, an adventure with an uncontrollable material,” Szcześniak explains in the calendar’s introduction.

Helping him “tame” artificial intelligence was Tomasz Świerczyński, a 3D generalist and expert in implementing modern technologies. “Together, we generated dozens of backgrounds, leading to hundreds of possibilities, endless options, and even more unknowns. The lack of complete control over the creative process became a bigger challenge than I initially anticipated,” writes Szymon Szcześniak. “I wanted the atmosphere of the photo, its technical and visual qualities, to form a cohesive image – one that harmonizes with the subject and also aligns with my vision, that subjective feeling that is every creator’s unique signature.”

The latest ATM Grupa calendar features, as usual, talented actors: Ireneusz Czop, Andrzej Chyra, Katarzyna Figura, Jakub Gierszał, Arkadiusz Jakubik, Orina Krajewska, Anna Krotoska, Eryk Kulm Jr, Michalina Łabacz, Dawid Ogrodnik, Dorota Pomykała, and Maria Sobocińska.

Each image was created in two stages. Traditional portraits were the first step, followed by AI-generated backgrounds tailored to the character and photographer’s vision. The final product of this unique collaboration is a manifesto of sorts, highlighting the intersection of traditional art and modern technology, leaving viewers to reflect on the state of the contemporary world.

ATM Grupa’s 2024 calendar is not just a collection of months; it is a fascinating journey through the surprising combination of artistic talent and the power of artificial intelligence.

 

About the Creators

Szymon Szcześniak is a graduate of the Institute of Creative Photography in Opava, Czech Republic. He specializes in portrait and commercial photography and has worked for prestigious Polish magazines such as Zwierciadło, Twój Styl, Pani, and Viva. His work has been exhibited in places like Port Autonome Gallery in Paris, and in Warsaw’s OBOK ZPAF, Yours Gallery, MELON, and Leica Gallery.

Tomasz Świerczyński is a 3D generalist with 18 years of experience. Working under the name Luminance Studio, he has collaborated on both small and global projects for renowned companies and institutions. He is considered an expert in lighting and integrating modern technologies into his services.

Creative team

Concept and Photography: Szymon Szcześniak
3D Generalist: Tomasz Świerczyński
Production: Dorota Sikorska / Vizja Art, Sylwia Cieślak / ATM Grupa
Styling: Anna Imiela-Szcześniak
Stylist’s Assistants: Karolina Rodanowicz, Anna Moes
Makeup: Julita Jaskółka
Hair: Piotr Wasiński / Van Dorsen Artists, Jaga Hupało (for Katarzyna Figura)
Behind-the-Scenes Photography: Tomek Kordek
Concept and Video Production: Joo Joostberens, Aia Ase / Aia Ase Pictures
Graphic Design: Maria Bożycka
Proofreading: Ewa Mościcka

The final edition of ATM Grupa’s calendar

From the very beginning, ATM Grupa’s calendar has been a purely artistic project. This was the vision of Andrzej Muszyński, CEO of ATM Grupa and the originator of the calendar. Each year, several hundred copies are distributed to filmmakers, Polish cinema stars, journalists, and ATM’s partners and collaborators, with a few signed copies auctioned for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOŚP).

The first ATM Grupa calendar was published in 2017, with Grzegorz Gołębiowski as the photographer and the theme focusing on the world of emotions. The featured subjects were actors working on series produced by ATM Grupa.

In the following years, the project involved some of Poland’s best photographers: Tatiana Jachyra, Robert Wolański, the Kulesza & Pik duo, Jacek Poremba, Aldona Karczmarczyk, and Szymon Brodziak. The roster of calendar subjects grew each year, extending well beyond actors collaborating with ATM. Though it is impossible to list them all here, they all deserve a huge thank you:

Thank you to the extraordinary creators and subjects who contributed to our calendars! Thank you for every frame that has become part of our history!

The decision to discontinue the printed calendar is a step by ATM Grupa within the framework of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy.

Thank you for your understanding and support!