For over half a century, photography has defined the way we remember and evaluate important events. "A picture is worth a thousand words," Susan Sontag often said. She aptly called photography "a moment endowed with the privilege of permanence." Today, however, much points to the need to reread the reality emerging from the ubiquitous civilization of images. Visual communication experts point to the blurring of boundaries between artistic disciplines in the age of electronic media.

The development of visual arts, and especially the ubiquity of the internet, makes these observations particularly relevant.

I have reached for Sontag's collection of essays more often than for "The Catcher in the Rye" or even my beloved "Lord Jim." I know many books on photography, dozens of which I have personally published with the WAiF. My return to this particular work was, and is, motivated by the need to recall fundamental truths. Sometimes—especially recently—I also eagerly return to Urszula Czartoryska's "Adventures of Artistic Photography." Two relatively old books, selected from among hundreds of titles. Still important to me. In the 1980s, I traveled extensively—primarily to Russia, France, and Germany—which had a profound impact on my work. After 1989, I went to the USA on two scholarships and undertook several important, creatively fruitful journeys, including to Israel, Japan, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Oriana Fallaci used to say: "There is nothing more risky than striving to give meaning to life." And this is precisely what I strive to convey through my photographs. I have strived to ensure that, in my case, it is not just about aesthetic and moral issues arising from the ubiquity of the civilization of images.

Janusz Fogler studied geography at the University of Warsaw. He received his doctorate and habilitation from the Faculty of Graphic Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. He is a photographer, publisher, and academic teacher. He has authored books and photography albums. He began his publishing and journalistic career while still a student, collaborating with the Scout publishing house "Horyzonty" and the weekly "Polityka." For fifteen years, he worked as an editor at the Youth Publishing Agency. In 1990, he won the competition for the position of director of the Artistic-Film Publishing House, and in 1993, he purchased it from the State Treasury. From 2002 to 2003, he was president of the Ars Polona publishing house.* He also served as president of the Polish Society of Book Publishers, the Association of Polish Art Photographers, vice president of the Polish Chamber of Books, and president of the Society of Friends of Legionowo, where he lives to this day. From 1998 to 1999, he was the plenipotentiary of the Minister of Culture, responsible for the first stage of preparations for Poland's appearance as a guest of honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2000. He served as Secretary General of the Setki Movement. From 2005 to 2011, he chaired the Supervisory Board of AURIGA Publishing House. Since June 2009, he has been Dean of the Faculty of Media Art and Scenography at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Since December 2009, he has been Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the ZAiKS Authors' Association. In 2008, he was awarded the Medal for Merit to Polish Culture and the Bronze Medal for Merit to Culture Gloria Artis.

He previously received honorary badges from the Polish Society of Book Publishers (PTWK) and the Association of Book Publishers (SAiKS), the PTWK Commemorative Medal for his book work, the Commemorative Medal for Merit to the Association of Polish Booksellers (SAiKS), and the Gold Badge of Honor of the Association of Polish Booksellers.

In February 2011, the President of the Republic of Poland awarded him the title of Professor of Fine Arts, and on May 9 of the same year, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, and subsequently the Medal of National Education for his special contributions to education and upbringing. In 2012, he was elected to a second term as Dean of the Faculty of Media Art and Scenography at the Academy of Fine Arts, which led to the establishment of the new Faculty of Scenography in 2013. In December 2013, he was re-elected President of the ZAiKS Association of Authors. Since May 2014, he has also served as Editor-in-Chief of the academic journal Acta Poligraphica. Interests: photography (skiing, tennis), granddaughter Zosia, and Spain.