Vratislav Beleni was born in 1985 in Děčín. He came to photography gradually and relatively late, around 2021. In the early stages of his work, he was drawn primarily to landscape photography, but over time he became absorbed by the life of the street. His focus increasingly shifted toward people as the central subject of his interest.

In 2024, he became an aspirant member of VERUM PHOTO, where he began to systematically develop his personal photographic approach. He currently devotes himself exclusively to documentary photography, with an emphasis on authenticity and the human dimension. In his work, he seeks out ordinary people on the outskirts of towns and villages, exploring their relationship to society and their surrounding environment. He sees the greatest strength of documentary photography in its ability to tell stories.

In a forge near Český Brod, master blacksmith Petr Brožek is forging plate armor. His work is carried out with deep respect for traditions and techniques that have been known for hundreds of years. Every hammer strike is carefully considered and cannot be taken back. The Blacksmith’s Tao presents Petr Brožek of Přehvozdí, a specialist in the creation of plate armor. Thanks to his precision and respect for traditional craftsmanship, he is a sought-after master throughout Europe. The exhibited photographs capture the process of creating parts of the armor, forged between February and June 2025.

Kevin V. Ton