Mažeikių fotografija iki 1940 m

LTMažeikių fotografija, kaip ir miesto pradžia, sietina su geležinkelio tiesimu. Galima tiksliai pasakyti, kad pirmasis fotografas, išvydęs Mažeikius, buvo Konradas Brandelis (1838–1920), garsus Varšuvos fotografas, kartu su bendrovės vadovais ir investitoriais pravažiavęs ką tik nutiesta geležinkelio linija Kaišiadorys–Liepoja prieš pat oficialų jos atidarymą, įvykusį 1871 m. rugsėjo 4 d. Tiesa, Mažeikių kaimelis su pamiškėje stūksančia geležinkelio stotimi tuomet traukiniu važiavusiems keleiviams įspūdžio nepadarė. Stabtelėta keli kilometrai už Mažeikių prie tilto per Ventą – šią fotografiją ir galima laikyti pirmuoju Mažeikių apylinkėse padarytu kadru1. Tačiau dar turėjo praeiti laiko, pasikeisti kelios kartos, kol iš kaimelio žmonių, kurių skaičius pačioje XIX a. pabaigoje pasiekė 2 tūkstančius, išaugo savas fotografas [p. 92].

ENThe first photographer that ever lived in Mažeikiai was Jonas Motuzas (1864–1929). He and his family moved to Mažeikiai in 1898. Besides of being a photographer, J. Motuzas was an illegal Lithuanian press distributor, public life organizer, culture raising man, and Mažeikiai burgomaster. After he had stopped taking photos in 1915, he handled his hobby to his son Bonaventūras Motuzas (1896–1921). His daughter Teofilė Motuzaitė (1894–1971) was also a photographer in Viekšniai. Unfortunately, due to his son’s early death and daughter’s movement abroad the art of photography in the Motuzai family’s life faded away. The most professional photographer in Mažeikiai until 1940 was Hirša Gurvičius (the end of the 19th century – 1943?). He was exiled with his parents to Russia in 1915 where he had an opportunity to learn photography. After he returned home in 1919, he started his business of selling photos with industrial city view in his photo studio. Hirša Gurvičius took really great and important photos of Mažeikiai history. In the late 1930s, Pranas Vaišnoras (1902– 1953), a teacher of a famous photographer from Palanga Ignas Stropus (1885–1959), was working in Mažeikiai. Vaišnoras was mostly taking photos in the studio, although, some of the town photos and some eminent people visiting Mažeikiai city were taken as well.Two H. Gurvičius’ students – Kostantinas Bužokas (1914–1996) and Vasilijus Tomanas- Tomanovas (1914–1993) also became photographers of Mažeikiai. In K. Bužokas’ photos we can see the life of town’s public organizations, and V. Tomanas-Tomanovas was mostly known for photos of Mažeikiai city. Unfortunately, only a few of archives of photographs are stored in Mažeikiai Museum. When in 1940s amateur photography was getting popular, photos were taken by professionals, but there was a problem with photo rights because most of the photos were not marked. It would be hard to discern a certain photographer in their own mastery, but the most important criteria is the historicity of their photography.