+ about - Simon Plestenjak

+ about

Simon is Slovenian, who first directed his curiosity into traveling and now in photography. Studied marketing at university of Ljubljana and finished photography post-graduation course in São Paulo, Brazil. With photos he tells stories and always tries to add zest with capturing geometric forms, misterious lights and sincere human expressions.

+ curriculum vitae

+ testimonial

If I had to choose three most talented young photographers - photojournalists from Slovenia, then Simon Plestenjak would certainly be among those three !

Arne Hodalič, photo editor
National Geographic Slovenia

With the Lipizzaner horse we were planning to take photos of renown Slovenian horse photographers and engage Simon for one or two photos of a performance in Vienna. But at the end we took all the photos from Simon; even more, he wrote a text for the story. Since he was really dedicated and got to know many important people connected to Lipizzaner, he managed to gather most relevant information. Being a horse lover he also brought a different angle to the material.

Miha Kovač, editor in chief
National Geographic Slovenia

Simon Plestenjak has prepared several, really good photo-reportages for National Geographic Traveler. His work expresses serious and responsible attitude towards his projects and next to being a good observer he also has a feeling to create a story.
He is very dynamic when looking for the right angle, his eye is sensitive to interesting light conditions and to decisive photographic moments.
There is another virtue that Simon has, which is very important when making this kind of reportages. Simon is very open and sincere in communication with other people.

Iztok Bončina, photo editor
National Geographic Traveler Slovenia

Simon’s work is strong, simple and direct. He’s able to frame and identify what the image is about, and to capture and communicate his vision of the subject at hand. At the same time, it displays a certain thoughtful reflection, a combination of energetic immediacy and intuitive, necessary distance.
Simon turns out (and later turns in) lovely, rich images which seduce both the eye and the heart, yet are more than simply beautiful, easy, surface images; they are strong reportage, carefully chosen moments, and decidedly personal views.
Working with Simon offers a refreshing, youthful energy and unjaded enthusiasm for his work, which, however, is combined with the dedication and commitment necessary to deliver strong work within a well-defined framework.
In the cafes of Sarajevo we find vibrant, colorful, rich tradition imbued with both a hopeful optimism and a brooding guardedness which speaks volumes of the place, the time, and the people. Likewise the Mostar bridge, poetic in a subdued, late-afternoon light-wash yet stamped with the concrete, temporal-physical reality of life unsure and only loosely defined: the stuff of flighty image-dreams and real stories firmly rooted in the street of everyday existence.

Jeff Bickert, editor in chief
Kontrast magazine

Mr. Plestenjak has certified his professional photographic techniques knowledge and followed all digital asset management protocols of the newspaper.

Toni Pires, photo editor
Folha de São Paulo

We (at Kontejner magazine) decided to publish Simon’s “Sampa” report because it had a different take on Brazil as most of us are used to. It shows both sides. The bright one and the dark one. He shows the dualities of the country, of the city, of the people. He tells us how nothing is what it seems to be. The photos are as raw, ever-watchful and uncompromising as his camera is. And his words take us straight into the middle of everything, introduce us to their language, phrases, little misunderstandings.
Sampa was something “off-topic” for Kontejner magazine, when it was published. But as it turned out later in couldn’t be more “on-topic”. Some of us still firmly believe that is one of the strongest articles we have published in the past two-something years.
And besides - it’s Brazil, innit?

Sašo Dornik, editor
Kontejner magazine

We publish Simon Plestenjak’s portrait, still and action photographs. At his work he always tries to find new, different angles, what has enriched our news significantly. What we specially appreciate is his search for special motives, therefore his photos differ from classic sport photography. At the same time Simon photograph sport actions routinely, where reactive time and understanding of special characteristics of every sport are cruical.

Martin Pavčnik, assistant editor
Siol Sportal