Flash of Light (2006)
In 2006, I began photographing RESOTY—a resocialization centre founded and led by Father Anton Srholec.
The name RESOTY comes from “resocialization,” and it was a place where people coming out of prison, addiction, family breakdowns or other hardships tried to rebuild their lives.
Father Srholec was known for his openness, wisdom, and quiet dedication to those whom society often overlooks. When I first arrived, I carried my own prejudices. It took time in RESOTY to understand that these people weren’t “parasites,” but human beings who had simply lost their way and were searching for safety, support, and a chance to begin again. Gradually, I earned their trust and began documenting their everyday reality. After months of work, I realised that something essential was missing in my photographs.
They lacked Anton’s presence—his calmness, his fatherly warmth, and the light he brought into the community. Without that light, the story felt incomplete.
When I showed him my photographs, he understood immediately. He went into his room, returned with his diary, and said: “Boris, use whatever you need. I trust you.” Those words opened the way forward. I incorporated excerpts from his diary into the project, creating a portrait of Father Srholec through the people he cared for—through their faces, their stories, and his own compassionate voice.
Flash of Light is a reminder that light often appears where we least expect it. Sometimes, it comes from a person who stands quietly in the background.
He broke in. Later, he came to thank me for not reporting him to the police. I asked, “Which door did you break?” He showed me the door to his current room.
They are like adult children. They have forgotten how to work independently and show little initiative. But when I show them how, they enjoy working. I order vegetables for the winter and have to arrange storage again. Many worries.
About half of the men are alcoholics. However, they do not drink because they have no money. They do not worry about paying rent. It is my concern how to make a family out of these castaways. Most of them are beginning to believe that I care about them.
Although I eat with them and sometimes sleep there, I cannot fully identify with them. I still have my own flat, and they respect me as a boss. I support the tobacco industry and buy cigarettes for my friends.
Vlado became religious. It is a great pity that he is marked by his past. However, I understand and respect his freedom and conscience. He says that I saved his life.
There is goodness in every person, but sometimes it becomes wrapped in disappointment. People are not criminals or threats to society by nature. They become that way when they lack the most basic things: a place to stay, a warm bed, and food.
Many of the homeless people I meet do not talk about politics. They often spend most of the day watching television and rarely express their own opinions or show interest in public matters. I try to speak with them individually and offer them books to read.
Sometimes they sell the books and use the money for alcohol. It can be difficult to talk about faith with people who are struggling in this way.
