Faustas Augustinas became the photographer of Alytus for the year 2026.
Faustas has been a part of Alytus life for almost 40 years. It is a rare day when you don’t see him walking around the city with a camera – capturing events, people, nature, moments of everyday life. It can be said that in Alytus, two Fs have become a kind of symbol – Faustas and the camera.
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Faustas’ name was chosen by his father
Faustas came to Alytus in 1987, after finishing photography studies at Vilnius Technology Technical School and receiving an assignment to work at Alytus Polytechnic.
Faustas Augustinas. Do people never confuse where his first name ends and his last name begins?
“That was only asked at first in Alytus. But in our region, the surname Augustinas is quite common,” smiles the photographer born in Aukštaitija, Ukmergė district.
His father chose his name. His parents had agreed: if a girl was born, the mother would choose the name; if a boy – the father.
“He liked Goethe’s ‘Faust’, so I became Faust. At first, my mother wasn’t very happy with my name,” he says.
F. Augustinas started photographing around the eighth grade. The camera belonged to his father Vytautas Augustinas. Although not a professional photographer, he had completed artistic photography courses and photographed for pleasure.
Faustas has often been asked if he is related to the famous photographer Vytautas Augustinas. His father’s name and surname coincide with those of the well-known interwar photographer who founded the Lithuanian Amateur Photographers’ Union in 1933.
“He photographed representative Lithuanian photos for embassies. During the war, he moved to Germany, later to the United States, worked in a color photography lab in New York, and was active in the Lithuanian press. Upon returning to Lithuania, he donated about 3,000 negatives to the Lithuanian National Museum,” shares F. Augustinas with historical knowledge.
Through the camera lens – entire generations of Alytus residents
Over almost four decades, entire generations of people in Alytus have grown up with portraits taken by Faustas.
There was a time when the photographer also worked with modeling agencies. Many models or mannequins from Alytus had their first portfolio made up of Faustas’ photos.
However, the photographer does not overemphasize this stage of his life. It is already the past. He even somewhat regrets that beauty contests and the “Best Student” elections, which used to take place at the Youth Center, no longer exist.
Over almost four decades, entire generations of people in Alytus have grown up with portraits taken by Faustas.
For many years, F. Augustinas has collaborated with local and national press. The Alytus resident belongs to the Lithuanian Press Photographers Club and participates annually in the “Lithuanian Press Photography” competition. His works have repeatedly been among the best photos in the competition.
In Alytus, Faustas can often be seen at sports and cultural events. Most often he is there as a press photographer, but sometimes he comes for his own pleasure or to photograph a particular person.
“Making a good photo in bad lighting – that’s where the art is”
Like all photographers, light is very important to Faustas. He respects events where lighting is professionally planned and responsible people properly combine the lights.
“Making a good photo in bad lighting – that’s where the art is. People have many stereotypes. For example, that one side of their face is ‘worse.’ But the essence is lighting,” says the photographer.
Creative photography still interests him, and he still enjoys photographing people. However, he currently hardly takes portraits. Times have changed, and much stricter data protection requirements have appeared. Therefore, now Faustas’ lens more often captures nature, the city, and various plays of shapes and shadows.
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People have many stereotypes. For example, that one side of their face is ‘worse’.
Classic photography and the world of social networks
And how does Faustas evaluate mobile photography?
He says spontaneity in photography is valuable. People photograph what they see here and now. Sometimes he does the same, but he uses a camera for that.
“Sometimes I also photograph, for example, a rotten apple if I like the rot spots. I might photograph mushrooms too, but I don’t pick mushrooms,” smiles Faustas.
In his opinion, photography always cultivates aesthetic taste. To take a beautiful photo, sometimes you need not be afraid to squat, lie down, or look at the object from another angle.
“That’s why I appreciate mobile photography creators because they improve and strive to do better each time,” says the fan of classic photography, lenient to amateurs.
Faustas is not attracted to social networks either.
“I basically don’t like social networks. Because there is no security. To me, it’s like a garbage dump, no selection, I don’t want to be there,” the photographer says openly.
I basically don’t like social networks. Because there is no security. To me, it’s like a garbage dump.
He prefers live communication much more. That’s why he goes to events in Alytus, travels to exhibitions in Kaunas or Vilnius, chats with colleagues, and gets everything directly.
Photo novels, poetry, and connection with youth
F. Augustinas is also close to the photo novel genre. This is what led the photographer to a creative tandem with the Alytus poet Linas Vitkauskas.
Faustas is glad that Linas finds parallels with his thoughts in his poetic photos. This creative collaboration has produced not only exhibitions but also several publications.
The photographer also found a common language with the Alytus Putinas Gymnasium community. Artistic lessons-educations take place here, and exhibitions of his photos are organized.
Faustas – a morning and walking person
Faustas is a morning person. His day starts early.
“I go to sleep around nine o’clock. I get up every day at half past five. I don’t stay up late,” he says.
Early morning gives him the opportunity to do a lot. He used to like being in Vilnius at seven in the morning – then he could stop by the Kalvarijų market. The photographer also has his favorite things there. For example, bread with caraway seeds.
“Although lately I hardly eat bread. But if I buy it, it’s only at the market,” Faustas confesses.
In Alytus markets, he has selected a few farmers from whom he buys products.
Early morning gives him the opportunity to do a lot.
Faustas walks around Alytus on foot. “I like to talk off-topic. Who knows the most about Alytus? Taxi drivers. I’m like that too. Only they stand in one place and watch, and I walk,” laughs photographer F. Augustinas.
Sometimes he takes document photos for the homeless for free because he likes to communicate with them and listen to their stories.
Photography for Faustas is constant observation and searching. For what is beautiful, interesting, and meaningful. In our city. And for almost 40 years now!
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