More about me (Interview)

Why and since when do you photograph people?

I always snapped somehow , with all sorts of cameras at family celebrations and events I always just kept shooting with the fully automatic. The advent of digital cameras first piqued my interest in photography beyond just taking snaps , and I started shooting a little more intensely. In 2004 I bought a digital single-lens reflex camera, mainly out of interest in technology. In the beginning I took more snaps than I took photos, but somehow I caught fire. I first photographed flowers and buildings, macros and panoramas, landscapes and animals. I enjoy that. done, but I wasn't really excited about it. In early 2005 I took the first portrait shots at a workshop. It quickly became clear to me: This is exactly what I want to do! I was fascinated by the personal contact with a person, getting to know each other and developing and realizing picture ideas together.

What made you decide to specialize in nude photography?

I don't see myself as specializing in nudes. I actually do a lot more portraits than nudes. And I like taking portraits just as much as nudes, maybe even more. But what is quite often the case with my photos is that the models in my portraits are undressed. And people are probably more likely to pay attention to those shots, and they're obviously more likely to remember them -- nudes just stand out more.

What special skills does a portrait photographer need?

In my opinion, the most important thing is patience, because only patience leads to the goal. When the model and photographer aren't under pressure, they can be relaxed. And only when you are relaxed do the moments arise from which a good portrait develops. The trick is not in taking a correctly exposed and correctly focused photo. Thanks to modern technology, almost anyone who can hold a camera can do this today. Catching the right moment, the moment of intimacy and closeness, when the model feels calm and safe. Recognizing that moment, that's it.

How did you acquire knowledge about photography?

I'm purely autodidact. I read the technical aspects as far as it was useful for me. In the beginning I attended a few workshops on portraits and nudes, but I quickly realized that I wasn't suited to learn anything. Because the workshops were all about taking nice photos, knowledge was almost never imparted. I then looked for models on my own and just tried them out. Since I must have had a bit of talent, my quota of presentable pictures was high enough to never have a shortage of models. And by a lucky coincidence I was able to use a photo studio on the weekends and in the evenings. And I used it very intensively and practiced whenever I had the opportunity.

Which experience/moment impressed you the most in your photographic development?

The day I accidentally realized that I didn't need a darkened studio with as many studio flashes as possible to take my pictures.

Before each shoot, I had to darken the large window front in the improvised photo studio with heavy, lightproof Molton and set up the studio flashes. Once I was so late that the model arrived at the same time as me. So that she didn't have to wait so long until I was finished with the preparations, I took a picture of her with the available light. I wanted to do the darkening and building flashes at the next opportunity while she changed her styling. But as soon as I took the picture, I realized how much more fun it was. it made me shoot without a flash: I was free to move, and more importantly, my subject was free to move. I was still a bit clumsy, but I knew that I love taking pictures so much.

What basic equipment do you recommend for a portrait photographer who wants to specialize in your field?

A good camera and a very good portrait lens. In my opinion, nothing more is necessary! A 35 mm camera and a fast lens between 85 and 135 mm are a very good compromise between handiness and image quality. For beginners, I recommend a good camera with an APS-C sensor and a 50 mm fixed focal length. A styrofoam plate from the hardware store as a brightener completes the basic equipment.

What is particularly important to you when taking photos?

For me, the technology is secondary, too much technology distracts me and often robs me of my flexibility. When it comes to light, I rely on the natural conditions as often as possible, and in most cases I'm right. The model is the most important. Appearance is not the decisive factor here, but rather the charisma. No one remembers an image just because it's beautiful. Of course you look because it's beautiful. But the pictures that are just beautiful, we forget in no time. The interesting pictures, on the other hand, remain in our memory.

What do you think are important trends in nude photography?

Oh, a very difficult question, especially for me. I hardly observe any "foreign" photographers. I can still see what's going on in my immediate vicinity. I find that exciting because I usually know the photographers personally. But what's going on outside my horizon, I often perceive only dimly, because I'm not really interested in it. But I believe that the "young wild ones" will continue to come up with new ideas in the future - they will set the new trends in a carefree and unconventional way.

What sources of inspiration do you use?

I mainly use the internet, especially blogs. I surf the net in the best sense of the word and let myself drift. A lot of images pop up in my head while listening to music. But these are rather diffuse mood pictures than concretely formulated views. This only slowly turns into image ideas that can be implemented.

What is your personal favorite photo?

I don't really have a favorite picture. My favorite pictures change with my moods and are often current pictures. I'm very emotional, the closeness I feel to a model has a decisive influence on my preferences. Not infrequently, my favorite picture is a technically rather inferior picture, which moves something in my head because of the memories or the feelings it evokes.

Which photographers have influenced your development? Do you have a »favourite photographer«?

No, I don't have a real favorite photographer. I like many photographers, but not all of everyone. I am probably most influenced by the photographers who have accompanied me on my way, be it actively in conversations and in joint photo shoots or passively by simply observing them. Again, there are more photographers from my immediate area than the big names of the international photo scene.

Which picture idea would you like to implement one day? Or is there someone you would like to photograph?

My picture ideas are dormant in my head. Every now and then I pull one out and try to implement it. But in most cases it goes wrong when I try to do it according to plan. Spontaneous implementation during the shoot is better. I'm always prepared for a thousand things, and during the shoot I notice which of my ideas can be implemented right now.

How do you get out of creative lows?

I don't have a solution for that. I actually think I'm almost permanently in a creative crisis. Very rarely do I feel like I've been really creative.

What do you recommend for advanced photographers who want to develop further?

If you want to develop, you have to take risks, do things you can't do, change your perspective. I don't have a panacea, there's something different for every photographer.