1Can you introduce yourself and talk about how you got into photography?
I am a trained lawyer and have always taken photographs as a hobby. In the last two years, I could spend significantly more time on it, partly because my son has grown up and moved into his family, and partly because I work part-time in my main occupation.
2Where did you study photography?
I have taken several courses here and there, but I have learned most of them from the books of Adam Ansel and Andreas Feininger as well as studying the pictures of Henri Cartier-Bresson.
3Do you remember your first shot? What was it?
I'm afraid not; that was quite a while ago ;-)
4What equipment do you use?
I love shooting with my 40-year-old Hasselblad CM 501 with a digital back. In daily photography, I use the X2D of the same brand.
5What do you hope to achieve?
Well, I take pictures first and foremost for my pleasure. I love it if others like my photos as well. So, if one day a gallery approaches me and wants to sell my pictures, then that would be very nice.
6What compliment inspired/touched you the most?
I'm always touched when I meet people I haven't seen in a long time and they start talking about a particular picture of mine that they've seen on social media and that's stuck in their mind.
7What inspires your unique storytelling?
Life.
8What THREE (3) words describe your photography style?
Reduce to the max.
9Congratulations! As the winner of the New York Photography Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?
Such an award means a lot to me. I spent a lot of time, effort, and thought in creating the pictures on-site and also in the post-processing and I am happy if the outcome is appreciated.
10Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2023 New York Photography Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
I have a range of awards in which I participate every year, including the New York Photography Awards. So I'm sending you the best pictures I've taken since the last time. All the photos have been taken in the past 12 months.
11How has winning an award developed your career?
I like to compare it to Parker points for wine: it doesn't make my pictures better. However such recognition increases the visibility of my pictures and I reach people, who would otherwise not have come across it.
12Name 1-3 photographers who have inspired you.
Henri Cartier-Bresson, Andreas Feininger, and Fang Ho.
13What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out, by a mentor or your role model?
Just do it!
14What advice would you give someone who would like to become a photographer today?
Clarify and document your attitude to Artificial Intelligence (AI). For example, I declare that I use AI to support my post-processing (e.g. creating masks in Lightroom). However, there is nothing on a picture that has not been negative (digital or analog).
For a creative photographer, there is no reason to be afraid of AI. It is a completely different kind of art. I like to draw a comparison to the invention of photography. This has not eliminated the art of painting, although it has reduced the demand for certain types of paintings (such as family portraits).
15What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Trust in yourself – appreciate compliments, but don't let them guide you.
16How do you stay in that space of being receptive to new information and knowledge?
I get inspiration and ideas from looking at pictures in my Foto Club, magazines, or exhibitions.
17Anything else you would like to add to the interview?
Thank you for your interest in my work.
