Erik Almas | | Kdigit-studio

Présentation

Photographe d’origine norvégienne, Erik Almas est l’un des photographes les plus talentueux du moment travaillant sur commande pour des clients tels que Microsoft, Toyota, Nike, Puma ou bien encore Harley-Davidson. Développant des univers riches en conceptualisations et scénarisations, Erik Almas est un photographe créatif, un réel artiste alliant technique, beauté et force visuelle, faisant de chacune de ses coeuvres, de vrais chefs d’œuvre.

Interview

1. To start could you tell us a few words about yourself? Which words could describe your personality the best?

Not sure if I’m the best one to describe myself so I’ll leave that for someone else… I do find though that my images in a lot of ways are a reflection of who I am and the things and qualities I’m both attracted to and seeking in my life.

In creating my images I’m always drawn to a sense of quietness. There’s balance and order, and the elements within the frame are always classically composed. There’s not a lot of tension, conflict or stress. There’s also a timeless sense of beauty with a romantic and sensual quality.

I do seek moments that are inspiring, active, stoic and contemplative. And I love watching the sun rise, the quietness of the day starting anew and the quality of it’s light… I often find myself trying to move away from all this but I think it’s in my photographic DNA as I have yet to be successful at it…

2. It seems that you were not originally determined to be a photographer, what motivated you to move to the US and start your career?

By the time moving to the US came about I was truly intrigued by photography and had been accepted into the photography program of a small community collage in Norway. It was a Norwegian photographer friend of mine, having studied at Brooks, that said: “You can’t study photography in Norway”.

This triggered a chain of events that 4 months later led me to the US. I was 22 and my motivation was just trying something new and starting a new adventure. In looking back at it, it feels in some odd way like photography was given to me and all I had to do was to let myself be taken for the ride.

3.Jim Erickson taught you the art of photography, would you say that he definitely changed your life? I believe we are looking for a mentor / guide to influence us and determine our careers don’t you think?

I started my path in Photography 5-6 years prior to meeting Jim so I don’t think he changed my life in that sense. I don’t believe one should look for the person that can guide and determine your career either.

One has to start with oneself. Find out what one is truly passionate about and embark on the quest of become coming great at this passion with relentless tenacity. In this pursuit you will encounter people that is willing to teach and share what they know. Always… This is what Jim did for me. He was unafraid of sharing his knowledge and inspired and encouraged me to create better and better images.

4. You often mention the fact that nowadays, promotion and marketing is one of the key things leading to success (along with talent of course!), would you say that determination is as much important as skills? Now talking about the Internet, offering so many opportunities as a media, isn’t it a mandatory thing to do anything necessary to be well known through online communication?

Edison famously said; Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration. Not sure if I would state it this boldly, but yes, I do think determination is equally, if not more important than skill. A dear friend of mine is a soccer coach and we had a great chat about this. In soccer, he said, it’s never the one that is the best at a very young age that truly succeed. It’s the number 2 and 3. These are the ones that have to work their ass off to be better and eventually are the ones to go pro.

I think the same goes for image making…

The Internet is one amazing place so yes; any photographer should put themselves, and their work, out there in as many ways as possible. It’s not only great as a marketing tool but also a publishing tool. There are a lot of great stories of photographers finding an audience for their images online.

5. You work offers aesthetics, poetry, pure photo and amazing editing skills. Do you feel the need to go further than the “standard” photographer?

Thank you! I don’t think it’s a competitive thing in that I have to go further than other photographers but rather a need evolve myself as an image-maker and an artist. When I take a photograph I’m always excited about it in the beginning.

As this excitement fades I feel the need to create something new. So off I go, trying to make something that to me is better, different or more interesting than the last image I made. In a lot of ways it’s the selfish, and sometimes frustrating, endeavor of chasing excitement and fulfillment. I’m sure every photographer feels the same way about what they just shot and the need and want to create something better next time…

6. What makes you choose the perfect location for a specific photo session? You seem to be very much attracted by the sky and its possibilities using complex and in depth analysis of sun movement?

Big open places and vistas is a part of my attraction for sure. What specifically attracts me to the places I choose to photograph is hard to describe but in some way or another they are always bigger than myself. It’s part who I am and my sensibilities as a photographer and part discovery and what I feel at the time I’m there.

There’s really no complex analysis of sun movement. When approaching a location we find out where the sun rises and where it sets and at what times it does so. That’s truly it. I do know what light I’m attracted to and usually have an idea of what quality of light that is right for the image I want to take.

Based on this I then decide if I want to come back and take my picture as the sun comes up, as it goes down, in the middle of the day or after sunset with no shadows at all. It’s just basic planning and preparation to create the best image possible.

7. Are you influenced by your Scandinavian origins?

I didn’t think much of it early on but as my craft have matured I do realize that a lot of my sensibilities and things that turns me on visually are truly Scandinavian.

8. We would believe that you are much using digital cameras, considering the high end and modern look of your work, however it seems that you are using and fighting for 4×5, isn’t it complicated to stand by it, specifically while discussing with customers? Do you for example use one format for environment and one another for nude sessions?

I have slowly lost the battle of shooting film. The last few years I have gone almost 100% digital. We’re now in the first week of July and so far this year I have shot only two assignments on 4×5.

The 4×5 camera is a great tool for the kind of images I take as it slows the whole image making process down to the quiet pace I like in my photography. It was a long transition period for me but I now feel just as comfortable working digitally as I do 4×5.

9. You are definitely a complete artist, not “only” a photographer, if Photoshop wasn’t existing and assuming you would not be a photographer … would you have become another kind of artist?

That’s a tough question to answer. I was a DJ and I’m now a photographer. I’m passionate about good food and wine so I’m sure I would have chosen a profession including and satiating my senses somehow…

10. Who are your influences? Are other kind of arts (literature / cinema … ) sources of inspirations for you ?

I’m inspired by all kinds of art. Of course I look at a lot of photography but my favorite thing is visiting smaller, independent galleries. In every city I travel to I visit galleries, absorbing art.

My goal is to soak myself up in photography and art as much as I can. It truly gives me energy and motivation to try to better myself as an image maker. I’m kind of on a quest to give my images content that goes beyond just being beautiful pictures and visiting galleries helps me nurture this and find out what this content is to me and who I want to be as an artist.

11. Don’t you feel sometimes frustrated by customers need ? Do you always succeed to do what you “feel” like doing ? Do you take time to do your own creations just for fun and for yourself?

Yes, no, and yes. I love being a commercial photographer and the interactions and collaborations that comes with it. I’m not frustrated by my customers needs as I’m very aware of me and my images being a vehicle to bring my clients concepts and ideas to life. What’s frustrating sometimes is Photoshop. With a tool this powerful clients often get carried away wanting to change and alter every bit and part of the images.

I pride myself in creating the best possible image I can for every client I work for and I sometimes put up a good fight for what I think will make a better photograph. Sometimes they take my advice and other times they don’t…. In the end though I think the client sees me as passionate and vested in creating a great product for them. And yes, I do spend quite a bit of time shooting images for myself. I think it’s important in that it balances my commercial work and also let me explore and try new things.

12. Now that you are also shooting indoors portraits and nudes, would you say that there is a similarity in your way to approach them compared with your outdoors shoots? What are the key similarities and differences?

As a photographer I approach the landscapes and nudes the same. I study the shapes of what’s in front of me and then light it the best I can to create something that fulfills me somehow visually.

The difference is often that the outside images are more story telling and the nudes are more of a study. Outside I wait for the light to be right. Inside I shape it myself. Even though different I think visually the similarities are there as I bring myself and the way I see things equally to both.

13. Web-design now exists for 15 years, photography for centuries… From a web-designer to a photographer, I’d like to say that digital formats should be much more aesthetics and much more emotional, would you have some tips / advices to make this happen?

This is a big question and more appropriate for an hour long discussion than a few lines here. In short I think one can find a lot of great, both visual and emotional, content online. I think maybe it’s the context in which it’s being delivered that makes it feel less aesthetic and emotional.

As the medium continues to develop and it’s vehicles for delivery and the way we absorb it, like the iPad, gets better, so will the way it’s being created and crafted. This will also change our relationship to it and our perception might slowly change to something more intimate.