Interview with Photographer Stefanie Höpner
It's timely that I post this interview with photographer Stefanie Höpner. The theme I have for this Christmas season is really about connection. After listening to Ryan Lobo's talk at the TED lectures, I feel that I may not need to interview lots of photographers but sample just a few gifted photographers who demonstrate a unique sense of connection, eye and style.
I think Stefanie Höpner is one of those photographers.
TNTD: As a German photographer visiting the U.S. (Princeton) do you think there's a different feel taking street photo here compared to taking them in Europe.
Is it more point and shoot here and smile later or vice versa?
Stefanie : Yes, there certainly is a different feel, just because it is different from what I know and what I am used to from Europe. And that's probably why it even catches my eye. It would probably be the other way around for an American visiting Europe. Things that are new to you, that you don't see every day and haven't seen your whole life, are the most interesting ones. I guess, the grass is always greener on the other side. I try the best I can to capture things and the beauty or specialty I see in them exactly the way I have them in my mind. So, I guess it's more like smile, shoot and then smile again if it turned out the way I wanted.
TNTD: Know that it may be photographer to photographer but it would seem either you either have a very long sharp lens or you are one to engage subjects
in a conversation.
Stefanie: When photographing people, especially at weddings, I do like to rather stand aside of the scene a little bit and observe. When I bring my camera too much into the scene it gets unnatural and I don't see any true emotions anymore, because people start to pay more attention to the camera. I hate set ups and posing, at least from the point where it gets too obvious. Of course I don't get around giving some directions and setting up a little bit, but I like to keep it as natural as I can. And in order to keep it natural, I think the most important thing is that the person feels comfortable being photographed. So, of course I do talk to them and sometimes try to make them laugh, but I stay natural as well. I'm not a big entertainer and I don't even want to try to be one.
TNTD: Does your being a designer/image specialist influence your composing shots?
Stefanie: I think it has an impact in 2 ways, composition and subject. The influence in composing happens rather unconsciously. I don't actually think about designing when I take a picture, but I think it helped me to get a feel for composition and then it just happens automatically.
The other thing is the subject itself. I like my pictures to tell stories or put you in a certain mood. That doesn't really affect the design, but it helps it to be more effective.
TNTD: What are some of your favorite photos. Thanks for sharing these.
Stefanie: I chose these images, because I think they show best what I was trying to explain about the different feel that I have coming from Europe, trying to capture what's different in the US. They simply show businesses, buildings or situations I noticed on the side of the road and just appeared with a certain specialty to me. Here's an example. The picture of the laundromat was taken while I was visiting friends in the midwest. I saw this laundromat, which they had driven by probably a million times before, and I immediately had this picture in my mind. I was just fascinated with this laundromat. I kept talking about it and actually went over there a couple of times to get the right shot. I don't think my friends ever saw what I saw in it until I showed them the final result.
TNTD: When visiting your People and Love section on your website, you get a very natural and comfortable feel, it contains some of your best photos on the
site. Are you tending to concentrate on these areas?
Stefanie: I have been wondering about this question a lot lately. When I look at other photographer's portfolios, I see that most of them have their own domains, certain areas they concentrate on and are very good at. Then I look at my portfolio and I see a little bit of everything, there are night shots, street shots, people, flowers... and I enjoy it all. Right now I wouldn't want to have to pick just one area. The number one reason I photograph is because it's fun. And I enjoy several kinds of photography. My subjects also depend on where I'm at and what surrounds me. I'm sure there will always be people and I love photographing them. And to me it's probably the most exciting area of photograpy, because it's never the same. There are just way too many people with too many expressions for it to ever get boring. So yes, if you asked me to pick one area, I'd probably choose portraits. But I really wouldn't want to
miss one or another.
TNTD: Can you share a story or funny anecdote as a photographer or a photography tip -- something you learned that you find useful in your everyday work as a
photographer.
Stefanie: Something I have learned shooting weddings and people is, like I said before, that it is very important that they have to feel comfortable with you as the photographer being around. It can be a very private and intimate space you are trying to enter not only as the photographer, but often also as a complete stranger. Don't ever be arrogant or annoying. They actually look at you, when you photograph them. If for some reason they hate you, you will see it in the resulting pictures. Not only should they feel comfortable, they should have fun. Pictures, especially wedding pictures are so much about memories. If they can associate a fun time with you and the shooting itself and maybe the whole day, they will look at the pictures and only remember what a great time
TNTD: I'm really taking to heart what Stefanie says about not noticing things that are right in front of you. Hope that in 2010 as I cover more photographer friends like Stefanie, I'll bring to focus some of the faces, places and things that mean something to them.
Do check out some of Stefanie's other amazing photos on her website http://www.stefanie-hoepner.de/
I think Stefanie Höpner is one of those photographers.
TNTD: As a German photographer visiting the U.S. (Princeton) do you think there's a different feel taking street photo here compared to taking them in Europe.
Is it more point and shoot here and smile later or vice versa?
Stefanie : Yes, there certainly is a different feel, just because it is different from what I know and what I am used to from Europe. And that's probably why it even catches my eye. It would probably be the other way around for an American visiting Europe. Things that are new to you, that you don't see every day and haven't seen your whole life, are the most interesting ones. I guess, the grass is always greener on the other side. I try the best I can to capture things and the beauty or specialty I see in them exactly the way I have them in my mind. So, I guess it's more like smile, shoot and then smile again if it turned out the way I wanted.
TNTD: Know that it may be photographer to photographer but it would seem either you either have a very long sharp lens or you are one to engage subjects
in a conversation.
Stefanie: When photographing people, especially at weddings, I do like to rather stand aside of the scene a little bit and observe. When I bring my camera too much into the scene it gets unnatural and I don't see any true emotions anymore, because people start to pay more attention to the camera. I hate set ups and posing, at least from the point where it gets too obvious. Of course I don't get around giving some directions and setting up a little bit, but I like to keep it as natural as I can. And in order to keep it natural, I think the most important thing is that the person feels comfortable being photographed. So, of course I do talk to them and sometimes try to make them laugh, but I stay natural as well. I'm not a big entertainer and I don't even want to try to be one.
TNTD: Does your being a designer/image specialist influence your composing shots?
Stefanie: I think it has an impact in 2 ways, composition and subject. The influence in composing happens rather unconsciously. I don't actually think about designing when I take a picture, but I think it helped me to get a feel for composition and then it just happens automatically.
The other thing is the subject itself. I like my pictures to tell stories or put you in a certain mood. That doesn't really affect the design, but it helps it to be more effective.
TNTD: What are some of your favorite photos. Thanks for sharing these.
Stefanie: I chose these images, because I think they show best what I was trying to explain about the different feel that I have coming from Europe, trying to capture what's different in the US. They simply show businesses, buildings or situations I noticed on the side of the road and just appeared with a certain specialty to me. Here's an example. The picture of the laundromat was taken while I was visiting friends in the midwest. I saw this laundromat, which they had driven by probably a million times before, and I immediately had this picture in my mind. I was just fascinated with this laundromat. I kept talking about it and actually went over there a couple of times to get the right shot. I don't think my friends ever saw what I saw in it until I showed them the final result.
TNTD: When visiting your People and Love section on your website, you get a very natural and comfortable feel, it contains some of your best photos on the
site. Are you tending to concentrate on these areas?
Stefanie: I have been wondering about this question a lot lately. When I look at other photographer's portfolios, I see that most of them have their own domains, certain areas they concentrate on and are very good at. Then I look at my portfolio and I see a little bit of everything, there are night shots, street shots, people, flowers... and I enjoy it all. Right now I wouldn't want to have to pick just one area. The number one reason I photograph is because it's fun. And I enjoy several kinds of photography. My subjects also depend on where I'm at and what surrounds me. I'm sure there will always be people and I love photographing them. And to me it's probably the most exciting area of photograpy, because it's never the same. There are just way too many people with too many expressions for it to ever get boring. So yes, if you asked me to pick one area, I'd probably choose portraits. But I really wouldn't want to
miss one or another.
TNTD: Can you share a story or funny anecdote as a photographer or a photography tip -- something you learned that you find useful in your everyday work as a
photographer.
Stefanie: Something I have learned shooting weddings and people is, like I said before, that it is very important that they have to feel comfortable with you as the photographer being around. It can be a very private and intimate space you are trying to enter not only as the photographer, but often also as a complete stranger. Don't ever be arrogant or annoying. They actually look at you, when you photograph them. If for some reason they hate you, you will see it in the resulting pictures. Not only should they feel comfortable, they should have fun. Pictures, especially wedding pictures are so much about memories. If they can associate a fun time with you and the shooting itself and maybe the whole day, they will look at the pictures and only remember what a great time
TNTD: I'm really taking to heart what Stefanie says about not noticing things that are right in front of you. Hope that in 2010 as I cover more photographer friends like Stefanie, I'll bring to focus some of the faces, places and things that mean something to them.
Do check out some of Stefanie's other amazing photos on her website http://www.stefanie-hoepner.de/
posted by TheresNoTylerDurden at 2:13 PM
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