Interviews / Stories
Interview: Photographer Nikolai Hessenschmidt (Denmark)
Tell us something about yourself
I am a hobby photographer, from Denmark living in the capital Copenhangen, 40 years old.
I work with IT and support.
How and when did you get into photography?
I have always loved to take photos, I sometimes took my dads Minolta 35 film srt101 kamera, usually without him knowing, but when I was around 12 I lost or somehow forgot how much I enjoyed taking photos! But the interest suddenly reappeard, when my point-and-shoot broke, and I decided to buy a dslr, a Canon eos 1000D around 5 years ago but I initially really sucked though!
What does photography mean to you?
A creative retreat, where my problems disappear and I create images, like a painter lost in thoughts
Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.
I have a narative shooting style, usually my photos tell a story, I dont tell the viewer what i want them to see nor imagine, I want them to create their own, but sometimes I just want to show something pretty, which is definitely also okay!
Where do you get inspiration from?
I sometimes take walks, hours long, walking aimlessly, stumbling across new locations to shoot, alot of times the locations itself, inspire me. But also faces the model inspires me, I try to find something the model will suit, like casting to a movie, the model has to fit to the theme. Other photographers can inspire too.
Think you in advance what you want in the picture?
Yes I do, I create my story in my mind, but sometimes plans just changes and I do something different, also we usually improvise other shot on the fly, sometimes I like those even better!
Studio, on location or both?
Mostly location, some studio, but I find that location shooting much more fun
8 Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?
Hobbyist, but done some weddings, portraits etc hard work, good money, but I fear that doing this as a pro will ruin my creativity, was my plan untill I got a new job were i’m pretty spoiled and like my work, workplace and colleagues.
What has been your most memorable session and why?
Oh, I remember most of them, Impossible to pick one favorite... but maybe the one where I created my forrest photo with the girl, violin and flying pages, because everything went wrong, I locked my self out of my car, with most of my equiment, I misjudged water depth and got waterfilled boots, and I could not get them off, so walked hours in the forrest with water in my boots, but I was happy and there was plenty of laughing and great moods all around, and we still managed to get beautiful shots, wife not too happy though, driving a long way with my spare set of car keys after my shoot was finished.
What has been the biggest source of inspiration in your work?
Hmm tough call, I think the person who inspired me to shoot models was Jack Høier,
He is a great photgrapher, never met him though, but I was on a beginners photo forum page, there I saw the beautiful images he took of models!
Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?
Canon FF although I bought a FF mirrorless now, which I really like, but im keeping the Canon, mostly because I love my magic 85mm f/1.2, it is pure magic!
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business?
Well start by getting good, shoot family friends, learn the basics, take criticism, but it’s tough, but you will learn if you listen, I learned alot from the SDP book/Tony Northrup – esp. The facebook page SDP, it’s a closed page so other dont see your failures or other completely destroying your image with criticism, but for sure you will learn.
What do you think of our new magazine?
It’s great just started reading it, I really like it!