Feature in "Transilvania Expres"
Finally I am getting some exposure in the land where my heart and soul is deeply rooted - Transilvania Expres" , local to Brasov , Romania , near where my grandparents and aunt reside, so they can finally see what I've been up to lately.
; )
In case you're curious, these were the interview questions:
I am of the understanding that you never studied photography.
So do you belive that the native talent is enough for being a good photographer?
What does someone need to being a good photographer?
Any way what mean "a good photographer"?
I never went to school for photography. I always believed that it's necessary to do so but today I know that most of my favorite photographers never had any formal education.
I don't believe that talent is enough to become a "good" photographer, or a successful one, or a photographer who can make a living.
I've seen photographers with no talent making a lot of money and I see lots of talent going to waste.
It would take quite some talent to make up for the rest.
Instead, I tracked down photographers I admired and assisted them, but it took persistence.
Persistence is the key, talent alone rarely goes anywhere.
I'd dare to say that it's 10% talent, and 90% persistence, hard work and not letting rejection discourage you.
And listen to your heart, and friends you trust and respect.
Tell me a few things about your photographic style. How is it?Is futurist? Is about post modernity?
This is a difficult question, I never thought about it.
Part of what I am trying to do is some sort of social commentary ,one way or another - my subject matters are quite varied, from nudes to celebrities to street kids that open up to me in intimate portraits.
I don't think in terms of future or past, there is just the present and my contribution to it all.
"Post Modernism" is a bit to arty and pretentious for my personal tastes, because my work is about people and my relationship to them.
Tell me a few things about yours photos from the book of erotic photography. What are its about? What is the message of your erotic photos?
Honestly, I hate the selection in the erotic book.
I think my work has evolved quite a bit since I was working with TASCHEN on the edit of that book.
I don't see myself or my work represented in there, however, it's been a great honor to be in the book, even though I am not so crazy about the edit.
The book is very much about the editors personal tastes and less about the photographers vision and what their work really is about, so I feel that a wrong impression comes across, which I personally don't mind though.
Whoever is interested in finding out more about me and my work can do so, and I got to meet and work with Diane Hanson and Eric Kroll, and they are iconic figures in the world of TASCHEN and the international photography and art world.
Where is the line between photographic art and pornography?
I don't think there is one really - eroticism is widely ranged.
If someone is aroused by a bottle of Coca Cola, does that make it pornography?
Subjectively, yes - which would be absurd if generalized.
A friend of mine for instance is obsessed with feet - and nothing else can arouse him. Others however, don't find feet sexy at all.
Therefore this question is very difficult to answer.
But in general, pornography is more and more present in mainstream advertising and imagery, and that speaks for itself...
Your erotic photos, in generally, what are about? Feminity? Sexuality? Which is your message about woman?In general
I'm aware that some of my images are considered erotic to some but what it's really about is stripping down women of the obvious sexual posture and gestures - instead, I want to get a glimpse of who they really are, their spirit and vulnerability , which goes beyond just taking off their clothes and looking sexy.
I love flaws, imperfection - that's where true beauty lies.
Another part of my erotic work is of course a reflection of myself - portraying women without fear of who they really are, and without fear of their flaws and imperfections.
It took a long time for me to accept myself with my flaws and who I am. Today I feel comfortable in my own skin and I think I extended that into my work.
What do you know about Romania and what mean for you the romanian heritage? Do you ever visit the country?
Romania, or Transilvania has been a very important part of my life and growing up.
Since I was very little, my parents too my sister and I several times a year to Romania, where my Grandparents and Aunt live (Tîrgu Mures).
I basically experienced the incredible poverty of Romania under the Ceausescu regime, contrasting with my luscious life in Western Germany of the 80s it was sometimes difficult to find my identity and where I really belong.
I grew up with an easter european mentality in a western country and that doesn't always mix because the cultures are so different from each other.
My parents never really felt home in Germany and neither did I, which made it easy for me to leave Germany at some point.
How do you decide to be photographer? And why do you choose the erotic photography?
I never decided to become a photographer, it just happened. I was constantly drawn to the instant gratification of imagery - as a child I used to draw, and make things, like out of Play-doh, or I'd draw on my skin (which lead to getting tattooed later on in my life).
Erotic photography is just one aspect of my work, I'd rather describe it as nude portraiture, if there is such a word?
First I picked it because it was easy and I found little rejection in that subject matter. When I started shooting nudes, I was one of a small group of women, compared to today.
Now I found a channel for many other things, nudity opens doors, nudity takes away from time, fashion, wealth.
Being nude, we're all the same, aren't we?
Tell me a few things about the exeperience of being photographer for magazines? How is it?
It's sometimes exciting but often frustrating.
There is always the fine line between wanting to express myself freely and the censorship or edit of the Magazines.
Lots of the Magazine work is low pay so it's important to me that I can do what I want, or at least as much as possible, but that doesn't always work.
Otherwise, what's the point? What people see in print is a reflection of my work and who I am so I'd prefer that as unfiltered as possible.
I am one of those "rebels", you know ....
I piss art directors off because I am very stubborn.
Do you have any famous client (magazines or celebrities?)
I do shoot a lot of celebrities but they're not neccesseraly my favorite subject matters, only because they are famous.
I've photographed some really great musicians lately and I am grateful for the opportunity - one of the more known ones being Daft Punk, which was quite an honor!
If I see right you have some tatoos? What is their story?
Tell me some things about you (are in love? hobby? a usual day from your life?, strong and weak points?)
I started getting tattooed when I was 17 - I was a runaway kid and a little rebel. I felt that I'll always want to be reminded of who I am and I wasn't afraid that tattoos are permanent - and today I am thankful for my courage.
After some years, my tattoos became a diary that marked different stages of my life, which probably applies to most people getting tattoos.
Hobby wise, I love to read and travel, and I am currently dating a very talented director / photographer who lives in New York.
I think the chemistry is there and the rest is just a little bit of patch work - cause nobody's perfect.
; )
In case you're curious, these were the interview questions:
I am of the understanding that you never studied photography.
So do you belive that the native talent is enough for being a good photographer?
What does someone need to being a good photographer?
Any way what mean "a good photographer"?
I never went to school for photography. I always believed that it's necessary to do so but today I know that most of my favorite photographers never had any formal education.
I don't believe that talent is enough to become a "good" photographer, or a successful one, or a photographer who can make a living.
I've seen photographers with no talent making a lot of money and I see lots of talent going to waste.
It would take quite some talent to make up for the rest.
Instead, I tracked down photographers I admired and assisted them, but it took persistence.
Persistence is the key, talent alone rarely goes anywhere.
I'd dare to say that it's 10% talent, and 90% persistence, hard work and not letting rejection discourage you.
And listen to your heart, and friends you trust and respect.
Tell me a few things about your photographic style. How is it?Is futurist? Is about post modernity?
This is a difficult question, I never thought about it.
Part of what I am trying to do is some sort of social commentary ,one way or another - my subject matters are quite varied, from nudes to celebrities to street kids that open up to me in intimate portraits.
I don't think in terms of future or past, there is just the present and my contribution to it all.
"Post Modernism" is a bit to arty and pretentious for my personal tastes, because my work is about people and my relationship to them.
Tell me a few things about yours photos from the book of erotic photography. What are its about? What is the message of your erotic photos?
Honestly, I hate the selection in the erotic book.
I think my work has evolved quite a bit since I was working with TASCHEN on the edit of that book.
I don't see myself or my work represented in there, however, it's been a great honor to be in the book, even though I am not so crazy about the edit.
The book is very much about the editors personal tastes and less about the photographers vision and what their work really is about, so I feel that a wrong impression comes across, which I personally don't mind though.
Whoever is interested in finding out more about me and my work can do so, and I got to meet and work with Diane Hanson and Eric Kroll, and they are iconic figures in the world of TASCHEN and the international photography and art world.
Where is the line between photographic art and pornography?
I don't think there is one really - eroticism is widely ranged.
If someone is aroused by a bottle of Coca Cola, does that make it pornography?
Subjectively, yes - which would be absurd if generalized.
A friend of mine for instance is obsessed with feet - and nothing else can arouse him. Others however, don't find feet sexy at all.
Therefore this question is very difficult to answer.
But in general, pornography is more and more present in mainstream advertising and imagery, and that speaks for itself...
Your erotic photos, in generally, what are about? Feminity? Sexuality? Which is your message about woman?In general
I'm aware that some of my images are considered erotic to some but what it's really about is stripping down women of the obvious sexual posture and gestures - instead, I want to get a glimpse of who they really are, their spirit and vulnerability , which goes beyond just taking off their clothes and looking sexy.
I love flaws, imperfection - that's where true beauty lies.
Another part of my erotic work is of course a reflection of myself - portraying women without fear of who they really are, and without fear of their flaws and imperfections.
It took a long time for me to accept myself with my flaws and who I am. Today I feel comfortable in my own skin and I think I extended that into my work.
What do you know about Romania and what mean for you the romanian heritage? Do you ever visit the country?
Romania, or Transilvania has been a very important part of my life and growing up.
Since I was very little, my parents too my sister and I several times a year to Romania, where my Grandparents and Aunt live (Tîrgu Mures).
I basically experienced the incredible poverty of Romania under the Ceausescu regime, contrasting with my luscious life in Western Germany of the 80s it was sometimes difficult to find my identity and where I really belong.
I grew up with an easter european mentality in a western country and that doesn't always mix because the cultures are so different from each other.
My parents never really felt home in Germany and neither did I, which made it easy for me to leave Germany at some point.
How do you decide to be photographer? And why do you choose the erotic photography?
I never decided to become a photographer, it just happened. I was constantly drawn to the instant gratification of imagery - as a child I used to draw, and make things, like out of Play-doh, or I'd draw on my skin (which lead to getting tattooed later on in my life).
Erotic photography is just one aspect of my work, I'd rather describe it as nude portraiture, if there is such a word?
First I picked it because it was easy and I found little rejection in that subject matter. When I started shooting nudes, I was one of a small group of women, compared to today.
Now I found a channel for many other things, nudity opens doors, nudity takes away from time, fashion, wealth.
Being nude, we're all the same, aren't we?
Tell me a few things about the exeperience of being photographer for magazines? How is it?
It's sometimes exciting but often frustrating.
There is always the fine line between wanting to express myself freely and the censorship or edit of the Magazines.
Lots of the Magazine work is low pay so it's important to me that I can do what I want, or at least as much as possible, but that doesn't always work.
Otherwise, what's the point? What people see in print is a reflection of my work and who I am so I'd prefer that as unfiltered as possible.
I am one of those "rebels", you know ....
I piss art directors off because I am very stubborn.
Do you have any famous client (magazines or celebrities?)
I do shoot a lot of celebrities but they're not neccesseraly my favorite subject matters, only because they are famous.
I've photographed some really great musicians lately and I am grateful for the opportunity - one of the more known ones being Daft Punk, which was quite an honor!
If I see right you have some tatoos? What is their story?
Tell me some things about you (are in love? hobby? a usual day from your life?, strong and weak points?)
I started getting tattooed when I was 17 - I was a runaway kid and a little rebel. I felt that I'll always want to be reminded of who I am and I wasn't afraid that tattoos are permanent - and today I am thankful for my courage.
After some years, my tattoos became a diary that marked different stages of my life, which probably applies to most people getting tattoos.
Hobby wise, I love to read and travel, and I am currently dating a very talented director / photographer who lives in New York.
I think the chemistry is there and the rest is just a little bit of patch work - cause nobody's perfect.
posted by Beatrice Neumann at 12:05 AM
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