Interview with Baybars Saglamtimur
Baybars Saglamtimur: Dear Andreas first of all thank you for sharing your works with us. Can you please give us some information, who is Andreas Weinand?
Andreas Weinand: Thank you very much for your interest in my photography. It is a pleasure for me. I am an independent photographer. Born in 1958 in Rheine / Westfalen, Germany. In 1978 I finished gymnasium in Düsseldorf. After that I decided to follow my personal interests and started to study photography at the GHS (Folkwang) Essen in 1980. Over the course of ten years I intensively explored the possibilities of photography and examined in 1990. Since 1986 I was living in Essen. Just now my wife and I are moving to Berlin. I have developed my artistic documentary photography in tension between commissioned and independent productions in the contexts of media and art.
BS: You state that (at your web site) your photography is primarily engaged in the research of personal identities. And you publish them as singular or panoramic series. Why do you choose this presentation method?
AW: I understand taking photographs as a process. One image follows the other. I open my mind and follow my intuition. Each image is one possible approach towards a person, a landscape or a situation. The presentation, may it be an exhibition or book, offers the possibility to arrange several images in order to create an associative tension between these single images. The sequenced presentation conveys a more complex understanding of reality.
BS: Your photographic style reminded me „snapshots“. It is not easy to come across successful images for this „style“ and I believe that you are very successful in this area. Your images carries nearly the same resonance – even if you shoot people or just a bunch of flowers – this resonance (or feeling) is the same (in my opinion). Each of them have a special, unique soul. While looking at your series one can easily sense this… (do you agree with my thoughts at the previous paragraph?) How do you describe your photographic style and the way of choosing the series topics?
AW: Yes, I absolutely agree with you, except your use of the word „shoot“. For me it is „taking photographs“. This is a very sensitive approach towards people and objects. Although I have to act very straight and situational I am aware that I look at a person and I watch this person in a very intimate way. There is always this tension and the risk of either going too far or missing an intensive image. I have to find my balance. I aim to take photographs that resemble a certain VIEW. That probably sounds easy but it is not. I have to put „into the camera“ what I see in front of me. The result is supposed to be an image that acts as a personal view. This requires some practice in both, technical and psychological experience and an understanding about what I am doing. I call my photography straight photography with a personal view. My topics develop by time. Some of them have an autobiographic origin others are the result of a cooperation or commission. Based on my ongoing reflections on what is important in life, certain topics emerge. I focus on what really interests me and for what I am willing to invest time and energy.
BS: At your web site I like the Colossal Youth and Reflecting Oneself series the most. They are my top 2. Which series are your favorites?
AW: Both are very important for me. There is a close correspondence. Photographing COLOSSAL YOUTH made me think about my position as a photographer utilizing the privacy of other people in order to formulate artistic images. That caused a moral conflict for me. So I turned the observing camera on myself to find out how far I was willing to show my own intimacy. I wanted to explore my own identity. By now I am happy that this period of life has passed and changed. ACKER* ARABLE LAND is a real core project. Very personal and at the same time of global impact. It reflects on the human relationship to nature. The PORTRAITS I also like very much.
BS: When I first came across your photos I was curious about your camera format. It is not a 35mm or 6×6. What type of camera do you use and why?
AW: I mostly photographed with the Makina 6×7 using negative film. I did all my prints in the darkroom by myself. Using the Makina with a bounce flash is quite fun. You cannot hide that you are taking photographs. At that time I enjoyed photographing that way. Nowadays I prefer to photograph with available light and using the tripod from time to time.
BS: You are making workshops and giving lectures time to time … It reminds me that you like to share your knowledge. What is the force behind this?
AW: I enjoy to communicate with people. I have accumulated a profound experience to share and it is great to develop strategies to speak about images in a group of engaged students.
BS: You have a book „Colossal Youth“ published from Peperoni Books. Can you please give us some information about the idea of the images and book?
AW: Following autobiographical roots I focused on the theme of „youth“ and realized COLOSSAL YOUTH from 1988 – 1990. The philosophy of life held by the people I photographed reminded me in a way of my own philosophy as a young person. It is a manifestation of the power of youth. This juvenile claim for omnipotence.
BS: Who are your favorite artists? What are your personal interests and what type of music do you listen the most?
AW: I love art in general. There are so many artists that inspire me that I consider it quite unfair to mention only a few. But, Jan van Eyk’s „Man in a Red Turban“ is one of my favorite portraits. In photography Diane Arbus inspired me a lot. I witnessed Garry Winogrand’s lecture at the Folkwangschool in 1982. That opened my eyes. In the early 80’s I attended movies four times a week. That was a magnificent impact. The last twelve years I focused on contemporary dance and performing arts. I listen to all kinds of music. …
BS: Do you have any currently involving or future projects?
AW: My current project is our move to Berlin. Packing all the stuff from the last 21 years in boxes. Restructure life and plant seeds for the future. One core project is my mother. I have photographed her intensively for 7 years. My mother looking at me. And, of course, the portraits.
BS: Do you know/meet with any Turkish photographers and/or artists?
AW: I know the work of Ara Güler. I have seen films but I do not remember the names of the directors. Heavy films. I still remember the name „Yol“. I have not been to Turkey yet, but Istanbul is on top of my wish list.
BS: I really enjoy watching your photographs. They give me the feeling of being there, right in that situation and in that time… I can sense the atmosphere, I can feel them, even smell them… They are very close, personal and seems that I am there with the camera – because most of the people you photograph seems that they are nor aware of (or care for) you, all natural, warm and intimate…
Thank you very much for this interview and wishing you success!
AW: Thank you very much for your touching words about my photographs. They very well describe what I aim to express. I also wish you lots of success!
Published on FOTORITIM // Oktober 2011 // Turkish and English