Danish photographer and ViewBug community member Soren explains how he tells stories through his camera and much more... enjoy our conversation!
What inspired you to be a photographer?
As a graphic designer Iāve always had a thing for photography, but it wasnāt until I was introduced to the art and state of mobile photography on Instagram that I was seriously hooked.
What was your first camera and what do you shoot with today?
Just recently I discovered a stack of photos from very early days - from back when photos were on a piece of paper. Forgot the brand, but still remember the joy of selecting the right film and having these developed. Today Iām primarily shooting on my Olympus OM-D EM-1, which is easily carried around - on occasion Iāll bring the heavier Canon 6D and my beloved 16-35mm attached to it - lastly I wouldnāt leave home without my trusty iPhone 6.
When someone looks at your photos, what are you trying to communicate?
I like to think that Iām able to inspire others to find beauty in their surroundings - thereās beauty everywhere and itās only a question of looking in the right place at the right time.
What is it that you love about photography?
I love that Iām able to be inspired on a daily basis and I love to think that Iām able to inspire others to enjoy their surroundings in new ways, simply through photography.
What has photography done for you?
Photography has become my tool of storytelling - I see my photos as a visual diary and my Instagram as an ongoing story. My photos reflect my life and what I do, and for most of the time pretty much in real-time - looking back on that story it shows just how much photography has become part of my life. Over the years Iāve been lucky enough to become part of a unique community, made friends with so many talented people and been able to expand my story to new places with people who share that same passion.
Do you try to be conceptual or do you prefer to show the feeling behind a photo?
Even though I would like to pick the latter, Iāll probably have to admit that my preferred choice of photography is very conceptual - most of the time I know exactly what Iām going for and I like to be in control of all elements, and yet Iāll do everything possible to make that moment matter as much to the viewer as it matters to me - and in that way have a photo show the feeling of being in a particular place at a particular time.
How do you describe your style?
Wish I had a simple answer, but I was never able to decide on either, so Iāve made the decision not to keep a favorite, but rather find inspiration in genres right from Urban to Nature. I used to envy those who were able to keep true to one specific genre, but I guess Iām staying true to my all-around genre. Since I see my style of photography more as an ongoing diary than a portfolio, itās covering anything from architecture and landscapes to beach life on a vacation.
If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
Canon 24mm f/1.4L II USM - no other lens fits wide, low aperture and quality glass better. Since Iām primarily shooting on an Olympus system I would probably choose the newly released and super wide M.Zuiko ED 7-14mm f2.8 PRO though.
Have you received negative feedback from your work? What did you do about it?
Since Iām based primarily on Instagram Iāve received a tremendous load of feedback - the response is immediate and even though Iāve never actually received any negative feedback, Iām always using the level of response and involvement as indirect feedback. Over time you come to learn what people like or dislike - indication is healthy, dictation is not, so Iām doing my best to use this feedback to improve rather than change.
Where did you learn to take photos?
Working in graphic design has been a great help in learning the art and technique of photography, and so has the inspirational communities around Instagram and places like ViewBug. As with so many great photographers today, itās all self taught and luckily I still have a long way to go.
Raw vs jpg and why?
What? RAW, obviously... Ā nah, just as much as I like shooting in the field, I love woking on every bit of detail in my photos - only RAW allows me to do that, so as long as Iām not on the iPhone, Iām all for RAW.
What do you carry in your camera bag?
Batteries and power banks (lots of them), oh and a camera. Iāve been super happy with the construction of the Lowepro Photo Hatchback which has body-side access/protection. This bag has so many pockets and compartments that Iām almost running out of batteries to fill it out. I also carry a GoPro and a bunch of iPhone accessories, so at least I wouldnāt run out of gear and power if I got lost in the woods.
If you could have the gift of a great photographer who would it be and why?
Right now Iām looking at/being blown away by a series of photos called āOver/Underā from Australian ocean and wildlife photographer Matthew Smith - his beautiful work reminds me that thereās an entirely new dimension to landscape photography and so much more to explore.
What is the most common mistake you see people making when shooting these days?
You found yourself at the perfect location at just the right time, and you choose to shoot from behind glass in your car going 60 - Too often I see people not caring enough to put in the effort to search out the best composition, wait for the right light or simply keep their phone or camera relatively still.
What is your dream location to shoot?
Since I live in a part of the world where mountains are called flat hills, I love shooting in locations with lots of spiky action. Iāve been to Iceland 3 times this last year and still it feels like Iāve seen such a small part of the what the island has to show - Iceland continues to stay top of my list of dream locations.
How do you decide on where to shoot a photo?
Iām simply looking for locations with lots of spiky action.
What is next for you? Any planned adventures with your camera?
Just had a few weeks of touring the island of Mallorca, so right now my camera and I are planning out new adventures.
What is your goal with your photography?
I still have so much to learn and so much to explore, so my number one goal is to keep photography as big a passion as it is today.
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