ViewBug community member anikamolnar is a fashion photographer based in Cape Town, South Africa whose photos are a result from her imagination and from having an author as a mother. Read our conversation below and get inspired.
What inspired you to be a fashion photographer?
Storytelling. There was thankfully a lot of room for imagination whilst growing up, especially having an author as a mother. I knew after school that I somehow wanted to follow this journey of creating characters, settings, emotions and drama, so enrolled into film school, graduated and invested in my first DSLR camera for filming purposes. Just for kicks, I one day switched my camera from video to stills and encountered a whole new side of story telling which I immediately fell in love with.
What was your first camera and what do you shoot with today?
It was the Canon 7D and today I shoot with a Canon 5D MKIII.
What do you currently have in your camera bag:
Canon 5D MKIII, 50mm lens f1.4, 85mm lens f1.8, loads of batteries, flashgun with wireless transmitter, flash modifiers, LCD viewfinder to cut out the glare when viewing images, tethering cable and lens cleaning equipment. I like to pack as light as possible when shooting on location especially.
Raw vs jpg and why?
RAW. Absolutely. The more data in your picture the better, especially during post-production, otherwise you lose too much detail.
What is the most common mistake you see people making when shooting these days?
Bad lighting. It is important to know your light and how to shape and use it. Nasty shadows or just generally bad lit images are a no-no for me. Light is the essence of photography after all.
What is it that you love about photography?
The industry is very tough, so it’s more of a ‘do what you love and then let it kill you’ kind of relationship which is exactly the kind of passion I want to live by.
What has photography done for you?
It’s given me the opportunity of meeting so many people, many of which have become really great friends. It has also taken me overseas - just two years ago a photography competition landed me in NY which subsequently resulted in a trip to Paris the following year. All of which have been tremendous highlights for the beginning of my career.
Do you try to be conceptual or do you prefer to show the feeling behind a photo?
I try and aim more for a feeling along with sense of character, keeping the concept and narrative open for the viewer's interpretation.
How do you describe your style?
This is definitely a hard one. I do believe it is something that really only shows after a lot of practice and discovering your likes and dislikes in your own work, which is an endless process. I have been told by people how they see my style and what they love about it, but it’s always hard to take a step back from your work and view it from the outside.I do know however, that I strive for certain elements: a sense of realness and crisp sharpness, a rebellious flare, and viewing situations in an unusual manner.
If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
The 85mm lens because it's the closest to how the human eye sees, offering the least distortion to facial features.
What are your 3 tips for others who want to become better photographers?
1. Practice, practice, practice.
2. Make mistakes but most importantly, learn from them.
3. Challenge yourself. Experiment with different concepts, lighting techniques, etc. You may just find your niche!
Have you received negative feedback from your work? What did you do about it?
Yes. It was not so much about the photography but about following a brief. Today, I am very adamant on mood boards and references before a shoot, so I know that I’m on point as well as everyone else involved.
Where did you learn to take photos?
Film School taught me how to work with people, communicate a concept, and directing within a frame, but the camera work itself was all self taught with the help of youtube tutorials, books and trial and errors.
If you could have the gift of a great photographer who would it be and why?
It is good to have inspiration but I try to distance myself from emulating other photographers work too much as I think it is important to find my own style and techniques.
What is your dream location to shoot?
It would be a dream to shoot around old architecture in Europe!
How do you decide on a location to shoot a photo?
I am lucky to live in Cape Town with it’s variety in beaches, mountains, farms, and so much more. Firstly, I collaborate with the stylist on a theme and style, and from that brief, we decide what environment would best suit it best. Sometimes I’d go location scouting to find it or sometimes I’d know of the perfect spot.
What is next for you? Any planned adventures with your camera?
Yes indeed! I am planning to travel to Dubai next year on a working holiday.
What is your goal with your photography?
To travel more and work with amazing people.
