Interview with:
Günter Körtner
Where are you born and when?
I was born in Siegen, Germany the 22nd of July 1964.
Where do you live?
I live in Marburg, Hessen, Germany.
When and how do you start your path in photography?
I started photography when I was a child. Later I did a lot of traveling and nature photography during my time as biology-student. After my phd I decided to work as a graphic designer and photographer.
Who were the three photographers that inspired you at the beginning and who are the three ones that inspire you now?
Please add links to the pages where the images are shown.
Well - I cannot name a special individual photographer in this context. I always keep my eyes open an find my inspiration at all different kind of sources.
Did you go to a school or are you a self-taught?
I’m a 100% self-taught photographer.
Do you make photography as a living?
Yes partly: I made most of my living by graphic design and layout. In addition I gave a lot workshops on photography and taught students in photography and post-production at European School of Design in Frankfurt.
What do you like in photography, what is your motivation?
Photography gives me the opportunity to create. And the digital possibilities gave me the freedom to visualize my phantasy without limitations.
What do you want to express or arouse in those who watch your images?
We all are flooded with visual impressions in all kind of media. My aim ist to make watchers to slow down for a moment and look.
What are your preferred moment(s) in the creation process?
There are two moments: The shooting itself may be exhausting and sometimes challenging especially when I’m doing nude self-portraits outside. I love the intensity of these moments. The second is when the image ist finished and I can see the result the first time.
What are your three most representative images, and why?
Please add links to the pages where the images are shown.
My most important work is connected with self-portraits. I have discovered many facets of my essence by taking pictures of myself. Some shootings were extremely intense are unforgettable to me. Once I broke my shoulder by trying a special shot...
You’ll find tree of those Images here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/g_koertner/7717906574
https://www.flickr.com/photos/g_koertner/9761694314
https://www.flickr.com/photos/g_koertner/23547383933
What equipment and/or techniques do you use?
It is not a matter of brands/lenses, it is mostly about analog/digital, preferred light (natural/flash), how much post-production, etc.
I use a digital SLR camera. In nature I use the available light - in studio I mostly work with studio-flash. Self-portraits I usually perform with the aid of my smart phone as a remote control. Post-production is always part of my workflow. Wether this means optimization only or intense image-composition, depends on the idea I want to visualize.
How and why your work as changed since you started?
I think my art changed with the development of technical possibilities. The digital photography gave me the freedom to combine photographic and graphic skills and to show images, which were impossible to create by classical photography only. That opened a lot of creative opportunities to me.
What do you think about the fact that nowadays photography is mostly enjoyed on the Internet?
For me this is a great opportunity to reach a lot more viewers than I can with an classical exhibition.
Why did you decide to join the nudeartzine project?
I was impressed by the high quality-level of exhibited images and was excited by the possibility to publish some of my own photos on this platform.
Would you have an insight or advice to give to whomever is watching your work and wants to learn photography?
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What are your plans in the future?
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On what page our readers can find more of your work?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/g_koertner/
https://photo-graphx.de
Would you like to add something else?
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Books by Günter Körtner
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