Mystery and story in the light
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| Vincent Peters, portrait © Vincent Peters |
Prestigious German
photographer Vincent Peters presents these days the exhibition In the light which shows a selection of
his work featured in his newest book titled Personal
along with other glamorous and romantic photographs by the artist. After being
presented in France, Belgium, Austria and Berlin with a huge success, now the
show arrives to the gallery IMMAGIS in Munich.
Vincent Peters, photographer
and filmmaker, was born in Bremen, Germany, in 1969. While travelling around
Thailand in the eighties he began his photographic career taking snaps and when
he was twenty he moved to New York to work as a photographer’s assistant. In 1995
he returned to Europe and worked for various art galleries and on personal
projects. Since then, Vincent Peters has ranked among the top international
photographers, working for magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Numéro, The Face, GQ,
Esquire, Dazed & Confused, Ten and The Face and Harper's Bazaar, as well as
for luxury brands including Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Yves Saint Laurent. Between
the people portrayed by his talent with the camera, one can find names like
Laetitia Casta, John Malkovic, Charlize Theron, U2, Penélope Cruz, Christian
Bale, Kim Basinger, Matt Dilon, Annie Lennox and Michael Fassbender among many
others. In his portraits we always find a kind of mysterious atmosphere similar
to the one of the classic films.
What is art for
you?
There are many good and bad answers, I think for me it’s
to create something that translates your impressions of a certain mood or moment
to others.
Why did you choose
the light as the instrument to express you artistically?
Light is the melody of photography, its set, the mood,
the harmony and the feeling.
How important is
photography in the current times?
Photography seems the most democratic invention
besides the car I think it gives us the feeling of understanding and owning or
keeping the moment and life around us.
What are your main
influences?
Movies and certain paintings.
Your photography
is focused on portraits. When you consider that a portrait is a good one?
A good portrait for me is like a good conversation
where something personal comes through without forcing it.
Why only
portraits? Have you ever considered another kind of photography apart of
portraits?
I love to photograph people. All kind … Always a story.
Your first book
was titled The light between us and
was a compilation of your best shots of actors, models, and musicians. How is
your process work in these cases? Do you have a complete freedom in the studio?
Shooting celebrity is a complex process where many
people try to dominate the results. I propose a concept and see how far I can
follow my ideas usually I'm lucky but conditions are a defining factor.
Obviously your
photographs are not only the light between the portrayed people and you. Are
your works the result of your vision of reality or the creation of an imaginary
vision?
I guess in many ways my imaginary vision is my vision of
reality or I make it that way in my pictures. The world of a photographer
should be bigger than the frame he shows.
Your newest book
is Personal and it is dedicated to
women, mainly stars. What is that special inspiration you get from women?
Shooting women you are always between generalizing and
the specific. One woman as in your question is always representative for every
woman. And in that sense for a certain kind of humanity. Fragile or confident,
naked or dressed, in conflict or clarity there is the risk to be too symbolic
or too aesthetic so the inspiration is from how's in front of u and no keep it
personal.
You have also
worked for some luxury brands. Why do you think that now to work in publicity
is not considered as an artistic activity while most of the works of masters
like Velázquez were in fact commissioned?
There are different periods when I started in the 90s
photography in advertising was very influenced by conceptual editorial and artistic
expression. Lots of work can be considered personal and have a Velázquez like
level or artistic expression in commissioned work. Today clients are dominated
with sales directive and a screen on set the shoot. By seeing the result immediately
they control and direct the work not with artistic ambitions or sensibility.
The photographer is the person on set that guide and define the artistic
quality lost control. To me todays work is too obvious it lacks mystery and
story what actually pulls people into the image. Leave people with a question
and it’s what they will remember. Today ad work doesn't do that.
And who would you
like to portrait?
Mick Jagger.
Could you explain
us a memory from your childhood?
My childhood is in many ways in my pictures somehow It
makes me discover myself more than any.
In the light . A selection here
Works by Vincent Peters
Exhibition at IMMAGIS gallery, Munich
14 October - 13 November 2016
An interview by Juan Carlos Romero
Photo by Vincent Peters
Courtesy of the artist
All rights reserved