“Be self-critical, patient, watch the old masters of photography and searching for them what you touched in their photographs.”
Damir Matijevic (born 1970) is a contemporary photographer from Croatia.
Interview with Damir Matijevic
Damir, why did you become a photographer? And what does photography mean to you?
Photography is a form of energy captured. Photography is for me a joy, nostalgia for the unknown, how to visually and creatively express myself.
It teaches us how to look, it stimulates the imagination.
That ‘s why I became a photographer.
A photographer has many “tools” at hand to bring across his message: lenses, lighting, framing, color treatment etc. Can you elaborate a little bit on the techniques you used for this particular project in order to link form and content?
First and foremost for me in the photograph are the emotions. They run everything.
Second is the light, the power of photography.
The light and shadows are components of expression that I often use in my photographs. They enhance the drama if they are thick and strong, or give a poetry, tenderness, mysticism figure if they are soft.
The content photography determines the shape of formats.
Basically I’m doing landscape photography with medium format, and do street photography with a 35mm camera.
In other words: How would you describe your photographic language and creative process?
Choose a motive, experience it and give it shape.
In other words connect a world within as with the world around us.
Which photographer has inspired you most?
I can not single out any one.
For me, there are many excellent photographers and every one of them has excellent photographs that touched me.
Maybe to mention Brassai, Henri-Cartier Bresson, Robert Frank, Alfred Stieglitz, J. Sieff and Michael Kenna, Matt Stuart and J. Höflehner – just to name a few.
What’s your favorite inspirational quote about photography?
“When you approach your object, you have to be sensitive as a film emulsion”
Henri-Cartier Bresson
What kind of camera and equipment do you use?
Rollei 6×6 and Nikon F601, standard 50mm and 35mm lenses.
What’s your favorite website about photography?
Mostly I read books, I like to keep in the hands what I am reading.
What book about photography would you recommend?
“On Photography” by Susan Sontag – photography is much more than a picture! I recommend.
Which advice would you give someone who wants to get started with photography?
Be self-critical, patient, watch the old masters of photography and searching for them what you touched in their photographs. Believe in yourself!
More about Damir Matijevic
