Tom Kloseinterview
An interview with the inspiring Frankfurt-based photographer, Tom Klose and this sensual and warm series featuring stunning Carolin (instagram.com/disaster_agent), enjoy!
Know more about Tom at instagram.com/klose.photo (KLOSE PHOTO)
In a few words, tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a designer and photographer from Germany living near Frankfurt/Main. After my films study, I worked at various advertising agencies as a creative director as the main job. Today I’m a freelancer again.
How long have you been a photographer?
I’m taking pictures for more than 25 years now. The way I do and see photography today is been for more or less 8 years.
How did you discover photography?
To be honest, I don’t exactly remember. With my parents taking pictures all the time during family parties and holidays, photography has always been around since I was born. Maybe by the old “Standard-8”-films of my father, through which I see my childhood in a very bold and vibrant way, I’m so hooked on their grainy and blurry looks.
Years ago I started to go to big festivals and shoot bands like The Prodigy, Metallica and Rage Against The Machine as a press photographer. That’s when I discovered my passion for freezing strong emotions in a single frame.
How was your first shooting? What did you shoot?
Oh my god, I remember being so nervous. I asked a very beautiful friend of mine if she would join me in doing some pictures and I knew I mustn’t mess it up. I drag all that lighting stuff to the shooting location which was the hall of a little dancing school and in fact pretty nice. I took hundreds of photos of every setting, the fan blew her eyes red and I was sweating like a wrestler but she was very patient. In the end, it all went well and her photos turned out to be super lovely.
How would you describe your style?
I personally would say visually I don’t have that one style that everyone recognizes and knows me for – even if those who know me and my work do deny that. But I always found it way too boring to do only one style or category of photography. I want to do and learn so much more and I do it every day.
But there is, of course, some things that I always come back to during my work. I don’t like bullshit or blah blah, I love to communicate directly. And I always want to bring alive the craftsmanship in photography even if we live in a digital era. So, that’s why I would say my photos are mostly pure & provocative, messy & rough, honest & direct, grainy & imperfect and bold & dirty. Oh, and I like the contrast!
What does photography mean to you?
In a way, to me, photography is a sort of catalyst. I’m mainly interested in human beings and that in their purest and most fragile form. Today with all its fashion and gadgets we have so many things around and “on” our bodies that you can’t even guess someone’s true mind. I want to get rid of all that shit and strip my models down to their purest and honest form of being: naked and without any distraction. This way I can bring out their most sincere feelings and emotions. And if I succeed, that’s when a human being is weakest and strongest of all – both at the same time. Maybe that’s the reason why I do so much nude photography. ;)
And that’s the reason why I drive my models and makeup artists to their limits when we work together: I’m never satisfied, I’m questioning and challenging my own work all the time – which can be very exhausting and time-consuming. But it’s only working that way.
What inspires you?
As a designer and creative being I’m inspired by so many things around me, not only photography. Nature, art, situations – I love to sit and just watch people. I’m deeply influenced by movies and their looks and styles. Especially the movies of Ulrich Seidl which are sometimes very filthy and obscene but at the same time extremely honest. And I like the rawness of people like Yoshikazu Aizawa.
What would you like to photograph?
I always wanted to do a great story with David Bowie. But I have to find some other challenges now I think… ;)
A photographer you particularly admire?
I don’t admire many people in general. Admiration is not a mindset I was raised with. But I’m very impressed and influenced by the work of Ellen von Unwerth. I love the approach and attitude of Peter Lindbergh towards photography. And I’m very jealous of the ease and creativity of Oliver Rath, who unfortunately died in 2016, the year that swept away so many creative people.
What is happiness?
To me, it’s peace of mind. This could occur in various ways. It’s being with my big family on a lazy Sunday afternoon watching all the kids capering around or an exhausting and sweaty punk rock concert.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Four years ago we chose to live in an old farmhouse in the country and for the moment I’m very happy and satisfied with that. I love the quietness and slowness of nature out here. But the thing is, I’m not a very steady soul. At times I’m like a lonely wolf and have to move on and I never know when this would be. If for now, I would search for something beautiful I probably would prefer New Zealand. I would say it’s the most astonishing place on earth I’ve been to and very, very nice people also.
What’s your next goal?
I’m preparing my first small exhibition and hoping to do it this year. And in a few weeks, I’m traveling the US and am very keen on doing some great pictures there.