Featured artist: Anaid Namohl

[photo courtesy of interviewee]

this month's brain-picking was performed on German photographer Anaid Namohl. I asked her because she has an extremely strong creative voice and a remarkable ability to see uncanny moments in the everyday—her photos make me realize how curious and unfamiliar the things we take for normal can become with the right framing, at just the right hundredth of a second. her aesthetic is alien and wonderful.

before you read further, please enjoy this brief sampling of her work.

who are you?

I'm 48 years old and have lived mostly in West Berlin. I grew up in a printing plant and for as long as I have been able to think, colors, pictures, composition and design have been important parts of my life. My grandfather and my father were hunters and I often accompanied them in the woods. These experiences had a deep impact on my personal vision and the ability to wait for the right moment.


why do you take pictures?

It is the language which I prefer most.

how would you describe your style?

Headstrong and imaginative. I often change styles or switch between them very quickly and sometimes unexpectedly, but without denying my personal handwriting. Most of the time I work conceptually and use all possible formal styles.

what are your tools of choice?

I prefer working with an analog Nikon F-801 and Agfa film. When it is necessary to be quick, e.g. when I do car shots, which I love very much, the Canon G10 is unbeatable. Intuition, which I esteem very highly, is an important tool as well.

what is one of the most helpful pieces of creative advice you have received?

Not to be too strict and puristic concerning image processing and not to flatly reject it, as I did for quite a long time.

what advice would you give to someone who wants to improve their photography?

I think it's important to gain technical as well as stylistic mastery. Train your vision and develop your own style.

thank you, Anaid! you can view Anaid's work at her flickr photostream.