In this article, I pose ten questions to renowned German street photographer Siegfried Hansen. Siegfried has been on my radar for several years now. We are both curators with the World Street Photography Organization, but I’m a fan too. I think Siegfried’s attention to the “otherness” out on the streets (much like my own approach) has lead him to a style that is undeniably unique. Without question, his “geometric” aesthetic has become a highly emulated style for amateur street photographers worldwide. These days I am most interested in photographs made on the street that are not head-on candid shots of strangers doing their daily schlep. Hansen’s work is a great place to begin studying these other kind of street photographs. Enjoy!
Copyright ⓒ Siegfried Hansen
How did you get into photography?
About 16 years ago, I was a “typical” snapshot photographer. Then I visited an exhibition of André Kertész and his pictures completely changed my way of looking at my environment. Since that day in 2002, wherever I go, I carry my camera with me.
Why street photography and not say portraits or landscape, for example?
Because I saw the exhibition from Andre Kertesz in 2002 and he blows my mind. That was the start of looking at my environment and I began with street photos. That is what made my heart beat a little faster.
A lot of your work has very strong geometric elements, what attracted you to this look?
I did not have a formal academic training in art or photography. However, during the last 16 years of practice and extensive studies of photo literature, I developed my own style and techniques about how to see and frame graphical compositions best. Thus, realizing situations many others may not be aware of and capturing them within seconds became my second nature.
Obviously, a photographic memory does help me a lot. There are many things you learn by training and discipline, but overall you should internalize both theory and technique to a point that you can fully concentrate on the moment when taking pictures.
Copyright ⓒ Siegfried Hansen
What photographers (from the masters) inspire you and inform your own work? How?
In the beginning I was heavily inspired, as I have said, by Andre Kertesz, as well as by Henri Cartier Bresson. Later, further inspiration came from artists such as Ernst Haas and Ray K. Metzker.
Painters such as Edward Hooper, Mondrian and Lyonel Feininger definitely helped me to develop my own graphic style, especially the straightness and mirroring aspect which can be found in my work.
Tell us about a typical day for you on the streets in Germany. What camera do you use, how do you work, how long do you stay out at one time? How many photos do you make in a day? How many of those do you end up keeping?
I use the Leica Q 28mm, full frame. Most of the time I don’t stand long at one scene. I am a very quick photographer; I see a situation and the picture is finished in my head. I look for a good place and then I take the picture. In a six-hour photo day, I take about 150-200 photos. I put my photos on a hard disk, I take a look again at these pictures after 3-6 months or even longer. My problem is that the next picture is the most interesting one for me.
Copyright ⓒ Siegfried Hansen
You have a very distinct style, which is a good thing. However, do you ever feel as though your work is becoming repetitive? How do you deal with this?
It is not easy to avoid being repetitive. But at the beginning of my photography my interest was very wide. At my workshops the students are very often astonished with what I am looking at. Situations, mirroring, lights and shadows, colors, lines and lot more things. My perception is very precise with a lot of things. Very often my attention catches small things, things nobody else pays attention to.
You’ve been quite successful with your street photography. Tell us one thing that you feel has made all the difference.
My special perception of normal things.
Do you do a lot of post-processing work on your photographs? Why or why not?
No, I don`t do a lot post processing work because I hate to sit in front of my computer. I always want to go out and take new photos.
Why do you believe there is such a great interest in street photography these days?
Because at first sight everybody can make a street photo. It is like playing on a piano. It is easy to play a sound, but in the end to play a good song you have to work very hard. It is the same with photography.
Copyright ⓒ Siegfried Hansen
What comes next for Siegfried Hansen?
Workshops in Tokyo, Bangkok and Hamburg this year and publishing my second book, as well as hopefully making more good pictures on the street.
Siegfried Hansen is a German photographer who began street photography in 2002. He later joined the iN-Public Collective in 2014. He is the author of a full-length photography collection titled, Hold the Line, which was released in 2015.
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