René Kramers Comes Prepared
It is interesting how different answers you get when you ask
photographers what it is that they like about photography. The art, the
technique, the technology, the documentation, the interaction with
people – there seem to be as many answers as there are photographers out
there.
“I love to solve problems,” answers Dutch photographer
René Kramers.
“When a client or an ad agency comes to you with an idea, it’s up to
you to turn that idea into a result. The challenge is of course to
figure out how to do that. So in a sense, photographers are like problem
solvers. And that is something that I really, really appreciate.
“This is connected to the fact that I enjoy working with people.
Together you are almost like a football team. You find the right people
for the right position, you have a common goal, and when the atmosphere
is right and everybody is enjoying themselves, you might just be able to
create something mind blowing.”
What would you say is the most important thing that you have learned during your 20 years as a photographer?
“What’s the word in English? Self-esteem? Or perhaps confidence is
most accurate? As a photographer, you’re like the team leader on the
set. You must believe in yourself and stand up for the ideas in your
head. You also need to be able to express those ideas to the people you
work with. You need to convince them. Otherwise you’re just not working
towards the same goal.”
And what would you say is the most important thing that you’ve learned about lighting?
“That light is crucial when it comes to creating that feeling and
atmosphere that you want to express. It’s also important to remember
that the light becomes a part of your composition. Let’s say you’re
shooting a dark, intense sky. A sky like that will of course seriously
affect the balance and composition. But for some reason, you tend to
forget that.”
What products do you mainly use?
“I love the
Pro-7b
because of its speed and simplicity. But I hate travelling with
equipment, so I always rent it when I’m going somewhere. That’s one of
the main reasons why I always go with Profoto; no matter where I go,
South Africa or America or Spain, they always have it.
Speaking of South Africa; these images were shot there, right?
“Yes, they were done there as part of an ad campaign for
Johnny Loco
bicycles. You know, I had a lot of fun shooting those images. Planning
the shoot, scouting the area, going out there like four in the morning
to set up the lights, and then just waiting for the sun to rise – it was
pretty amazing. It’s also a nice example of how important pre
production is. We spent a lot of time prepping that shot. Hence, the
actual shooting was actually pretty easy.”
So the sun is the main light?
You make it sound so easy.
“It wasn’t easy. But we did come prepared.”
FREDRIK FRANZÉN
