Getting some inspiration from artists who find & create interesting things never hurts. That's why we now regularly bring you a feature about a photographer who inspires us with their work. These artists are professionals, semi-professionals or amateurs, come from different corners of the world and work in yet others. And they answered our questions in a short interview for compagnon. And they all have something else in common: they have great talent and appreciate compagnon's companions.
We often hear from studio owners that they prefer to leave photography behind as soon as their "working day" is over. Our guest this week is very different. He never leaves photography behind. Today we are sitting over a cup of coffee with
"compagnon of inspiration" - Part 3
Brief portrait
Marc Wiegelmann was born in a city where more photos are probably taken than in any other city of the same size thanks to the influx of tourists from Asia. He is still loyal to the Rhine-Neckar region as he runs a studio in Mannheim with friends. Outside the studio, his photography takes him to weddings, on trips and also through everyday life. A sports-affine outdoor lover among the studio users. compagnon: Hello Marc, nice to have you as our guest. Professionally, you cover a wide range of occasions. We always ask ourselves what professionals like you prefer to have in front of the lens in their private lives. Does this coincide with your work or do you consciously do things differently in your private life?
Marc Wiegelmann: To be honest, no. I prefer to photograph people. That's why I also enjoy being a wedding photographer. A wedding really offers all facets of photography. Couple portraits, family pictures, party shots, macros (e.g. the rings) etc. What's more, the people are usually in a really good mood. Who is lucky enough to have customers who are always in a good mood? But travel photography is also about documenting the trip and sharing the memories with those who stayed at home. A great thing.
compagnon: Do you find a framework in these different requirements that describes your personal style? Where do we find Marc in these recordings?
Marc Wiegelmann: I don't want to make anything up, I don't think I have a real visual style that could be used to recognize my pictures (unfortunately). I think it's amazing when you can recognize a photographer by the language of his pictures. But I also believe that not many artists can say that about themselves. I would probably have to find myself even more for that. Who knows :). It's important to me to build up a good relationship with my subject, the better this relationship is, the better the pictures are.
compagnon: Speaking of the few great creators of art, do you have an idol or role model you can look up to?
Marc Wiegelmann: This is not an easy question to answer. In terms of pure visual work, I really like Vincent Peters, Kristian Schuller and Paul Ripke. But another photographer who has certainly influenced me a lot is Steffen Böttcher. Not so much in terms of the style of his pictures, but simply from a human point of view. What a cool guy. I like his nature and his way of approaching things and people. His way of writing and creating a connection with his pictures inspired me so much that they lured me all the way to Vietnam. But there are always young artists whose work I follow and find really great, for example André Josselin or SamAlive.
compagnon: So your equipment went all the way to Vietnam. What did you take with you? What do you have with you today?
Marc Wiegelmann: Well, I always have my iPhone with me. But beyond that, I almost always have the Fuji X100T to hand. As far as traveling is concerned, after many attempts, I only have the X100T with me. The versatility of the Fuji's wide-angle lens is usually enough for me. In the meantime, however, I've really taken to the Canon fixed focal lengths, the 24 and 50mm. But I have rarely missed anything with the X100T. As far as my bags are concerned, I only have my compagnons with me. My little messenger carries the X100T, the big messenger carries the Canon. I wouldn't want to be without this piece of leather at my side.
compagnon: Of course we like to hear that. Before the Fuji, the Canon and your compagnons found their way to you, how did you get started with photography?
Marc Wiegelmann: My starting point was an old Canon T70, a gift from my father many years ago. It was the beginning of analog photography. The photos were developed as slides, then digitized with drum scanners and edited in Photoshop 3.0. I must have been running around taking photos all the time. I'm currently archiving old photos and I was amazed at how much I've photographed in my life so far.
compagnon: Apart from your own mass production *laughs*, what are you particularly proud of today?
Marc Wiegelmann: Pooh, that's not easy. I think I'm most proud of the fact that there are people who entrust me with the task of photographing their wedding. I don't think about it as much as I did at the beginning, but it's actually crazy. After all, my pictures will still be on the bedside table or hanging in the living room decades from now. It's a great feeling. These encounters with wonderful people whose happiest day I can accompany are a great stroke of luck.
compagnon: If you could make one wish for the future of your profession, would it be a never-ending stream of weddings, or is there something else?
Marc Wiegelmann: That's a really good question. I'm in a bit of a clinch with photography at the moment. In the life of a photographer, there are always milestones and dry spells. You get stuck at one point or another, you lack motivation or inspiration. You have to overcome that to be happy with your photography. And it has to make me happy. Which it does. But I still have to get to the point where I try to live from it. I'll let myself be surprised.
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