1. Your photography has a distinct ethereal and painterly quality. What initially drew you to photography as a medium for artistic expression, and how did your journey begin?
Yeah, the ethereal and painterly quality developed over time. It wasn’t something I intentionally aimed for at first. It just evolved naturally. Initially, photography wasn’t about artistic expression for me. I bought a camera to film and document sports like wakeboarding and snowboarding, as well as my woodworking and metalworking projects.
My journey began with capturing vacations and making everyday activities like hiking or walking more engaging. I became fascinated with long exposure and night photography, especially the ability to capture things invisible to the naked eye like light trails, motion blur, and shifting perspectives. It also became a fun hobby to experiment with friends.
Over time, photography shifted from being secondary to becoming my main passion. Exploring new techniques, studying other photographers and artists, and experimenting daily fueled my creativity.
I’ve always been drawn to the look and feel of certain paintings, and since I’m not a good painter, photography became my way of expressing myself. It just felt more natural and accessible.
2. How did your unique style develop over time? Were there any pivotal moments or influences that shaped the way you approach your work today?
My style has naturally evolved over time through experimentation and outside influences. While I wouldn’t necessarily call it unique in the sense that everything has been done in some form, my approach has developed its own character through my techniques, compositions, and color choices.
There wasn’t a single defining moment, but many influences have shaped my approach. Researching Pictorialism, following photographers, reading magazines, and watching films have all played a role. Learning from other artists, whether through studying their work or directly asking questions, has been invaluable. With online resources, picking up new skills has never been easier.
My style comes from experimenting, researching inspiring images, and developing my own techniques. Spending time outdoors, interacting with nature, and playing with light and weather have been key. Photography has changed how I see the world, helping me appreciate small details and compositions. Most importantly, I still love doing it, and that keeps me inspired.
3. Your images often evoke a sense of quietness and introspection. Where do you draw inspiration from when creating such evocative and atmospheric pieces?
Almost every day, I take a look outside before sunrise, hoping for fog, rain, snow, or any other interesting conditions. If the weather looks the way I like it, I just head out to the places near my home, enjoy the solitude, and shoot whatever catches my eye.
Besides that, when I am traveling or exploring somewhere new, I most likely take the camera with me. I like walking around, enjoying nature, and seeing if something grabs my attention. It is a simple process, really, just being present and letting the surroundings inspire me.
4. There is a strong narrative quality to your work. How do you choose your subjects, and what role does intuition play in capturing these moments?
Thank you. It’s simply about being present somewhere and capturing what feels interesting or what I think could be made interesting. I rarely plan anything in advance. It is almost always instinctive or impulsive, just going with the moment while I am out. I’m also often driving around to certain places, always on the lookout for motives.
5. Photography competitions often serve as platforms for recognition but can also be subjective. What are your thoughts on the role competitions play in a photographer’s career and creative growth?
Yeah, that’s completely true. Competitions are subjective and depend on the judges, just like any other contest. A single judge’s preference can make all the difference, and even my own perception of a photo, whether mine or someone else’s, can change from one day to the next based on mood and perspective.
Maybe judging art isn’t natural or even possible because I think art itself is subjective. Yet, we are taught to turn everything into a competition. In a way, art contests are paradoxical, attempting to rank something that can’t truly be measured. Still, they make sense under certain conditions. I think it’s hard to define what makes good art or a great photograph. There are so many factors, and it’s impossible to pinpoint exactly what makes an image stand out. For me, it’s just a feeling or a sense of satisfaction you get without necessarily knowing why.
I simply aim to create something I like, and if it resonates with others, that’s great. If not, it’s still a good photo in my eyes. I’ve been fortunate to be a finalist or winner in some competitions, and while it’s astounding and almost unbelievable to be selected, does it truly define the value of the art? Being chosen makes you reflect, thinking maybe my work isn’t that bad or maybe this is becoming more serious. Even though it contradicts what I said earlier, it is what it is.
Competitions can also help with recognition. Many people don’t use social media but follow print publications, and being featured in those allows your work to reach a different audience. Since I’m still early in my career, I can’t say how much it has helped, but I’ll keep applying if a competition aligns with my vision. It pushes me to structure images into a series, work with themes, and treat it as a challenge to improve.
I think taking it too seriously and focusing only on winning won’t make you happy in the long run.
6. In your opinion, what is the most essential skill or quality a photographer should cultivate to develop their own voice and artistic identity?
The most essential skill is probably patience and dedication. If you stay consistent, you’ll eventually discover what naturally defines your voice and style.
Of course, basic camera knowledge is important to understand how to use your gear, but over time, it should become second nature. As a beginner, learning the technical side is necessary, but beyond that, it’s more about developing your unique way of seeing and expressing things.
Editing is another crucial skill, especially for artistic photography. For me, editing plays a major role, as I’m not trying to replicate reality. It offers endless creative freedom, manipulating colors and transforming images, but it also presents challenges in the process.
There’s no specific formula for developing your voice. It’s part of the journey. Experiment, have fun, and do what feels right. If you enjoy it, you’ll naturally stick with it. Challenge yourself, but most importantly, create what you love and what represents you. If others appreciate it, then you’ve built your artistic identity.
In the end, stay true to yourself. Artists do what they love, and that passion makes their work meaningful. When you connect with an artist’s work, I think it’s because it reflects their authentic vision. That’s what it’s all about, expressing yourself in a way that feels true to you.
7. The relationship between light, mood, and texture seems central to your work. How do you approach the technical side of photography to bring your artistic vision to life?
Yes, light, mood, and texture are definitely central to my work, and color is also a key aspect. In fact, it’s probably the hardest and most time-consuming part of editing for me. Fine-tuning colors to match my vision or create harmony within the image is always a challenge. Editing software plays a big role in this, and I prefer something simple and fast, but still flexible enough to get the results I want. I’ve struggled with finding the right software and workflow that feels fluid and easy.
When it comes to light and mood, I have preferred weather and lighting conditions, but I’m open to shooting in any conditions. Sometimes, specific lighting is required for a certain look, and when that’s not available, I adjust my approach to make it work.
For texture, I like incorporating it in various ways, such as using double exposures, shooting through objects, or overlaying textures. I’m also expanding my texture bundle, which I use for editing. Shooting textures is a beautiful and interesting aspect of photography, and it helps keep things fresh.
On the technical side of gear, I try to keep it as simple as possible and mostly do everything fully manually. Specs don’t matter that much to me. What’s important is how intuitive the camera feels and how easily I can adjust settings.
To sum it up, I don’t consciously focus much on the technical side. I try to keep things simple and spontaneous, just going with what feels right and enjoying being out there.
8. What advice would you offer to emerging photographers who are still searching for their unique style or struggling to find their creative direction?
I’m still on my journey as a photographer, so I can only share my personal thoughts. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll keep photographing as long as it brings me joy. Maybe my creative direction will change, or maybe it won’t. I don’t know. But I don’t think change is a bad thing. There’s a time for certain things, and I don’t believe you have to stick to one exact style forever. It has to change because you never really know if you’ve found your style or the right creative direction. You can only figure out if something different suits you better by experimenting and exploring new ideas. Incorporating different styles and evolving creatively will keep it interesting both for yourself and probably the people who view your work. Creativity is always evolving, and I think the best approach is to embrace it rather than resist it.
9. As an artist, how do you balance personal artistic exploration with creating work that resonates with a wider audience?
I’m always experimenting and trying out new approaches, whether within photography or other creative areas. Trying different styles and concepts keeps things interesting, and I see change as a natural part of the creative process.
I don’t create with the goal of resonating with others. My main focus is on making something I enjoy. The only thing I think about in that regard is what I choose to share. I try to keep transitions smooth rather than suddenly shifting directions, but that’s more for consistency. Sometimes, certain work doesn’t feel like it fits with what I’ve been doing, or I don’t think it’s strong enough for a wider audience.
In the end, I share what I like, and if it resonates with others, that’s the best outcome.
10. Looking ahead, what are your long-term aspirations for your photography? Are there new themes, projects, or artistic avenues you are excited to explore in the future?
Yeah, there’s so much, almost too many things I’d like to do, so I need to figure out priorities or a way to do it all somehow.
I want to invest more time into printing my images because it’s one of the most rewarding aspects. Self-printing, framing, and reflecting on what I’ve created adds another level of appreciation to the process.
I’m also playing with the idea of creating a book, but there are no concrete plans yet. It might just be for myself, or maybe I’ll find someone to publish it, or even publish it myself. We’ll see. It’s very time-consuming, but I really want to get more into mixed media because I enjoy it a lot.
Another thing I always have in mind is my dad’s old film camera. I even bought a developing kit a few years ago, so self-developing film is probably high on my list of things to dive into.
I’m also considering doing some workshops or tutorials, as some people have been asking. It needs a solid concept and a lot of time, so I’ll probably give it a try sooner or later.
And there are many, many more ideas.But most importantly, I just want to keep shooting, enjoy nature, maybe meet with a few photographers around the world, exchange ideas, and have a good time. That’s the best I can hope for.
Thanks Thaddäus and Please Find More His Works @hozzography
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