Just MilkThe perfect illusion
Mrs. White
From the magazine Schnappschuss No. 55
The young artist Anja R?sgen stages very special pictures as Mrs. White. She takes the viewer into mostly very melancholy pictorial worlds and creates surreal stories in which she herself is often the model. The impressive photographer talks about her own, very personal and unique photography.
Make Me DisappearI love coming up with creative stories and then staging them in my pictures. My key moment was when I realized that I not only have the opportunity to capture moments with my camera, but that I can also tell my very own stories. Learning how to use Photoshop was certainly a decisive factor here. I gradually acquired the skills for image editing. Admittedly, I found it difficult at the beginning to consciously see light, i.e. to identify light directions, light sources and light hardness. This was an important learning process for me in order to be able to use light consciously later on.
"I love coming up with creative stories
and then staging them in my pictures."
Another Day
Be Different
Language BarrierThematically, I see myself more in concept photography, although I also feel comfortable in the field of surreal photography. For me, the focus of images is on storytelling, and I can also consciously break the rules of photography. I create most of my work in black and white. I like colors, but when I look at a black and white picture with nice contrasts, I never have the feeling that color is missing. If I decide to work in color, then I also have to feel that the colors enrich the picture. I also like to use black and white processing to emphasize my dark, often melancholic style. Stories that are dark and evoke a feeling of loneliness and melancholy have always fascinated me. The human aspect is crucial here. My characters often find themselves in lonely surroundings, usually faceless or surreally alienated. Sometimes they are hopelessly lost or hopefully heading towards their end.
When creating a picture, I leave nothing to chance. I differentiate between two different approaches: I have an idea for a picture and look for the right place to stage it, or I let myself be inspired by a place and come up with a story that I then tell in a picture. From the idea to the finished picture, everything is planned in detail, everything has to be right: the right lens, the light setting, the location, the right perspective and, not to be underestimated, the props and the right styling. To make the overall result look more realistic, the direction of light and perspective play an important role. If possible, I try to photograph the props myself on location. The basic equipment always includes a sturdy tripod and a radio remote shutter release. If I'm not using natural light, flashes are indispensable. I have now switched to full-frame format and shoot with a Nikon D 600, preferably with fast lenses.
...how might this picture have been created.
Gone
She told me about her imaginary friendIn my photographic work, I usually act as a model myself. I don't see myself in my pictures, but fictional characters that I have created and are part of my story. One advantage is that, as my own model, I am always available and have the sole power to decide what is important to me. I take my time editing the images and work my way up bit by bit, depending on how complex a composing is and how many elements I have to put together. In the end, the viewer should feel encouraged to linger longer on the finished picture in order to lose themselves in my dark story and perhaps even ask themselves at the end, how could this picture have been created? Then the illusion is perfect.
Then the illusion is perfect.
Wind Info and more works by the artist:
Mrs. White
facebook.com/Mrs.White.Photoart
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