Remarkable: Photographs by Martina Schlerka
®claryl: What was it that aroused your passion for photography? Was there any one key moment that prompted this?
MS: Well, I did actually want to become a photographer right from the age of 14. A photographer had his studio very close to where we lived and I often paid a visit there, and did a little modeling. But I was more fascinated by all the technology, the cameras, the lenses and the opportunity to use light to form shapes and accentuate things. But I was discouraged from becoming a photographer and I opted for a typical female profession and ended up working in an office. When I was given a digital camera, an AgfaPhoto 1280, as a gift by my sister about 15 years ago, that was it for me. Photography very quickly became a very important part of my leisure time.
®claryl: What exactly is it that makes photography a subject so close to your heart that you are willing to devote so much time to it?
MS: Photography makes me look at things in much closer detail, this "intensive" viewing and the pleasure of taking the result of this hard search home with me, along with spending lots of time out and about in the fresh air, is what I live for and what keeps me young and, if the weather is too inclement to venture out, then I like tinkering around with my still life at home.
®claryl: What themes and motifs provide you with the greatest pleasure?
MS: I particularly enjoy photographing landscapes, collecting my "little gems" by the wayside. I also get a lot of pleasure from creating still lifes, and taking photos of my beautiful goddaughter is also fun.
®claryl: What is your opinion on digital image processing? Is image processing for you a part of photography or a separate form of "image art"?
MS: I make a distinction here between normal digital processing such as tonal correction or re-sharpening, contrast or color matching. These steps simply take place in my digital "darkroom" and are normal as far as I am concerned. Anything above and beyond this is for me a form of "image art" in its own right, where I can let my imagination run wild. Whether it is a case of creating new worlds or picture cards, placing my still lifes in a new setting or giving my godchild a new haircut - I am fascinated by the options that image processing gives me.
®claryl: What, who or which situations inspire you – how do ideas like "the blowball woman" come about?
MS: Sometimes it is a dream or a conversation, a poem or even a film. Often pictures simply come about through trial and error, with one step leading to the next and an idea gradually emerging from this. This was the case for example with the blowball woman, my goddaughter.
®claryl: Do you have any role models or photographers whose work you have particular respect for?
MS: Yes, I love the pictures of Yann Arthus Bertrand, his aerial photographs provide real sustenance for my soul. And I really like his portraits of animals together with their owners.
More about Martina Schlerka and her work at boden-haftung.de.
