Interview Martijn Savenije
Photography is a way of making sense of things, putting everything in perspective.
Name: Martijn Savenije
Hometown: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Style of photography: My style is still in full development. I really couldn’t say, though I have most experience with documentary photography
Type of camera(s): Mamiya 645J, Yashica Mat EM, Pentax ME Super, Canon 5D
Website: www.martijnsavenije.nl, Flickr
What gives you inspiration?
My inspiration is derived from moments I don’t have my camera with me, which is hardly ever. Nevertheless, there are so many occasions where I either walk the streets or am on my bike and see people, glares, looks, moments and interactions. I think the moments I fail to capture drive me to want to shoot more and surpass the images I see in my mind.
What are your influences?
The works of Ryan McGinley, Rineke Dijkstra and my friend Jos Kraaijeveld inspire me a lot. I can’t say that their extraordinary work finds its reflection in mine, but I hold them in high esteem. Besides their work, I am constantly searching the web for work that appeals to me. There’s an abundance of great work out there.
Also, I’m still developing my vision and style. Photography used to be a very technical process for me. I’m now learning to let go of the tech aspects and trust on my feelings. So I guess those feelings are now my biggest influence.
Why did you choose these photos?
As I said, I’m still very much searching for what feels natural for me, letting go of the logic, so it was a tough selection to make. However, I think the selection came to be because they are a reflection of my state of mind at the time, a true representation of my feelings.
What does photography mean to you?
The duality of photography is what I enjoy. With that I mean that it is a way for me to create a distance between myself and what I observe. It is a highly private, non-communicative process. That is, until I decide to show the end results. Then the barriers are broken and it become fragile and vulnerable. Therefore, photography is a way of making sense of things, putting everything in perspective.
Photos:
Copyright reserved by Martijn Savenije
