We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Frank Herfort a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Frank, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Until the last day of school, and that was 12 years, I didn’t really know what I should or wanted to do when I was young. But I knew for a fact that I didn’t want to spend another 12 years or more in a locked room in the same building. During these last school days we had to do an internship in a company or business to feel some work air. That wasn’t easy either, because where should I go? I already took photographs for some years, starting at around 14 years or so and I liked it really much to be in my own world and show these to other people. A few days earlier I also happened to see a photo exhibition by art students from the well-known Leipzig Academy of Visual Arts in the town hall. I loved this, how the images were captured and arranged. Then, as I was flipping through the Yellow Pages disinterestedly to finally find a company, I stopped at the letter F, for photo agency. I thought, wow, that’s actually a job. I called right away and the next day I was at their door. I honestly said I didn’t have much to show, but my curiosity and interest surprised the photographers there. I got the internship right away. I can still smell the studios, the lab and the image catalogues. But the first day, a photographer took me out on his assignment, I knew that’s my way. Everyday different, everytime you need to find your composition and solutions and everyday you start again to see your world from another perspective. I liked that. This was more then 20 years ago, nothing changed :)

Frank, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I really love to be out in our world and I think I have a good ability to show this in a very concentrated and well arranged composition. It doesn´t matter if its for architecture, interior, portraits, industrial or editiorial photography. I have my own way of how to see and arrange it. I´m always looking for the magic in the photographs, a thing I can not really explain. It´s something weird, strange, surreal or very clear and straight forward. Any image I do, should have some story. This can happen in one frame or sometimes it works well with two or three images. Additionally I use very simple and less equipment. Because, I think, the less you have or use the more you know, what you can do and achieve. I focus more on the subject then on equipment. Also, I stay pure and real and add almost no retouching work , except light and color balancing.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As artist or creative person, I always feel independent and free of any social or political issues. Of course this attitude brings also some difficult moments of not having any safety or general support. I´m sure there are better paid jobs and options, but in the long end, I feel myself and I can do anything, it´s just my decision and I take responsibility of that. For me this is the most value and worth of being an artist.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Honestly, I would have been thanksfull if someone or some school or university gave some lessons about financial organisation of your life to me. For almost any creative person, institution etc, this is never a topic or lesson, but it is not less important if you want to enjoy your creative freedom.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.frankherfort.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frank_herfort/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankherfortphoto/

Image Credits
Frank Herfort Photography