Fotografo Ben Kelmer

—Prima di tutto - chi puoi definire come il miglior fotografo di Tel Aviv, Israele? :)

—I think one of the most interesting photographers in tel Aviv is Jen sladkov
jensladkov.com/

—Sei fotogenico?

—Depend on when I wake up

—Come sei entrato nell'industria della fotografia?

—Well, I was always into photography since high school, but 10 years ago I got a job as a photographer for an internet news website in Israel and from that point on things started to take off

—Secondo te, quali sono le componenti più importanti di una bella foto?

—when I look at a photo I try to see real filings and real emotions, in my eyes, those are the thing that will get the viewers eyes the most

—Ti piace viaggiare?

—Sure, and especially now when I have two kids its fantastic thing to travel with them and to have the ability to show them the world

—Che cosa ti piace di più nella tua professione?

—I think the chance I have in meeting new people almost every day is something that I will never get bored off

—Che cosa ti piace di meno nella tua professione?

—all the logistic stuff (booking, meetings, accounting, etc..) let me shoot all day and I will be fine

—Quale sarà il futuro della fotografia?

—These days when I'm answering this interview (Covid-19), we are having one of the most challenging times as photographers.
But I see more and more bookings for small family portraits; people want to remember and to have a visual memory of themself.

—Cosa c'è di speciale nel genere di fotografia in cui sei specializzato?

—I shoot people, and I don't describe my self, if it's with people and to document real situations, I'm in. I think that that's the unique thing about it, the ability to show people how that looks like and how they beehive with their own family.

—Come gestisci la critica?

—It's part of the job, and you have to understand that not everyone is going to like what you do, and I think that's good. You want to distinguish yourself from other photographers, not to be like everyone else.

—Ci sono determinate tendenze nella fotografia?

—Sure, like in any other industry, but try to avoid it, trends are for people that don't want to be creative if you're going to be unique, so don't copy-paste other people work

—Quali criteri dovrebbe utilizzare un cliente per scegliere un fotografo?

—I don't think there's one criterion, in the end, it comes to how people create when they see a photo of you, how it makes them feel.

—Che cosa non è ammesso durante la ripresa fotografica?

—in my opinion, I try not to tell people how to act and how to move when I photograph them, I want them to be themselves for them to resonate with the work I do

—Quali dettagli, che solitamente passano inosservati, riesce a notare un fotografo?

—The small thing that people don't pay attention to, let's say the groom forget to unzip one button, the photographer will notice it and will tell him to close it

—Secondo te, chi può essere considerato simbolo del XXI secolo?

—I think that in these days, its Donald Trump, unfortunately, but I think he represents the fact that people are looking for shortcuts in life and in business. And there's no shortcut, if you want to succeed you have to put in the work. I think people elected him cause that thought that in 4 years he will come and change everything and now we see that its not the case.

—Che cosa vorresti fotografare?

—I would be happy to photograph the Queen of England. I already photograph her son and one grandson.

—Hai qualche tabù professionale?

—I was a photojournalist for almost seven years, and I shoot a lot of stuff that happened in my country even during challenging situations, but I would not photograph something that I would have thought that will cause the other person to fill like I misrepresent what really took place.

—Con chi vorresti fare una sessione di ripresa fotografica?

—I would like to work with Magnum photographer Alex Webb

—Che cosa ti fa preoccupare e perché?

—I worry about the fact that there are more and more wedding photographers out there today that don't know how to price the work that they do and they are bringing the industry down

—Qual è stato il momento più impressionante della tua vita?

—I think the birth of my children's :)

—Se tu fossi un personaggio di cartone animato, libro o film, chi saresti e perché?

—Spiderman, for sure, to have the ability to reach places in the coolest way.

—Chi ti ispira nella vita e perché?

—I think that my father was an inspiration to me, he was a captain on container ships and he works hard, I think the working morality I got is from him.

—Come puoi definire il successo? Come si misura?

—It changes every time, I think. now success for me is to see my children grow up and becoming the amazing people that they are ❤️

—Preferiresti essere amato o rispettato?

—respected for sure.

—Qual è stato il più grande errore che hai commesso nel lavoro?

—only one? :) that's how we learn the best, one time, I doubled book a wedding, and I only noticed it a week before the wedding.

—Preparandoti per partire, che cosa metteresti in valigia e perché?

—Now I try to travel as light as I can. So I only take with me the FUJIX100F, which is small and great for traveling + the Yashica 635 with B&W film for the more artwork that I do.

—Tra i gadget che possiedi, c'è qualcosa che vorresti non aver comprato? Perché?

—I bought a polaroid Fujifilm camera that I only used a few times and then I got bored with it

—Che formazione professionale segui per fare fotografie migliori?

—I try (before covid19) to attend a workshop once a year, it doesn't have to be from a wedding photographer.
My all-time favorite workshop was in NYC with Alex Webb.

—Il lavoro di chi ha avuto la maggiore influenza su di te come fotografo?

—Alex Webb is one of the greatest photographers, in my opinion. I also really like the work of Chris Hondros, that was one of the greatest war photographers in modern times.

—Qual è l'unica cosa che vorresti aver saputo iniziando a scattare foto?

—How to charge for my work

—Che cosa vuoi dire con le tue fotografie?

—I'm just trying to tell an authentic story.

—Qual è la tua motivazione per continuare a scattare fotografie?

—The feedback from my clients but also I just like it too much, it feels great every time I see that I have an exciting frame.

—Se potessi tornare nel passato, che cosa faresti in modo diverso?

—I would have acted differently with the money I earned and invest it more carefully

—Che cosa fai nel tuo tempo libero?

—I love the sea, so I try to go swimming when I can or going on diving trips.

—Quale lato di te non è mai visibile al pubblico?

—I don't share a lot of my family, it's our moments.

—Quando ti senti completamente soddisfatto dal tuo lavoro?

—Never :)

—Credi nei ruoli tradizionali di donne e uomini?

—No, in our house we are equal, we both have demanding jobs and the kids.
we try to be both of us with them and without the iPhone from 5-7 when its just family time

—Fai facilmente amicizia?

—Yes, part of being a people photographer.

—Dove ti piacerebbe vivere?

—I would like to live for one year in New Zealand, as a Hobbit fun, I think that's the perfect place for me.

—Esiste la vita dopo il matrimonio?

—Sure, it's just gets better over time

—Ti piacciono i cani o i gatti?

—Dogs

—La cosa migliore nella vita è:

—As you may have guessed i think that my time with my kids is the best thing I have

—C'è qualcosa intorno a te che vorresti cambiare?

—A lot.

—Puoi dare alcuni consigli ai fotografi alle prime armi?

—Yes, understand that success is something that takes time, be patient in the long run, keep learning, and do every job the best you can, and the work plus success will follow.

—Se gli alieni dovessero arrivare sulla Terra e tu fossi la prima persona ad incontrarli, che cosa diresti?

—Want coffee?

—Se dovessi essere invitato a girare un film, di che genere sarebbe?

—SCI-FI

—Domani vado a fare...

—The same