Fotograaf Ben Kelmer

—Ten eerste - wie beschouwt u als de beste fotograaf in Tel Aviv, Israël? :)

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

—Bent u fotogeniek?

—Depend on when I wake up

—Hoe bent u beland in de fotografie-industrie?

—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

—Wat zijn volgens u de belangrijkste elementen van een goede 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

—Houdt u van reizen?

—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

—Wat vindt u het leukst aan uw beroep?

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

—Wat vindt u het minst leuk aan uw beroep?

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

—Wat ziet u de toekomst van fotografie?

—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.

—Wat is er bijzonder aan het fotografiegenre waarin u zich specialiseert?

—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.

—Hoe gaat u om met kritiek?

—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.

—Zijn er bepaalde trends in fotografie?

—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

—Welke criteria moet de klant hanteren bij het kiezen van een fotograaf?

—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.

—Wat is er totaal uit den boze bij het fotograferen?

—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

—Welke details die vaak onopgemerkt gaan, kan een fotograaf vastleggen?

—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

—Welke persoon kan volgens u symbool staan voor de 21e eeuw?

—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.

—Wie wil u graag fotograferen?

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

—Heeft u bepaalde taboes op professioneel vlak?

—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.

—Met wie zou u graag fotograferen?

—I would like to work with Magnum photographer Alex Webb

—Waar maakt u zich zorgen over en waarom?

—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

—Wat is het meest indrukwekkende moment van uw leven?

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

—Als u een personage van een cartoon, boek of film was, wie zou u dan zijn?

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

—Wie inspireert u in uw leven en waarom?

—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.

—Hoe definieert u succes? Hoe meet u het?

—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 ❤️

—Bent u liever graag gezien of gerespecteerd?

—respected for sure.

—Wat is de grootste fout die u ooit begaan heeft op professioneel vlak?

—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.

—Wat neemt u mee op reis en waarom?

—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.

—Is er iets dat u liever niet gekocht had tussen de gadgets die u bezit? Waarom?

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

—Hoe leert u bij om betere foto's te maken?

—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.

—Wiens werk heeft u het meest beïnvloed als fotograaf?

—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.

—Wat had u graag geweten toen u begon als fotograaf?

—How to charge for my work

—Wat wil u graag zeggen met uw foto's?

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

—Wat motiveert u om foto's te blijven maken?

—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.

—Wat zou u anders doen als u in de tijd kon terugkeren?

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

—Wat doet u in uw vrije tijd?

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

—Welke kant van u krijgt het publiek niet te zien?

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

—Wanneer bent u helemaal tevreden over uw werk?

—Never :)

—Gelooft u in een traditionele rolverdeling voor man en vrouw?

—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

—Maakt u gemakkelijk vrienden?

—Yes, part of being a people photographer.

—Waar zou u graag wonen?

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

—Is er een leven na het huwelijk?

—Sure, it's just gets better over time

—Houdt u van honden of van katten?

—Dogs

—Het beste in het leven is:

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

—Is er iets rondom u dat u graag zou veranderen?

—A lot.

—Kan u tips geven voor beginnende fotografen?

—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.

—Als buitenaardse wezens naar de Aarde komen en u bent de eerste persoon die ze ontmoeten, wat zal u hen dan zeggen?

—Want coffee?

—U wordt gevraagd om een film te maken, welk genre wordt het?

—SCI-FI

—Morgen zal ik ... doen

—The same