Fotograf Ben Kelmer

—Pre svega, koga biste naveli kao najboljeg fotografa u svom gradu? :)

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

—Fotogenični ste?

—Depend on when I wake up

—Kako ste ušli u svet fotografije?

—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

—Šta smatrate da su ključni elementi dobre fotografije?

—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

—Volite putovanja?

—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

—Šta najviše volite u vezi sa svojim zanimanjem?

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

—Šta najmanje volite u vezi sa svojim zanimanjem?

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

—Kakva će biti budućnost fotografije?

—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.

—Šta je posebno kod vrste fotografije koja je vaša specijalnost?

—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.

—Kako podnosite kritiku?

—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.

—Da li u fotografiji postoje trendovi?

—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

—Šta treba da budu kriterijumi kada klijent bira fotografa?

—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.

—Šta treba izbegavati kod snimanja?

—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

—Koje najčešće neprimetne detalje primećuje fotograf?

—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

—Za koju ličnost smatrate da bi mogla da bude simbol 21. veka?

—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.

—Koga biste želeli da fotografišete?

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

—Da li za vas u poslu postoji nešto zabranjeno?

—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.

—Sa kim biste želeli da sarađujete?

—I would like to work with Magnum photographer Alex Webb

—Šta vas brine i zašto?

—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

—Koji trenutak u vašem životu je bio najupečatljiviji?

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

—Koji lik iz crtaća, knjige ili filma biste bili i zašto?

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

—Ko vam je životna inspiracija i zašto?

—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.

—Šta za vas znači uspeh? Kako ga merite?

—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 ❤️

—Da li biste pre bili voljeni ili poštovani?

—respected for sure.

—Šta je najveća greška koju ste do sada napravili u poslu?

—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.

—Šta nosite sa sobom na putovanja i zašto?

—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.

—Da li ima nešto među vašim alatkama čiju kupovinu ste zažalili? Zašto?

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

—Kako se edukujete da biste bolje fotografisali?

—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.

—Čiji rad je najviše uticao na vas kao fotografa?

—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.

—Šta biste voleli da ste znali kad ste tek postali fotograf?

—How to charge for my work

—Šta želite da poručite svojim fotografijama?

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

—Šta vas motiviše da se i dalje bavite fotografijom?

—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.

—Da možete da se vratite u prošlost, šta biste uradili drugačije?

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

—Kako provodite slobodno vreme?

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

—Koji deo sebe nikada ne pokazujete javno?

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

—Kad ste potpuno zadovoljni svojim radom?

—Never :)

—Da li verujete u tradicionalne uloge muškaraca i žena?

—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

—Da li lako sklapate prijateljstva?

—Yes, part of being a people photographer.

—Gde biste voleli da živite?

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

—Da li postoji život posle braka?

—Sure, it's just gets better over time

—Da li volite pse ili mačke?

—Dogs

—Najbolja stvar u životu je:

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

—Da li ima nešto u vašem okruženju što biste promenili?

—A lot.

—Da li imate neki savet za fotografe koji tek počinju?

—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.

—Kad bi vanzemaljci došli na Zemlju i prvo sreli vas, šta biste im rekli?

—Want coffee?

—Kad bi vas zvali da snimite film, koji biste žanr izabrali?

—SCI-FI

—Od sutra ću da…

—The same