Fotograf Ben Kelmer

—Först och främst - vem kan du nämna som den bästa fotografen i Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel? :)

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

—Är du fotogenisk?

—Depend on when I wake up

—Hur började du inom fotografi?

—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

—Vilka är enligt dig de viktigaste komponenterna för ett bra fotografi?

—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

—Älskar du att resa?

—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

—Vad gillar du mest med ditt yrke?

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

—Vad gillar du minst med ditt yrke?

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

—Hur kommer framtiden för fotografering att se ut?

—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.

—Vad är det speciella med den fotografigenre du specialiserar i?

—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.

—Hur hanterar du kritik?

—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.

—Finns det några trender inom fotografering?

—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

—Vad bör kriterierna vara för en kund som ska välja en fotograf?

—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.

—Vad är absolut inte tillåtet under fotograferingen?

—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

—Vilka detaljer kan en fotograf fånga som vanligtvis går obemärkta?

—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

—Vilken person tycker du symboliserar 2000-talet?

—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.

—Vem vill du fotografera?

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

—Har du några professionella tabun?

—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.

—Vem skulle du vilja fotografera med?

—I would like to work with Magnum photographer Alex Webb

—Vad oroar du dig över och varför?

—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

—Vilket är det mest imponerande ögonblicket i ditt liv?

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

—Om du vore en animerad, litterär eller filmkaraktär, vem skulle du vara och varför?

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

—Vem är din inspirationskälla i livet och varför?

—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.

—Hur definierar du framgång? Hur mäter du framgång?

—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 ❤️

—Föredrar du att vara omtyckt eller respekterad?

—respected for sure.

—Vilket är det största misstaget som du har gjort på jobbet?

—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.

—Vad tar du med dig och varför när du är ute och reser?

—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.

—Äger du en gadget som du önskar att du inte hade köpt? Varför?

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

—Hur utbildar du dig själv för att bli en bättre fotograf?

—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.

—Vems arbete har haft störst inflytande över dig som fotograf?

—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.

—Finns det någonting specifikt som du önskar att du visste när du började fotografera?

—How to charge for my work

—Vad försöker du säga med dina fotografier?

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

—Vad motiverar dig att fortsätta att ta bilder?

—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.

—Om du kunde resa tillbaka i tiden, vad skulle du göra annorlunda?

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

—Vad gör du på fritiden?

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

—Har du någon sida som du aldrig visar upp offentligt?

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

—När är du fullständigt tillfredsställd med ditt arbete?

—Never :)

—Tror du på de traditionella mans- och kvinnorollerna?

—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

—Är det enkelt för dig att skaffa vänner?

—Yes, part of being a people photographer.

—Var skulle du vilja bo?

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

—Finns det ett liv efter äktenskapet?

—Sure, it's just gets better over time

—Gillar du hundar eller katter?

—Dogs

—Det bästa med livet är:

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

—Finns det någonting runt omkring dig som du skulle vilja ändra på?

—A lot.

—Kan du ge några råd till nya fotografer?

—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.

—Om utomjordingar skulle komma till jorden, och du är den första personen som de träffar, vad skulle du säga till dem?

—Want coffee?

—Om du skulle bli tillfrågad att spela in en film, vilken genre skulle det vara?

—SCI-FI

—Imorgon kommer jag att...

—The same