‘Fairytale Dreams’ by Verena Heller-Ghanbar spirits the viewer away into a fantasy world full of mysterious, melancholic, bizarre and, at times, contrary figures – a blazing world full of illusions that serve as a counterweight to the greyness of everyday reality.
You experimented a fair amount with 'Fairytale Dreams’ – reflections, mirror images, a diversity of locations and animals. What was the focus for the series? And, is experimentation your thing?
Experimental photography is an important part of my artistic work. I like to try out new possibilities when taking pictures, and I’m delighted by some of the unexpected surprises that emerge. With double exposures or by deliberately moving the camera, unique moments can arise.
Where and how did you get the ideas for this project?
Old fairy tales are a great source of inspiration. For me, they set a mood and are stimulating at the same time. In fairy tales there are often sinister, bizarre and puzzling figures that don’t always fit together. Fairy tales include archetypal images that contain a great wisdom. I try to capture and convey all this with my photos.
What is the story you wanted to tell?
Fairy tales always manage to influence our childhood and our imagination. However, as adults we have virtually no time left for diving into an imaginary world, even if just for a brief moment – an idealised world of dreams, stories and illusions. I think that’s a pity. I want my photographs to encourage people to dream again.
What criteria did you use when choosing the fashion?
I chose the fashion according to the subject of the fairy tale.
Talking about photographic work, which part do you find the most difficult and which the easiest: the concept development, the photo shoot itself, the image processing or the image selection?
Definitely, the image selection!
What is it about fashion photography that fascinates you?
Fashion is culture: we express ourselves through fashion; we make a statement. As a result, in fashion photography there are few limits to one’s fantasy. Everything is permitted. The picture needs to work, to catch the attention and touch the viewer. It needs to stand out.
Is there any other type of photography you would like to try out; like celebrities, for example? Or where’s the best place you’d like to see your photographs?
Like many photographers, I dream of producing large-format images for my own exhibitions, or maybe even produce a picture series for my own photo book.
On the whole you work with available light, or rather you apply very reduced lighting. How well did the Leica S deal with this during the photo shoot?
The Leica S was the perfect camera for the different lighting conditions, because it’s able to reproduce colours very naturally. As far as the lighting is concerned, the camera offered me a great range to play with. The base sensitivity allowed me to work with a very wide aperture even in extremely bright surroundings; but at the same time the lens performance in difficult, low lighting, was phenomenal. I was pleasantly surprised and very delighted with the camera.
Which of the S system lenses worked best for you? Why?
With the S Vario zoom lens, I was able to set the aperture in whatever way best suited my creativity at any given moment.
