Born in Germany in 1979, Daniel Sannwald soon entered the world of photography. His works are often (very often) seen in magazines such as dazed and confused (England)dazed japan (japan)hint magazine(america)tokion (america)style and the family tunes(germany)popeye (japan)137 fanzine (Spain)suite (spain)anathema magazine (America)vorn - art and design magazine (Germany)pàp (Finland)a + (Indonesia)b-guided (Spain)dresslab (Spain)pulp (new zealand)fhm (Germany)w magazine (korea)vision (china)nothing last forever magazine (portugal)119 magazine (america)....It is a long list I know....Today I posted an image of his work and the link to visit his website. Soon after I realized than an Interview would be more iDeal. I contact him and here's what he said to me for "Un nOuveau Ideal"..Daniel has also supplied me with images that are not incuded at his wesite plus a self portait....
FilepMotwary:Are there any moments that you feel empty? What is the personal goal you achieve after finishing a project?
DanielSannwald:I guess everyone has these moments – I call them the “7 blankets moments”, because I usually use these moments to hide in my bed under my 7 blankets. I love these moments because it’s a good time to take distance and to reflect about myself and my work. I tell you that these empty moments always end with a creative outcome.
Every time I finish a project I am happy that one idea is done and that I can move on to the next one.
FilepMotwary:Is it hard for a photographer who lives in Antwerp, being a part of the Paris/London/N.York world?
DanielSannwald:The good thing about being a photographer is that you are not dependent on a place – we have such a good networking these days that the fact that I live in Antwerp is not such a big deal. It’s great to have a place like Antwerp to reside in. Its calm and I can gather my thoughts for all these projects. With such great communications I don’t have to leave it that often... and Antwerp you know it’s a creative hotspot.
FilepMotwary: How do you manage to keep your standards when dealing with clients (magazines etc)?
DanielSannwald:I just work with clients if they give me total freedom in doing what I want or if they offer me a concept I agree with. I don’t see myself as a commercial photographer I want to go behind the surface of beauty and to develop something which is more then a photo of a beautiful dress. I am always honest with myself and I know exactly which client or magazine I want to work with. I don’t run after money, I just want to do things which makes me happy and which reflects what I have to say.
FilepMotwary: What are your current and future projects?
DanielSannwald: I just finished my third fashion short movie called “I walk backwards to forget our time” – it was the first time I used real actors to collaborate. It will be presented in Spain, this February. Apart from that I am working since 15 month on a project around Semiotic - Language and Signs in the culture of Afro American prisoners. The project is focusing on the misunderstanding of sings. For the project I work together with 27 Afro American prisoners and some great musicians from around the world, who are going to create a soundtrack for this project. I will have an exhibition in Antwerp and I will lounge a magazine with this work, this summer. It’s still a hell of work.
FilepMotwary: Let’s say you are in a film. Your choice of film. Which one would it be and who is the character you feel most identified with and why?
DanielSannwald:I am a huge fan of these old black and white silent movies – so I guess I would pick one of those. I might choose a role in Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis”, just because I adore that film. I can’t really think of any person I feel identified with in that one. I would love to play the role of Freder, though.
FilepMotwary:How important is for you to work with a good stylist. Do you think that you can save the picture if nothing works from the side of the stylist?
DanielSannwald: It’s very important to work with people you believe in, respect and trust. I do believe that any creative person on a set can be a positive influence for a shoot. A relation ship between a photographer and a stylist should work hand in hand. I always give ideas for a styling if I have any and I respect if a stylist has ideas for a photo image. If I have a clear and fix image about a production I mostly work alone and I do the styling myself – I use to work as a stylist before I started with photography.
FilepMotwary: Are you happy with your life?
DanielSannwald:I am happy.
FilepMotwary:Do you like “Un nouveau ideal”?
DanielSannwald: I like it a lot because it seems so personal.
ADVICE BY DANIEL SANNWALD FOR ISTEROGRAFO FASHION ISSUE ONE JANUARY 14, 2007
“If you want inspiration - Get yourself a muse, study the Greek mythology and set it in context with the nonsense! The nonsense could be a metaphor for the unexpected surprising things which surround our daily life. Nowadays most people have forgotten how to look, receive and observe things. We don’t have to look far mostly the things which are close to use give us the best ideas and inspirations.I would like to share my small collection of quotes which always helped me out in the empty moments: “Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing”.Salvador Dali, “Have fun and be positive when you work!” i-D magazine
“Fashion is not frivolous. It is a part of being alive today.” Mary Quant“
I like boring things.”
Andy Warhol
Dear Filep, Great article , can you pass along my www.asvoff.com details to Daniel and if he is interested in submitting his films for asvoff 2, he can get all requirements from the site www.asvoff.com under submissions, my address I will send him if he sends me his e mail. xxxD
Posted by: diane pernet | January 02, 2009 at 14:09