*Lovin' the Chanel show!*

My beauty opener for Vogue UK's lovely May issue!

I've just updated my site:

www.elinhornfeldt.com

Happy visit!

E xx

A little tribute to the lovely team at the set of Max Factor's TV shoot in Palma!

The commercial was directed by Robin Harvey and with Emma McLaren as hero model.
I was doing stills of the commercial... The set was amazing and can't wait to see it air! 

*Loved* the Chanel show!

* Night snap upon arrival in Palma yesterday night! I'm here working with Max Factor.
Love this island... it's truly magic and energy! *

*Marie Steiss* photographed yesterday in Île St Louis in Paris.

More to come very soon... xx

In April (this year) I will be in Shanghai participating in a project arranged by photographer Georgina Richardson & RED Photographic Workshops.
I will be teaching classes in photography down there. I will post link of the site very soon (along with more detailed information).
And here is an interview with me & in support of the project.
Wish you all a great day!
Elin xx

1. Your photographs are breath-taking and so so beautiful! When you take a picture, do you consciously think about creating beauty?

Thank you! I always see beauty in people. Whether I know them or not. I love people and I believe in the individual power of each personality. I love to reveal a person's character, when in that person's "natural presence".

2. You're a graduate of the prestigious Parsons School of Design, but how did you truly train as a photographer? Was Parsons enough to get your career started? If you could do it again what would you do differently?

Yes, for me Parsons was enough training. I learned photographic technique and how to create presentations of my work, a valuable tool when working as a photographer. The individual attention that Parsons gave me, with their relatively small classes and intense class critiques, was very encouraging. They often required you presented your work, and this gave me a good business sense as it developed my ability to talk easily about my work and my vision. This kind of skill is vital once you start working and meeting clients: as you always need to be able to present your work stylishly and eloquently.

3. An artist develops their vision and their method of working as they grow. Have you found your inspirations change over the years?

I have learned that I am always keen on versatile working methods. This means knowing what you want, while remaining flexible and open. The result are always better than expected. In the beginning, an artist's expression can be a process by which the artist gets to know themselves. I am always inspired by whatever I see and feel, my love of people, color, line, texture and my love for the new. I am inspired by people being themselves and by each individual's strength. 
 
4. Some of your backstage images have an ethereal quality to them - you create dreamy, hazy images of beautiful women in movement. Paolo Roversi comes to mind. To take a photograph in focus: this is a stupid rule to be broken. What other rules have you found should be broken in photography?

Hmmm.. I'm not sure I was aware of rules... I think I have just been really focused on what I see.. what I want... and yeah.

5. When do you decide the image is better in black and white versus colour?

Whenever I see dramatic lighting with a lot of contrast, graphic-looking make-up or wardrobe... oh yeah! I go for B&W! Sometimes direct shafts of light and dust suspended in light look gorgeous in black and white.
I have also learned to "see light"... After a while you develop an instinct: you can see how the light will work photographically. Most of my clients love it when I mix both black and white imagery with colour. So I usually try to cover the scene with both.

6. Fashion is a team effort. How do you go about planning your collaborations?

I would say that team work is about chemistry and the harmony of personalities. Normally I find, because of the types of clients I work with, I'm put into a team, rather than me creating my own team.
Apart from when we do castings. At the model castings, I'm all about personality and planning who we use with that in mind. I even like to know the model's star sign!

7. What is important in a photographer's behaviour? You work on location, in highly stressful environments, how has your personality helped you to create the images you make?

What's important is to be in charge in a light, gentle and focused way. As a photographer it's your responsibility to frame the image...so you need to lead everyone in the effort to achieve this. I direct people best by doing it gently. Even if you have a strong vision for an image, everyone involved in front of and behind the camera have to be in agreement with the vision. Backstage I work with an assistant or alone, and capture moments in less than a second. During an editorial shoot, its really a collaboration of the whole team.

8. Did a photograph or a photographer ever inspire you to pick up a camera?

No.... I started when I was at school. I studied "social media" for a while, and my parallel class mates were in "the media program". My best friend at the time, Sofia, was in that class and we shared an apartment. So she took pictures of me and she later lent me her camera.. That was the way....

9. If you had to describe what you do, what would you say?

Artist. And photographer. And also that "I am me".

10. Do you have a muse? And if not, who might you choose?

People I love I always listen to. I respond to people who I feel can see me.

11. Photography is a competitive profession, where you must constantly be creating innovative work to remain on "top of your game". How have you motivated yourself throughout your career to do this?!

I am always creating. I love everything that is powerful and new. And I believe in having no limits. Great images can be dynamic and timeless. If I have to repeat a job or create a similar image, I always create new variations during the shoot so I feel I've done something new.

12. Where's your favourite place to work? So you live in Paris because you love working there best?

I live in Paris because I have most of my contacts here, so this is my "base". I am open to new places although I love Paris. It has been a great place for me to work. Although it's a big city, it's also a place where you can work in peace. As a photographer, you travel a lot too. I love Prague, Budapest, London and New York of course. And I also love Cannes, in the south of France!!!

13. How important are contacts as a working fashion photographer? What would you tell a young wannabe fashion photographer to start doing to make contacts?

Contacts are very important. If you don't have contacts, create your contacts! Never be afraid of contacting people.. follow your intuition and ambition when it comes to what you want to do in life! Always embrace your strengths, and gently show people them. You are always the leader in your life and in all you want to do.... you are the only one in charge of making things happen. It is true to say that "when you are convinced - others will be too".
Additionally as you "work your way up" the career ladder, I think it's very important to remain intimate with, and understanding of, your work, and what you are doing and where you are going. As a young artist, you will always have a lot of opinions given to you by others. Some will be useful and some not. It has taken me a while to develop a method of picking and choosing who, and what, I listen to. This is a very strong tool to develop in your career.

14. Richard Avedon said "My portraits are more about me than they are about the people I photograph." Can photography ever be objective? And is it even important anyway?

Interesting...I think that even if the photographer is 100% objective when creating a photograph, each viewer who sees that image always has a brand new set of eyes to look at it with. A great image is a great image, which may sound trite but nothing really matters apart from that.

Got back to a snowy freezing Paris after long holiday in Sweden! So.. this post goes out to my holiday darlings *Pralin & Dolimiti* featured in pictures below.
Thanks to little sis Kittis for arranging for me to come and ride & take care of them!
It was very inspiring! Love and miss horses in Paris.