PHOTOGRAPHER TO WATCH: HENRIK ALM, XBERG GANGS AND STREET KIDS

Between fashion and documentary, adopting the rawness from the one into the other and transferring its aesthetics vice versa – Berlin based photographer Henrik Alm shows streetkids, 90s trash and life in the suburbs. Depicting what’s there without whitewashing but by capturing the most real, visual and beautiful side of it. His Teller-style is younger, more Berlin, less overexposure but at the same time honest, half-staged and authentic. Henrik about his love for the capital, Kreuzberg-gangs and his first exhibition.

000017090027

Was there ever a point in your career where you thought you had to give up?
No not really. I was always lucky, and during bad times I always got support from my family or my friends. They give you the energy and trust you need when you feel insecure or lost. But sure – I reflect upon myself and my work everyday. That can be very intense.

When it comes to photography: are you a head- or heart-guy?

I am definitely a heart guy. Not just in photography but in general. I live from my emotions and feelings.

The Sunrise Project - Nele 2015

Would you recommend young up-and-coming photographers to move to Berlin to start their careers?

Berlin gives you so many possibilities as a photographer in general. This can be positive but also negative. For example which direction do you want to go – sometimes there are too many options. It depends upon your characters and what suits you most.

000088540020
000088560009

You are doing both, fashion photography and photography with documentary approaches. What’s more important for you and why?

When we are coming to aesthetics and beauty I love fashion photography. But working on documentary projects is more important for me. There you can find the real beauty. I love mixing film and photography. That is my strength and especially telling people stories is amazing. When I was really young – the most amazing thing for me was to sit with my parents and their friends at the table for dinner and just listening to their stories. You can get an idea of other people’s lifes and you learn so much from them. That is what I like.

A song which describes your life right now?


What’s the craziest thing you did since you live in Berlin?
It’s more like: What is the craziest thing Berlin did to me? 9 Kids knocked me down with a hammer in Xberg. That was wild.

The most overrated place in Berlin?

I love Berlin. There aren’t any overrated places for me. But sure, there are some areas, places and events which you shouldn’t take too seriously.

The Sunrise Project - Leipzig 2015
000047300002
000047300020

Party or Bar?

Bar

Your guilty pleasure?

Analog Films

The next big thing?

My first exhibition with the artist Uecker at the Kunsthalle Rostock this Summer!

01 RTCO April 2016
02 RTCO April 2016For more Henrik Alm photography head over to his website or his Instagram!

By Nele Tüch

Loading next Article