We’re so excited to present this Incredibly talented photographer on this weeks Behind the Viewfinder. @LouwLemmer has one of the most beautifully gallery that we have seen here on instagram, it has to be seen to understand what I’m talking about.
@LouwLemmer could have been a candidate for Behind The Viewfinder, just by the portraits alone, but there is so much more to this talented shooter, Give his awesome gallery a look you won’t be dissapointed.
What’s your style of photography, what type of images do you identify with most? I’d say my style is very centered around creativity and something I call “The Human Element.” I identify most with images that have a contextual sense with regard to creating perspective from adding a person to a photo.
Who are the photographers influenced you? Through honing my skills as a photographer I’ve looked towards guys like: @Bryanadamc, @CraigHowes and @Deancothill for inspiration.
Do you think that photography is an art form? Of course, photography is definitely an art form.
What technology (camera) do you use? I make use of a Canon 6D and a Canon 5D mkIII
What motivates you to continue taking pictures? My love for photography and seeing the incredible response and joy it creates within people who follow me.
Which is your favorite lens? Why? The Canon 85 mm f/1.2 because it’s an incredibly sharp lens that performs well in low light and is generally my go-to portrait and creative lens.
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What camera gear do you wish you had? Why? I am very fortunate to have great gear, but, my dream is definitely the Canon 1DX Mark II. My reason for that is I am always in search of pushing myself as far as possible, and for that, the top of the range Canon would help me create even more than I can now.
Do you use Adobe Lightroom for edits? If so what presets do you use? Your own or downloaded/purchased. I do yes. I prefer using my own presets. But I have made use of presets from @19tones as the base of some of my favourite tones. What I do is apply the preset and do a complete overhaul in order to create that authentic and unique look to my photos.
How do you educate yourself to take better pictures? The internet. You can find all your answers on the internet. Rarely, I do also consult fellow experts, but, I prefer finding my own answers.
Among your works, which one is your favorite? Why? I can honestly not name a single favourite image. I love the work I produce and it’s way too hard for me to identify a photo and call it my favourite. That being said, one of my top photos is one I took of @DeanCothill. I love it because of the story behind it, the overall photo and the fact that Dean is a good friend of mine. I also love it because I only realized how cool the photo was about 3 weeks after taking it. So there was a whole journey in it. What role has Instagram played in your photography/designs? Instagram has been absolutely instrumental to my photography, in the paramount sense that it was the foundation to my love of taking photos. It was the vessel that transported me into the world of photography. In terms of designs, Instagram taught me to push the boundaries, think out of the box and drive myself to excel creatively. What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos? That gear doesn’t matter when you start. For a long time my photography was negatively affected by the fact that I thought I had to have certain cameras and lenses in order to create beautiful images. That is a lie which I urge every beginner not to believe. What makes the good picture stand out from the average? A few things. Composition, lighting and focus are all raw factors that makes a good picture stand out. An average picture is one that neglects one or two of those factors. From there, editing can really also set a good and an average photo apart. If you nailed all the 3 mentioned factors, but fail to edit it properly, it will be average. What first drew you to photography? Telling a story and creating art. I have always been a creative person, and photography just really appealed to me as an art form.
When you are out shooting—how much of it is instinctual versus planned? That depends. When I do an official shoot, I’d say 50-75% is planned. I consider that as a high number, because when I go shooting for myself, I almost never plan ahead. I like to get out of my comfort zone, and planning too much can have an adverse effect on your ability to think out of the box. I never want to limit myself to rules when I shoot for myself. What I do plan ahead is outfits, props and so forth. But most of my personal photos are purely instinctual. When I shoot officially, I normally have to stick to guidelines and I definitely plan ahead so I can be certain of making my client happy. I don’t plan ahead 100%, because that’s impossible, and I always want to add a little twist that can surprise a client.
Where are you from, where do you live? I was born in Windhoek, Namibia. But, for the last 17 years I’ve lived in Pretoria, South Africa.
Behind The Viewfinder with the talented LouwLemmer We’re so excited to present this Incredibly talented photographer on this weeks Behind the Viewfinder. @LouwLemmer…
