© Nina Keinrath

In Love With The View — An Interview with Nina Keinrath

Lomography
Jul 27, 2017 · 6 min read

Nina Keinrath is a gifted photographer — not only with talent but also opportunity. She travels a lot and documents the special moments that she encounters in her trips. May it be work or for her personal portfolio, Nina takes out her camera and creates memories using the inspiration all around her. And by the way she describes it, she finds it in every view, subject, and scenery that catches her attention.

Who is Nina Keinrath when not shooting? What do you do on your down time?

Film and Photography used to be my hobbies. I was lucky so now I can also call it my job. But still, these two things follow me around everyday and everywhere I go. I love to travel, I love to be in the mountains around Austria and I got obsessed with bouldering. But taking pictures is always part of it. :)

Tell us about how you discovered photography. Was it always something that was innate and natural or learned?

I never really learned it. I just started it for fun and it turned out as the best way to express myself. (I’m not really good with words. I always loved taking pictures but I think I re-discovered it when I found an old Nikon F in the cellar of my parents when was 16–17. It turned out to be the old camera of my uncle. A short time after I bought my first Lomography camera, the Supersampler.

© Nina Keinrath

How would you define photography?

It’s my way to express myself in a visual way. It’s also a challenge to choose a moment and a situation and try to capture it in one of your pictures.

How does your professional work differ from your personal photography?

Taking pictures was always something I needed and wanted to do. I don’t have a lot of equipment (I bought my first flash a few months ago) and I might not be able to build up a professional studio setup. The pictures I take in my spare time on my journeys or from my friends don’t really distinguish from the pictures I do for my work. (We travel a lot — we have a lot of projects which take place in nature and I love nature photography. This is why it’s kind of the same — when I travel in my spare time or for work)

Here is an example of a project my company does.

And here you can get a bit of an overview what my agency does.

In what area do you think you feel most comfortable in?

The mountains or nature in general. I also love old buildings.

© Nina Keinrath

What’s your favorite subject? Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I love light and reflections. I try to use the natural light in my photos as much as possible. My inspiration comes from my surroundings. From the street I walk along, from the mountains, from buildings… I kind of absorb every detail around me. And I try to capture those details in a picture.

How do you come up with your concepts? How do you stay creative?

Nobody can be creative everyday and every night. Sometimes it is hard if you HAVE to be creative but you just have no idea. If I have a moment like this, I need to change my surrounding. I go to a coffee house or sit down on a park bench. Don’t force yourself and just let go. And the most important thing: don’t get stressed over other people!

© Nina Keinrath

Is there a formula you follow in your work?

The moment tells you when it’s time to press the button on your camera.

How would you describe your style in five words?

Abstract, real, spontaneously but also well-considered, diversified.

Someone who is always attentive and sees small details or situations others won’t see and is able to put them in the right perspective in the right moment.

In your opinion, what are the characteristics of a good photograph?

Someone who is always attentive and sees small details or situations others won’t see and is able to put them in the right perspective in the right moment. Someone who doesn’t need professional equipment but is able to shoot a good picture just because he found a great motive, a good perspective, a cool moment etc.

© Nina Keinrath

What’s your favorite photograph? Why?

I like the one from Morrocco. It seems so endless.

What camera/film/accessory setup do you use in your professional and personal work?

It’s both the same. I use a Canon 5d Mark III, for film and photography. But I bought a Sony A7s II now!

Any photographers/artists that you follow religiously?

Not really.

Who’s your dream collaboration?

I mean my dream might be shooting a film with Wes Anderson! [Haha] Very unrealistic but that’s the first thing which came in my mind! I also love NOWNESS.

© Nina Keinrath

Any upcoming projects? Please talk about them.

We will run an old Viennese coffee house in the 1st district (the old Kaffee Griensteidl on Michaelerplatz) and I will document everything with my camera. It’s kind of an experiment and very exciting. :)

If you weren’t a photographer, what would you be?

I guess this is my passion so I can’t really say what I would to instead. Film and photography are things I don’t choose just for the money or I studied it so that’s why I do it. I’m happy that I can call it my job but still even if it wouldn’t be my job, I would still do it.

Do your projects impact you in a certain way?

They make me more attentive in many ways. I discover so many new things!

© Nina Keinrath

How would you like your audiences to react to your work?

I think I just want them to like it, ideally! Everyone might see something different in it, maybe something I haven’t even seen. This is when it gets interesting.

Is there a particular project that you would like to work on?

© Nina Keinrath

Everything which involves traveling or creating something new — I’m in! :)

What would you say was the most challenging part in shooting your previous projects?

If you don’t have good light or not a beautiful surrounding but you have to make the best out of it. (A not-so-sexy description but that’s the truth.)

How should a photographer/artist respond to challenges?

Stay positive and open-minded. There is always a way. (I have to learn that too ;-))

How do you deal with creative/photographer’s block?

The best way to deal with a creative block is stop thinking and change your surrounding for a while. Go on a hike, sleep in the woods and it comes back automatically.

We would like to express our gratitude to Nina for allowing us to feature her work in this interview. If you’re interested in Nina’s work, you may head over to her website and Instagram to see more.


Written by Marc Ocampo. Originally published at lomography.com.

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