Balancing Reality and Imagination: An Interview with Anders Andersson on Capturing Beauty and Imperfections
Anders Andersson is a distinguished freelance photographer from Sweden, known for his editorial travel photography and aerial videography/photography. As a member of the Swedish Association of Professional Photographers, he brings a wealth of experience across various genres, including editorial portraits and wedding photography. Additionally, Anders is an accomplished wet plate collodion artist.
With a foundation as a news reporter, Anders has been a full-time photographer since 2001. His work is characterized by a unique balance between capturing distant, detailed landscapes and intimate, close-up perspectives. His drone photography provides a cubist-like view of the world, reminiscent of Piet Mondrian’s abstract style, offering a fresh and innovative perspective on our planet.
In contrast, his wet plate collodion images focus on tangible, timeless beauty, imbuing each subject with depth, character, and a sense of physicality. Since 2022, Anders has developed a deep passion for this historical process, which allows him to explore the darker, more ambiguous aspects of art. His work often poses more questions than it answers, delving into the beauty of imperfections with a sense of wonder and curiosity.
Through his stunning black and white analogue photography, Anders transports viewers to dreamlike realms, capturing universal emotions and evoking forgotten memories. His wet plate collodion work creates enchanting images that open windows to the past, inviting audiences to explore the deeper, often overlooked facets of human experience.
How did you get your start in photography, and what were your early influences?
My dad was in the local photography club, so I often came with him to their meetings as a kid. My first camera was made from plywood for the camera body and a piece from dad´s milking machine (I grew up on a dairy farm). Still have it today! Then, I went to Montana for a year as an exchange student and borrowed my dad´s Pentax SLR, which I used a lot (despite not knowing what I was doing really as I recall it). Years later I studied journalism, and at the school, there was a darkroom in the basement. I think it was then I really got into photography. We did internships at different newspapers as a part of our education, and I did mine at a very small newspaper called Smålänningen. The editor let me shoot pictures as well as write stories, and I still remember the first time one of my photos got printed as the main photo on the cover. All the journalists and editors raved about it. Then I knew what I really wanted to do with my life. After graduation, I started working at Hallandsposten, our local newspaper, at one of the local editing offices in a small town called Hyltebruk. At those offices, you’re supposed to shoot most of the photos yourself, so there I got my photojournalistic training so to speak. In 2001, one of the staff photographers resigned and I got his job! Then in 2007, I decided to go freelance instead. I don´t really remember that I got that much influence when starting. That was pre-internet, and I grew up on a farm far away from all sorts of cultural impressions. We listened to 80´s hit music followed by 90´s Eurodisco, drank booze, and built car stereo systems. That was it. Later on, I found Cartier Bresson, Anton Corbijn, and Lars Tunbjörk who all three meant a lot to me while forming my photography skills and style.
What do you love most about being a photographer? What are the greatest satisfactions? What limits did photography help you overcome and what benefits in life?
There are so many benefits to this job that I don´t know where to start! (Given that you’re able to make enough money to make a living from it that is). It´s free, it’s creative, it´s never the same as the day before. You get to see exciting places meet exciting people and create something beautiful out of them. My first steady job was at a cheese wholesale company when I was 18 or 19. The job was heavy, extremely boring, tedious, and underpaid, but it was kind of creating a foundation for me somehow. No matter what I did after that, it would be better. On days when I actually do have boring assignments, I just need to recall my years at Ostcentralen to realize that I am extremely lucky to be able to do photography for a living. I think my work must be better in every way than 99% of everyone else’s!
What were the biggest challenges as a travel photographer? Did you face some unexpected moments during your photography shoot that made a difference for you?
Well, shooting in unknown countries may present problems as you might not be able to read the culture right. What is appropriate and what is not? The theme of”travel” in photo competitions somewhat confuses me. What does that actually mean? Someplace away from home? But that place is home to someone else. It’s exotism for me. Not sure if that makes sense though… Anyhow, I´ve been working with a Swedish team of archaeologists in Egypt for some years now (on the theme of unexpected moments) and they wanted me to do some aerial ortophotos of the site. Egypt being a militarized country, made sure all papers were in order upon me arrival in Assuan. But no. The customs officer had been anticipating my arrival and immediately confiscated both my drones. Flying in Egypt is under no circumstances allowed. Then a young man with a holster appeared in the doorway, and a while later three high-ranking officials from the ministry of the antiques with a very worried look on their faces. Two hours later, after a phone call to some general, they managed to get me out of there. The young guy with the pistol was the secret police, who were summoned to take me away. I bet that would not be Hilton-style accommodation at his place… After that, no more drones in the luggage! Years later, when I was walking from the visa office in Cairo to board the domestic flight to Assuan, a suited guy suddenly appeared in front of me and halted me.
– Hello sir. Any drones?
– Eh, no.
– OK, thank you. Welcome.
Obviously red alert on me in their papers….
Read the full interview with Anders Andersson at Retrofuturista.com
