Dirk Haas is a nude art photographer who began his photographic journey through event and nature photography, creating over time a personal style through analogue and polaroid photography. Passionate about nude photography, he is an explorer of femininity and female intimacy, Dirk's work evokes emotion and nostalgia through the naturalness and simplicity of his models.
Hello Dirk,
First of all, I would like to thank you for taking the time to tell us about you and your work in this interview.
To begin, where are you from? Please tell us about yourself and your passions.
Hello, thank you for the interview. I am happy to answer your questions. I'm Dirk, I'm from Germany and live in the west of the country near Cologne and Koblenz. Photography is my hobby and will remain so in the years to come. My main job is a soldier. It is exciting for me to experience this difference. On the one hand, you are the person who has to obey all the rules of the military, who give orders, and who has to be strict at times. There are a few rules in my style of photography. Punctuality and desire to get involved in my kind of photography. That's all. You do what you feel, photographically what you feel at the moment. You can enjoy the lightness and the naturalness in front of and behind the camera.
What inspired you to approach photography? How did this journey start?
I started with photography in 2005. That year my son was born. I wanted to capture his life in pictures. I have photographed before. However, I only took pictures as a reminder when traveling or on military missions. From this, this rice has continued to develop through photography. I then took a lot of pictures for myself and the family album. In between, I photographed landscapes and weddings. I have continued to develop myself technically and have also constantly expanded my equipment. I have found that I have a good eye for light and weather. So I spent more and more time in nature. I won a few competitions, kept finding my pictures in magazines, and took a few pictures for the Bundeswehr press in Afghanistan. I did that for a few years. It was fun and also associated with adventures. In 2015 I realized that I had to do something different. I wanted to make 2016 an analogue year. I already owned an analogue camera and was given a Polaroid sx70 as a gift. This started my journey into analogue photography.
What techniques and themes have you experimented with so far?
I don't actually experiment. I use what the manufacturer gives me. In between, I tried a colodium wet plate. Polaroid 8x10 and 4x5. But I've only ever tried this with photographer friends. I work with Polaroid Peel apart films Polaroid 669 and Polaroid 665, but these are very hard to come by these days. Then there are the normal integral films. In analog photography, I work with normal medium format films and recently also with 35mm films. The Polaroid 665 is a negative film and is my favorite film.
Why nude art photography? What do you want to convey through your works?
I said that 2016 should be my analogue year. I also wanted to change my photography. Not only the technology and the cameras but also the motif should change. I want to keep the viewer attached to my image. I want him to see the beauty of simplicity. I also want to capture emotions. But it's not just about the emotions of the person in front of the camera, but also behind it. I try to express myself in my pictures.
What are the elements that differentiate you from other nude photographers?
I try to transfer the maximum of emotions to the picture without much effort.
I always avoid artificial light and superfluous clothing and accessories. That is, I think the difference. Nude photographers want one thing... That is to create a beautiful picture.
A few years ago you discovered the instant world of photography with Polaroid and analogue. Why did you choose this equipment for your nude artwork? How does an instant photograph differ from a digital one?
Here we are at the end of 2015. In the beginning, I chose the digital version. So I didn't make the hard cut right away. In addition, you can't just look for a model and then start snapping. If you don't have any work to show for it, most models will say no. So I attended workshops. I met great photographers and models there. Then also a photographer and teacher who only worked analogously. He explained to me how to set the light and always explained a lot more to me about analogue photography. I always took a Polaroid camera with me to the workshops or shootings. With Polaroid, it is simply explained. I have a camera, an 8-frame film, and a light, and in the end, I have to live with what comes out of the mix between my head, my eyes, the light, and the posing. I can no longer edit the light, the colors, and the image detail. I can't do beauty retouching on polaroid. This is the difference between Polaroid and digital. In analog photography, I only use what comes out of the camera. I crop the pictures with Lightroom, but I don't do any retouching and I don't turn the sliders in Photoshop. I have an idea in my head and use the things that are given to me. My idea, film, aperture, light, and model.
Your analogue and Polaroid photos are in square format. How difficult is it to translate your artistic vision and compose a frame in this format? What advice would you give to those who want to experiment with analogue or Polaroid photography?
The square frame is not a problem at all. I very rarely stick to the principles of photography. I press the shutter button when I like what I see through the viewfinder. Of course, you have your ideas of how a picture should look and work in the end. I work very often with a tripod. It takes a little longer to take the first picture. I only see what comes out of this when the negatives are developed and scanned. With Polaroids, I see it after just a few minutes. In the Bundeswehr, they say: you only learn to shoot by shooting. I stuck to that. It is a combination of technology and photography. one must not be disappointed if there are pictures with which one is not satisfied. You just have to keep going.
Polaroid photographs take you into a dimension of tenderness, created by a special atmosphere, and those made with analogue models exude naturalness and liberation. What accessories do you use in your photo shoots? Which places are more appealing to you to practice your ideas, in the studio or in nature?
Thank you very much. In my opinion, my pictures can only be created in a studio. Only there can I create an atmosphere. One is not distracted by influences that I could have in nature. (pazier) I manage to create a safe space in the studio for the model and also for me so that you can get involved with each other. I don't need much for my pictures. I always use natural light. I have a tripod and a few cameras with me. For some films you need different cameras, so the backpack is always a bit full. A mixture of various Polaroid films and a few rolls of film, of course.
How do you choose your models? Do you have a favorite model that you work with more easily and that suits your vision or do you adapt according to each person?
At the beginning of my photography, I did a lot of searching in the model file and also paid for my models. I rarely do that now. I get most requests on Instagram. I have inquiries from all over Europe. But it is very difficult to travel to the places and then to photograph there. Doesn't every photographer have a favorite model? I have a model that makes it easier for me to work. This model feels me and I feel her. We can transport our feelings in our pictures. these moments are very emotional. But that doesn't work with every model. You have to get involved with people.
Your fine art nude works are distinguished by their simplicity and naturalness, emanating nostalgia and a lot of emotion. What is your artistic vision and mission in photography?
I want to transport emotions through my pictures and captivate the viewer in the picture. It is important not only to show my emotions but also the model's. I often only show the beauty of the naked body through details. The body is not just the head, chest, and bottom. Man is so diverse. I value the whole thing very much. One should see how many beautiful things the body consists of. Feet, hands, and little wrinkles and birthmarks. One can show emotions by the position of the hands or the feet. I am on this path right now. I don't want to leave this either. Maybe drive a little to the left or right.
In recent years you have participated with your instant photographs in numerous exhibitions. What can you tell us about these events?
I got lucky. I met another Polaroid photographer at a shooting. We only knew each other from the internet. It was a very good and interesting conversation. That was in 2017. We stayed in touch. I kept doing my thing. In 2018 I was asked by him if I would like to be part of an exhibition in Arles in southern France. I was thrilled and of course, I said yes. It was a wonderful experience. There are group exhibitions and it is not uncommon for visitors to come to the exhibitions and ask about my photos. You finally get to know the photographers personally, who you only know from the internet. It's wonderful to have become part of the Polaroid family in such a short time. So far my pictures have hung in Cologne, Arles, Bologna, and Paris. It's a great feeling.
Please share with us your favorite photographers you admire, why, and how did they influence your photographic journey?
I don't have a favorite photographer. I follow some photographers and also models on Instagram. I like to be inspired and I find myself in some pictures. You are constantly changing, the style is changing. The most important thing is that the emotional situation changes and with it the way you look at the pictures. There are many photographers who have accompanied me on my journey and will continue to accompany and inspire me.
How do you imagine the evolution of your artistic work and your figure as an artist in the future?
The question is not easy to answer. I haven't taken any pictures of models since the summer. I will work a little less, but more intensively. I photographed a self-portrait series on Polaroid. But it shouldn't stay that way. It will continue in November. In the future, I see myself as a Polaroid and analogue photographer. Maybe with my own studio to pass on my knowledge and technique to other photographers.