Our first ever interview at Howitookit.com is with a German guy named Thomas Wuhrer. Ever since he picked up his first lomo camera in 2004 he has been in love with photography. Thomas has an excellent eye for photography and if you Google his name you will see that he has been featured a whole lot of places.

With neither one of us with English as a first language, we set out to do an interview. First let us have a look at some of his photos:

Click any photo to enlarge it!

Hi Thomas. Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started with photography?

Ok! My Name is Thomas Wuhrer and I’m 30 years old guy who live in Tübingen, Germany. I have been interested in “art” since I was 12 years old. That was the time we started doing cool stuff at school – like drawing, painting and other things. I liked it so much that I was drawing different things in nearly every minute.

My favourite were comics. After a few years I started doing these things with airbrush and graffitti. At least combining all things together. In 2004 my sister gave me a lomo camera (this plastic-thing with 4 lenses) and I started to experiment with it. It was so fun that I decided to buy myself a digital camera, because I read that you could “change” this picures after taken it on computer. That’s exactly what I wanted to do. That’s how it all started…

How would you describe your own style of photography?

Funky, different, unnatural but natural, cool, fresh, free, freaky, lyrical, real. I find it very complicated for me to describe this in words. Especially in English. Why don’t you rather just have a look at my photos and tell me what my style is?

What kind of equipment do you normally use when doing a shoot?

Normally I use my Canon EOS 40D with the following lenses and light:

• Canon 50mm f1.4
• Sigma 10-20mm f3.5-5.6
• Sigma 10mm fisheye
• Canon 530ex flashlight

I don’t have a favourite lens at the moment. What lens I choose really depends on what picture I want to take. My favourite location is outdoors, because I like the natural daylight. I normally try not to use any flash, but that also depends on how I want the picture to look like. With the two Sigma lenses I do need the flash, because my distance to the model is so close (in most cases) that I “block” the light from her/him.

How important is Photoshop for your final images?

Photoshop is very important to me! This program is the reason why I decided to create digital and not analog pictures. It makes about 60% of my work. It helps me beeing more creative and makes the picures look like I want them to.

Are you a Mac or PC guy?

I am a PC-guy. I’ve used it from the beginning and I’m very satisfied with it. There is no reason for me to change the system because I don’t know any pros and cons between both systems. And you never stop a running system.

What has been your most memorable assignment and why?

Actually, I haven’t had any assignments yet. I just do whatever I want to do and so far every shoot as been like a “WOW” to me. I like to “work” with different kinds of people and that’s exactly what people-photography gives to me.

Do you have any dream scenarios in relation to photography? A dream assignment in other words.,

Is there anyone out there who doesn’t have this scenario in her/his head? I don’t think so. Anybody who makes “art” has things like this in her/his head. And somedays you will have the idea how you can make this dream-scenario “reality”. I do have many of them and the results will follow in the future.

What is your favourite image that you have shot recently? Can you describe their creation in regards to location, lighting, composition, camera settings etc, also your thoughts when creating the images and what they mean to you?

I don’t have one favourite image. I like all the picures I take and present on the web equally. Otherwise I wouldn’t show them. In most cases I have an idea of what the picture will look like and then I choose the suitable location, lens and so on. Sometimes I just start taking pictures and see what the output is. I have no pressure behind that. I just feel free to do what I want.

So on to some business talk. Are you a part-time or full-time photographer?

Neither. I do this just for fun. Taking pictures is my hobby and I don’t take money for that. Well, sometimes I get a few bucks because the person I made the picures for liked the result, but it wouldn’t be enough to finance my life. 

The only thing I get money for are my photoshop-coachings. I don’t do this very often and its mostly just a “bonus” for me to buy some more photography related stuff.

If not a photographer, what would you have been?

I’m not a photographer.  I work as a model/mould–maker.

One of the things I love about these kinds of interviews is that I get to pick other photographers brains. For every interview I learn something new that makes me a better photographer. What advice would you have to others just starting out with photography?

Don’t try to copy anyone’s style, rather try finding your own. Be critical with yourself. Always try to be the best. Have fun with what you do. Don’t spend too much money on your equipment, as it is you who take the pictures and do all the work, not the equipment.

Are there any photographers that inspire you?

No. My inspiration comes from music and movies.

Is there anything you would have done differently during your photographic career?

Well its not a career, but if I can say this: NO WAY DUDE! I am very happy with what I have done so far.

Last question: What can we expect from your next shot?

That will have to be a surprise : )

Click any photo to enlarge it!

If you want to get in touch with Thomas, maybe to offer him some paid work, get in touch with him using his website.

To finish the interview off, we include a few more images from his portfolio..

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