Last Updated on 07/01/2016 by Chris Gampat
All images by Kim Høltermand. Used with permission. In a pervious version of this article, we referred to Kim as a woman. Kim is actually a man, and we apologize for this mistake.
“They get me and my camera and my vision.” says photographer Kim Høltermand. “I think that is a thousand times stronger than some 20 year old hip surferdude with a 450 Megapixel large format camera thingy.” Indeed, his experience speaks for itself.
He started out with taking photos and posting them on Behance in 2007, then skyrocketed to fame getting featured in endless blogs, books and magazines around the world and getting to work with clients such as Apple, Behance, HTC, Bosideng, Erik MAgnussen Design, Aether Apparel just to name a few.
Interestingly enough, he gets a lot of inspiration from music.
Phoblographer: Talk to us about how you got into photography.
Kim: In 2008 I bought my first DSLR and started shooting everyday stuff – I had always had a thing for photography so I jumped into that field and got myself a Canon EOS 350D which even got my work on the cover of Baumeister some time after.
Phoblographer: What made you want to get into architecture and urban geometry?
Kim: The same year I moved into a house where a couple of landscape architects used to live and they that subscribed to endless amounts of architectural magazines but to my fortune not ended those subscriptions so I started reading them and architecture grew in my head and heart. On top of that I used to work as a graphic designer so I have always had a thing for lines, minimalism and so on.
Phoblographer: Much of your work is about lines, the specific use of colors in areas, and contrast. What typically influences you to create images in this way? Were there any specific photographers?
Kim: I get my inspiration from a lot of places I use of lot of time gazing images from fields of fashion, art, music, you name it – most of my work started as fractions of inspiration from other people. But it helps that I am super creative and know what I want and dont want. I feel that I have found my own style which is a very big deal in a work where everyone copies everyone and everything.
Phoblographer: Because of this creative vision that you have, what steps do you take to ensure that your work doesn’t look or feel repetitive?
Kim: It really comes naturally also due to the fact I can get something out of anything. Ordinary things you walk right by on your way to work can be of big interest for me to make into my world
Phoblographer: When someone hires you to create images of buildings, what do they typically know that they’re getting? What selling points about your images make them unique to you and your creative vision?
Kim: I think I have a completely unique style. People don’t get huge light setups, endless amounts of gear and assistants and so on. They get me and my camera and my vision. I think that is a thousand times stronger than some 20 year old hip surferdude with a 450 Megapixel largeformat camera thingy. At the end of the day I still kick his ass 😉
Phoblographer: When do you feel are the best times to shoot? What questions do you typically ask yourself before you go into a shoot?
Kim: Weather used to play a big part of my work, especially fog but more recent I have begun to like sunshine (never thought I would say that) but as everything else you change over time. But I take pictures in almost every weather. But I have also tried a lot of times suing gasoline and time and getting back with nothing. Its just the game of photography.
Phoblographer: Talk to us about the gear that you use.
Kim: I mostly shoot with a Sony A7, a vintage Pentax SMC 50 mm f/1.7 lens or Canon 17-40 mm L lens. Strongly considering getting into medium and large format photography.
Phoblographer: You’ve been shooting for many years now, how do you plan on making your work progress and evolve at all?
Kim: Hopefully I will keep shooting amazing stuff and getting better and better as I have over the years – having a huge network of fans and followers keeps me optimistic and if I could give everyone of them a huge hug and say thank you I would. Their support means everything to me.