MPB Meets: Landscape Photographer Nina Papiorek

Freelance landscape photographer and graphic designer Nina Papiorek speaks to us about her background, Canon setup and black and white photography.

MPB: How did you get into photography? 

NP: My first contact with analogue photography was actually during my school days in a photo club. Everything was there, from manual focusing to film development. I started with digital photography in 2007, when I bought a camera for my graduation. Since then, I've been shooting exclusively digital, but there have been longer personal breaks from photography over the years.

MPB: How did you decide to photograph in black and white? Is there any particular reason for this?

NP: The only reason is that black and white gives the images a special aesthetic in my eyes. It's just a deeply rooted personal preference that I have a hard time explaining. I like to design my photos extremely minimalistic and work a lot with lines, the black and white implementation further emphasises these aspects. However, there are of course also subjects or moods that really only work in colour. These just rather rarely find a way into my portfolio.

MPB: With your architecture photos, you have the feeling you are alone in the world. What do you want to tell with these unique shots?

NP: Architecture has always fascinated me. In my next life, I will probably architect. However, I often miss that certain something in pure architecture shots, so I love to show the contrast of the grand buildings and the small people in my street photography. It’s not just about clarifying proportions, but also about conveying how lost an individual can seem in an urban environment. Thematically, ‘Loneliness’ fits very well with the current coronavirus pandemic, but the series has existed for much longer. For the most part, it takes a lot of patience and willpower to wait for that one shot. However, when taking pictures I can totally switch off and like to wait. Even longer. Or more often. 

MPB: Your landscape shots are often taken when it's cloudy. Does this have a certain influence on your shots?

NP: Basically, I believe that you can create good photos in any weather and lighting conditions. I actually never let the light influence me, which of course has to do with the fact that I like to take pictures while travelling and then you have to accept light/weather on location as it is, since you only have a limited amount of time. However, I’ve never been particularly drawn to fair-weather photography. I’d choose dramatic clouds over a cliché sunset any day.

MPB: What camera and equipment do you use? And how important is equipment to you as a photographer?

NP: I currently shoot with a Canon EOS R mirrorless, but used my now almost 15-year-old Canon EOS 5D Mark IIIuntil last summer. New technology always fascinates me, however, it is also often completely overrated - everything has its place though. You should always bear in mind what you need for your photography. In sports photography, for example, the technical requirements are very different from mine. All my lenses are from Canon. I also use various filters, particularly ND filters for landscape photography.

MPB: Do you have a photographer and graphic designer who inspires or has inspired you in photography?

NP: When I started, I was actually quite unfamiliar with this field, but I found my style that way and defined it based on my preferences and my own sense of aesthetics.

Today I admire many photographers, I love Fan Ho and Vivian Maier.

MPB: How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected you in your work or travel?

NP: Like everyone else, of course, a lot was on hold. However, the pandemic taught me to explore my immediate surroundings and nearby cities more than I otherwise would have. It also makes you deeply appreciate your privileges and opportunities (like freedom to travel) and not take them for granted. I have often had similar experiences while travelling. For example, seeing people in India without sturdy shoes helps to look at your own life from the right perspective.

MPB: Do you have a project you are working on at the moment?

NP: Especially my series "Urban Architecture", which shows modern architecture in connection with a person, is an ongoing project that is very close to my heart at the moment. It consists of individual images from different locations, and I hope to keep developing new ideas and expanding the series.

Thanks, Nina. You can see more of Nina Papiorek’s work on Instagram @ninapapiorek

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