Interview with Daniel Heilig

Can you tell us a bit about how you became a photographer? And tell us something about your images.

When it comes to photography, I am completely self-taught. My first “camera” was actually the iPhone 3Gs. Back then, I really enjoyed capturing my everday life and travels in a playful way ‒ it was this casual snapping without the need for technical knowledge.

At the time, the photo community on Instagram was very active, with various challenges and communities focused on topics like architecture, travel, street photography, colors, and minimalism. This really helped me to understand the fundamental elements of good photography and to develop my own style.

Over time, I realized that photography was a great medium for me to express my creativity and it also helped me a lot to better understand my own personality.

Please tell us more about your images (what is your special interest, how do you choose the colors, the composition, the themes, etc.)? Where does this interest come from?

Photo: Daniel Heilig - The brown ArtBox made of alder wood harmoniously picks up on the color scheme of the motif. In combination with the photo print on aluminum Dibond, a modern, natural look is created.

Oh, so much plays into it! Fundamentally, I am driven by a constant curiosity to discover new things. I also find it hard to categorize myself ‒ even though I document a lot during my travels, I wouldn't call myself a travel photographer. I’m far too restless for that; I need variety and freedom, and I believe this creates a very exciting stylistic mix.

On one hand, I have a deep longing for aesthetic beauty: harmonious colors, simplicity, clear visual language through clever composition, lines, proportions, shapes, etc. On the other hand, I would describe myself as a “quiet photographer” ‒ using my iPhone often allows me to photograph unnoticed, capturing everyday moments with people authentically.

In this setup, I observe my surroundings, set “visual guidelines” for my aesthetic needs, and try to capture random or fleeting moments within them. It’s a very dynamic process, but this is how situations arise that sometimes seem abstract or surreal ‒ sometimes like a painting, sometimes like a computer-generated rendering.

What do you want to evoke in viewers with your project?

Photo: Daniel Heilig - Produced as a Fine Art pigment print, the motif becomes an extravagant design object thanks to the golden aluminum ArtBox.

I believe that in today's world, we are overwhelmed by abundance ‒ and that applies to photography as well. Visual impressions are extremely saturated; for example, we've all seen the Eiffel Tower dozens of times in our social media feeds, right?

I don't want to criticize that ‒ exploring and discovering the world is incredibly exciting and a special privilege! However, my goal for my images is to take a different angle or perspective and to create an atmosphere that offers new visual stimuli.

I'm happy if I succeed in inspiring viewers to perhaps discover the world through different eyes.

What generally inspires you, and what specifically inspired you for this series?

Inspiration is constantly changing. A few years ago, my images were very much focused on my travels. I wanted to capture the vastness, the distance, and a certain exoticism. But eventually, I honestly grew a bit bored with my style, and I think there was also a creative pause where I needed to accept this change. Nowadays, I'm much more interested in the small peculiarities of everyday and mundane moments. You don't always have to travel far to capture interesting moments, and it gives me great pleasure to show others the special humor and/or beauty we are surrounded by every day.

And what inspires you ‒ films, books, magazines? Or your surroundings?

Photo: Daniel Heilig - The Oslo frame in the white maple color variant sets a clear boundary to the night motif and draws the eye to the sophisticated composition. Glossy acrylic glass gives the photo additional depth.

Everything! I’m also a musician and designer, so I get to experience interdisciplinary inspiration. That’s very helpful and yet sometimes overwhelming. A lot happens unconsciously and with a time delay; I think inspiration and creativity have something almost cosmic about them ‒ you can’t always direct them. I've learned that I want to free myself from any kind of expectations.

Ultimately, it’s about discovering and continuously developing your own style. For example, I often get inspired by the composition of good films ‒ I recently watched the drama Sing Sing and was fascinated that it was shot entirely on 16 mm film. That made me think that I should take out my analog Canon again. Then there are exciting print and online magazines whose style I find very edgy ‒ they constantly push the boundaries of photography and shape contemporary photography. I just let it all wash over me and trust my creativity to filter what sticks.

What are your plans for the rest of the day?

Today is Sunday, and usually I take a walk to clear my head. I'm also currently preparing for two exhibitions at Milan Design Week, which takes place at the beginning of April, so there’s still a lot to do in the studio!