Interview with Fine Art photographer Linus Bergman | MONOVISIONS

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2024

– How and when did you become interested in photography?

I picked up my first camera in a darkroom class about 10 years ago, it was a surreal feeling to feel this handcraft, and go out in our little town to create.
Still it wasn’t until I turned 19, I started get interested in the art form. I went out traveling in Asia that change the whole game, I couldn’t stop talking pictures. In more recent years I do not shoot as much, I don’t pick up the camera at home, it only follows with me on trips and trips only.

– Is there any artist/photographer who inspired your art?

In the early stages I was really influenced and inspired by several photographers, (I still am) like Michael Kenna, witch was one of the first photographers/artists I was exposed to, he’s work of Huangshan Mountains inspired me to get a camera and start to travel and explore the unknown, also Josef Hoflenher, ReD Ognita and several others.

Now in later days I’ve noticed I look less at other photographers work, especially online, but then again, I really enjoy going on exhibitions and looking at prints. Prints and books are more relevant and a bigger inspiration to me now a days.

– Why do you work in black and white rather than color?

Well, haha. As many others say and I to think, black and white speaks differently to me then color work. I think many photographers color work is beautiful, and I it inspires me, but for me I’m looking for something slightly less realistic. I don’t need my work to be true to what are and I don’t need to document and interpret the colors of the daily life, cause it’s there everyday. We see it just by opening our eyes. So I shoot black and white in search for a different feeling, to get a timeless atmosphere, that could have been photographed now or fifty years ago.

– How much preparation do you put into taking a photograph/series of photographs?

The Planning before a trip is pretty basic, I always look on Google Earth for areas to shoot, and looking pictures on Internet to get an idea of the landscape is also common. When I get to places I usually talk to the locals, asking for advice and taking long walks to get a perspective of the place.

I also like to come out of the comfort zone, making the trip more of an adventure. It can be everything from choosing a bike instead of car, to throw yourself out on a small fishing boat or climb up mountains.

A slow worker I am. I don’t need the speed we usually have in our daily life. For now, with using long exposure, with several ND-filters, the speed is everything from half a second to an hour. It really calms me down. Being out in nature using this technique, it feels almost like a session of meditation. I work in digital, both out in the field and home, but looking moving into film soon. Even if this creative process suits me now.

– Where is your photography going? What projects would you like to accomplish?

My photography is going forward, my brother and I are just in the end of making my first homepage. I also made and sold my first prints, in collaboration with Red Ognita, and his new business RedLab witch feels really good! I have thoughts start selling more of my work. So I’m happy about the future but I’m still young and I don’t want to rush anything.

Trips wise and photo opportunities is under the making, I’m going to continue projects here in Norway where I live at the moment, and also projects in Sweden during this year. Next major project witch hopefully starts this autumn is a bicycle trip that gone take me a couple of months trough the coasts of Denmark, Germany, France and the end goal of Spain.

Website: www.bergmanphotography.se