WhiteWall Art Market: Photographer portraits - Claudia Drossert

Claudia Drossert is a hopeless romantic who wants to awaken desires and longings with her pictures, thereby generating warmth and harmony. Her works are reduced and reserved, but always present thanks to their special charisma. Due to her eventful life, as she herself says, she has learned to use her emotions and moods, to channel them and then to convert them into something meaningful and creative.

It was during a time in her life when the photographer from Leipzig was reorienting herself and leaving old things behind that she came across her digital camera again. Initially, she photographed simple floral motifs, but soon she started to deal with the theory and technique of digital photography intensively. After a while of hard saving, Claudia Drossert bought herself her first reflex camera, the Nikon D40, which she still uses today.

From the start, her passion has been still lifes, which she turns into nostalgic pictures depending on her mood until they have an almost surreal character. The natural aspect of her motifs always remains in the foreground. Landscapes, flowers and nature are the core of her work and her drive. Claudia Drossert's still lifes also show that it is possible to design and photograph brilliant compositions with little cost using small objects which can be found at flea markets, for example. This is even possible without a big studio or much equipment - it is the ideas and the imagination that are important, and the photographer from Leipzig has plenty of both.

Aside from her conceptional pictures, Claudia Drossert mostly works intuitively, from her current mood, which always influences her works and editing technique. For this reason, she often cannot predict what the final result on the computer will be or which motif she will photograph or edit tomorrow or the day after. Each one of her finished works is unique and reflects her feelings, which she wants to share with others and not to hide.

When she sold her first picture to a big company, only a year after buying her Nikon, she knew that the path that she has taken not only suited her interests and her character, but was also a way to financial success. 15 of her excellent works are now available on the Art Market on WhiteWall, the response to the pictorial tenderness of her works is positive throughout. The motifs and the moods in her pictures are emphasised even more through the different production variants of her works. The premium UV print on canvas promotes and emphasises the haptic aspect of the work, the pictures seem almost like nostalgic paintings.

Claudia Drossert resolved to create her first exhibition in 2011 - in the end she managed three and the positive response from the buyers was overwhelming. She does not yet know what the new year will bring, but she is looking forward to each day and each new opportunity. Stuck in a rut is one thing that the single mother is not, to the contrary - after all, you can capture all the best facets of life in movement.

Interview with Claudia Drossert

When we talk about photography, is it a hobby or a passion for you?

My photography is an attitude to life for me. I take photographs almost every day. It had become a fixed and important part of my everyday life.

What led you to become a photographer and how long have you been consciously involved in photography?

I developed a serious interest in photography after my divorce two years ago. I bought myself a Nikon and it just happened, I was smitten. Smiles every day - good photos every day. That was my motto. It was more of a subconscious thing though, because I really enjoyed taking good pictures.

Looking at your works on the WhiteWall Art Market, there are lots of flower and blossom compositions - are they your favourite motif?

I am particularly interested in still lifes of any kind. I think that is probably because you can come across a still life just about anywhere. You just have to look carefully. I go to the flea market and look for an old used porcelain piece and place it across from something new - it's nice and easy.

What other photography subjects appeal to you?

I like photographing landscapes and nature. Especially the North Sea or the Baltic. I like the raw climate and try to capture it in my pictures. Little short trips have also become extremely important to me in order to continually find new stimuli. I fascinates me to photograph landscapes according to my ideas and then to edit them on the computer depending on my mood at the time.

Your works on the WhiteWall Art Market bear a truly distinctive signature, they are very nostalgic, playful and romantic. How would you describe your style?

A friend recently said to me that I create harmonies with my pictures. I think that's it - I want to create beautiful, harmonious pictures that are good for the soul. I am a romantic, but I take special care to make sure that my pictures aren't kitsch.

What does a professional photo lab have to achieve in order to convince you?

As I predominantly work with textures and post-editing, the reproduction of the colours of my pictures is extremely important. When I edit a picture to my mood on the computer, I of course then want it to look exactly the same on a photographic print or on a canvas.

And what was it that convinced you to work with WhiteWall?

The price-performance ratio and the presentation of my pictures on WhiteWall.de completely convinced me. I see a company that puts serious thought into print production and it really is fun to work with professionals. I also love the fast shipping time.

Your work really almost looks like paintings, it would especially lend itself to canvas refining, wouldn't it?

Absolutely - I always recommend a canvas print to my customers first. The structure of the canvas is often very appropriate and the nostalgic character of the picture is retained.

What other refinement versions suit your work?

On the one hand, I think that a photo print under acrylic glass is especially suited to my photos due to the brilliance of the colours. And, although it sounds a little unusual, I would like to try printing on cardboard on a mounting plate. This makes it possible to arrange as many pictures as you like without too much effort. It looks very good for small photo series or exhibition.

When did you decide to present your work to the WhiteWall jury and to use the Art Market?

I have been supplying my photos via the Art Market since 2010 and I always find it exciting to see whether the jury will accept my works or not. I find the quality of the Art Market very appealing and I like it that not every picture is accepted.

Which camera equipment do you work with?

I take photographs using the Nikon D40 reflex camera and the Sigma 18-200 mm, 3.5 - 6.3 DC objective including built-in motor. I love Nikon. The camera is easy to use and lies nicely in my hand. We are the perfect couple!

Do you have a role model in photography?

As I concentrate on still lifes, I consider the Dutch old masters more as my role models than famous photographers.

Which of your skills benefits you most in photography?

I would say my creativity.

What do you absolutely have to be able to do as a photographer?

Be patient. Which is not my greatest strength, but I am practising. You also have to train your eye.

Can you learn photography or is it based more on talent?

I consider myself to be an artist. The technical side of my photography is less important to me. Talent, however, is absolutely essential, as is taking pleasure in new things. There is a saying "practice makes perfect" - I completely agree. When I consider the development of my pictures, I see that I have learnt a lot as far as the technical side is concerned. You also have to be able to take criticism and, even more importantly, not lose this ability.

What motifs are you not at all interested in?

Sport photography and cars of any kind..

If you could choose anything: Is there a dream motif that you would like to work on? A specific person, a situation or a landscape?

I would like to do a series of portraits at a train station. I find train stations fascinating, with all the people and emotions. So many stories taking place there every day, definitely worth a photo series. I would also really love to photograph Irish and English gardens. That would be the best good deed for my romantic soul.

If you look to the future - what will your work look like in 5 or 10 years?

I can't predict that. When I look at my pictures from last year, I can see a significant change. This will continue to develop from year to year. I am currently very consciously working with strong colours and contrasts. Maybe there will come a time when I prefer to work in black and white. Art is one of nature's moods, it is a temporary gift which cannot be calculated in time.