Adam Neuba
1. Can you introduce yourself and talk about how you got into photography?
I’m a 43 years old photographer and artist based in Paderborn, Germany. About 10 years ago, I made my first attempts at photography. Mainly portrait photography of my children. For quite a while I had no specific photographic orientation and tried out many genres. In the course of time, I discovered my passion for the small and inconspicuous things in our world and specialized in close-up and macro photography.
2. Where did you study photography?
I'm a self-taught photographer.
3. Do you remember your first shot? What was it?
This is difficult to answer and unfortunately, I can't remember the first photo.
4. What equipment do you use?
I currently work with the Nikon D850 and numerous Nikon lenses with different fixed focal lengths. My accessories also include a tripod, cross slides, scissor table, larger and smaller lifts, various lamps, and self-made diffusion filters.
5. What do you hope to achieve?
An own exhibition would of course be a highlight. But it gives me great pleasure to enthuse people for my vision of photography, to inspire them and to open up new perspectives for them.
6. What compliment inspired/touched you the most?
You can't get a bigger compliment as an artist and I was very happy about it:
"You have a distinctive style, keep it, because it is a part of you".
7. What inspires your unique storytelling?
As a scientist and chemist, my main task for many years was almost a passion to develop and synthesise novel complex compounds at the molecular level. But it is probably just a coincidence that I now plan and implement minimalist compositions as an amateur artist in the field of macro or close-up photography.
Basically, my image ideas are almost always driven by the challenge of photographing something "new". Developing a photographic scene from scratch, building it up and staging it with light in an aesthetic way is simply a great feeling. So there are definitely parallels to molecular design in the lab: it is often the new and unknown that excites me.
8. What THREE (3) words describe your photography style?
Surreal, aesthetics, unconventional.
9. Congratulations! As the winner of the London Photography Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?
This was my first time entering the "London Photography Awards" and I am very pleased to receive the honour.
An award like this is incredibly motivating and shows that your photography is more than just pictures; it's like a language that you have developed and the “communication” with the viewers seems to work quite well.
10. Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2022 London Photography Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?
My project "Symbiosis 4.0 - Nature meets Technics" shows a selection of images that most closely represent my vision of photography.
The concept behind "Nature meets Technics" is to juxtapose delicate and small creatures from nature with industrially manufactured parts, e.g. made of steel. This is a contrast in almost every respect, almost a provocation. To my astonishment, however, an aesthetically harmonious unity emerged from each composition. Nature and technology merge here into a kind of photographic symbiosis.
11. How has winning an award developed your career?
I would just be happy if the award would help to increase my prestige in the photographic community.
12. Name 1-3 photographers who have inspired you.
Frank Loddenkemper and Levon Biss.
13. What was the best piece of advice you were given starting out, by a mentor or your role model?
Figuratively: believe in yourself and your vision.
14. What advice would you give someone who would like to become a photographer today?
Be creative and develop your own personal style. Photography should be fun - but it is also hard work.
15. What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Focus on your goal, a high frustration threshold is essential, always be critical and honest with yourself.
16. How do you stay in that space of being receptive to new information and knowledge?
I am a curious person. But I think the crucial question nowadays is: how do you select and filter the abundance of information and knowledge according to truth, usefulness and your own needs.
17. Anything else you would like to add to the interview?
Thank you for your interest in my pictures. If you would like to see more, please visit my page: https://www.adams-artgallery.com
