When I first saw Loreen’s photographs I was blown away by them. They are very direct and raw, touching you directly at your core. They are not beautifying anything, just real and genuine emotions, straight from the heart. Which makes them also extremely powerful. Because they need no words to tell their story.
For the following I asked Loreen if she wants to do an interview with me:
Luna Maluna Gri: Tell me a bit about yourself and your work.
Loreen Reschke: I‘m a sensible person and an overthinker. Every word, every action is going to be analyzed by me. I’m working hard at living in the now. Maybe sometimes a bit too much. It’s often hard for me, except when I’m photographing. When I’m photographing only that one moment counts, the next beautiful photo I’m going to take. A feeling of pure bliss is then forming inside me. About my work, I’d say it is a journey. A journey, which is letting me grow and telling stories.
LMG: How and why did you start photography ?
LR: Someday I snatched the old digital camera from my mum, just because I was bored, and took photos of my sister. That sparked my interest in photography and every time when someone in school would ask us what we wanted to be when we’re grown up, I always answered photographer. After my high school diploma, I immediately went to an art school and did an internship at a photographic studio. And the result? I completely lost all interest in photography and quit art school and the internship. I was disappointed that I didn’t get to be as creative as I wanted to be. We were so restricted in creating art that I rather quit everything and instead started working in a retail shop, selling cameras. It took about three years that I came in contact with photographing again. I think it was in 2016 when a photographer contacted me. He asked if I wanted to be in front of his camera. He knew perfectly how the catch the light when photographing and combined me and the environment in a perfect photograph. He was so free in his art, photographed how he wanted to, without rules and restrictions. After that I knew, that’s how I want to photograph too. It took almost a year but when I myself photographed at my first photo shooting, the journey began.
LMG: What role does photography play for you?
LR: Photography means a lot to me. I once worked in a very small office and as soon as I was done with work for the day, I set out with my camera. It was an escape from my everyday life. As I said before, when I’m photographing I’m in the here and now and am able to forget stress, appointments, work, etc. for a few hours.
LMG: What is your experience with the art world?
LR: Instagram is not far apart when we talk about photography. I’m very thankful for this Social Media platform because I was able to get to know so many new people and build connections through it. I’m still doing it that way. But I think it’s a real shame that many artworks by amazing artists get disregarded. I would be happy if we would take more time to really look at the artworks of artists and appreciate them.
LMG: Is there something you want to change about the art world? If yes, what and why?
LR: I think I already partly answered that question. But I would be happy if we perceive art differently again. To not measure the success of artists on how many publications and likes they get, but to take our time for artwork, to really look at it and then decide if we like what we are seeing or not. Just because someone gets over 1000 likes on a photo doesn’t mean that it has to be a good photo or something that I like.
LMG: What do you think is/are the role/-s of artists and art in our society?
LR: Artists allow us to enter other worlds but can also bring us back to the present. This thought goes often through my head. For example, at first, I see an amazing photograph then I keep scrolling and then see a photo of refugees fighting for their life. I think everyone should find their own way what you want to let people know and what to show them. I personally see artists as enlighteners, storytellers, agitators, hosts, and shapeshifters. The list could go on infinitely.
LMG: What does your creating process look like?
LR: Chaos! Of course not only chaos. And I think everyone who has worked with me so far would never suggest that it was chaotic to work with me. However, if I have a creative boost or am in the flow then it’s like bubbling in my head and sometimes it gets so intense that I have to take a deep breath. Usually, I then start in quiet with the planning of a project but then I’m quickly in this chaotic situation again and plan everything at the same time. For me, it always helps to create mood boards. That way I have some kind of overview. But still, the chaos in my head is quickly present again (laughs).
LMG: What inspires you?
LR: I’m inspired by a lot of things. It may be a great movie I have seen or I met a person which inspires me. Or I think about how I can, for example, portray a certain feeling in a photograph. Fashion inspires me, music, going for a walk in the evening sun, my everyday life, just life in general. Of course, there are also a lot of other photographers who inspire me but those inspire me more in pictorial design or in editing than in finding an idea for a project.
LMG: What artist/artists would you like to meet (dead or alive) and if you had one question what would you ask them?
LR: I would like to meet Peter Lindbergh. But I think I would be very nervous and would not be able to ask any questions. I would like to be at one of his shootings and just watch how he works.
LMG: What does a normal creating day look like for you?
LR: I think on most days I create something, plan a new shoot, edit photos, etc. Rarely a day goes by where I don’t get in contact with photography. What a lot of people always assume, and I take that as a compliment, is that I’m a full – time photographer. I am not. It is my biggest passion but I have to earn money so most of the time I am at my office job, sitting between papers, telephone and notepads and planning my new photo series beside my office work. At the shooting itself I just enjoy a few hours of pure creativity, to talk with models, stylists, etc. and to create wonderful photos together.
LMG: What is something you can’t create without?
LR: As unromantic as it is, my phone. On my phone I plan everything. From outfits through to locations. I communicate with models, bookers or stylists, I create mood boards, all on my phone. When I have an idea I write it down in the note app. When I’m at a place which would fit as a photo location, I’m quickly taking some pictures. My phone is always with me. At shootings it is providing music and I’m also filming some ‘behind the scenes’ material.
LMG: Is there something you want to achieve in your art life? Dreams? Future plans? Or projects you would like to do?
LR: I have a lot of dreams and plans. But what I really want to do is to organize a garden party, with good wine, great food, and great light. I would invite my friends, family, and colleagues and exhibit my photographs. I’m always very self-critical with my artworks, even devaluate them and it would be a big challenge for me to show my artworks that way. Nevertheless, I want to leave my comfort zone and meet them with this respect. I hope that in the near future I can put this plan into action.
LMG: What was the reason for you to become an artist (if there is a specific one)?
LR: I never planned to change the world, to educate, to reach as many people as possible, with my photographs. I started photography out of pure joy. Only over the years, I learned what effects photography can have. But still, I would say, I do my passion out of joy and to come and stay in contact with other great people. Being creative together is just the most beautiful thing ever.
