Interview – Daniel Gebhart de Koekkoek
We spotted Daniel’s work floating around the internet a while ago and subsequently featured a selection of work from his Molybdan project…
Impressed by his imagery and approach to photography, we decided to drop him a few questions to find out a little more…
Can you please introduce yourself? What is your age? Where are you from, and what is your current role within the photographic industry?
My name is Daniel Gebhart de Koekkoek, I’m currently living in Vienna, Austria and I will turn 30 in a few months. I’m a freelance portrait and reportage photographer.
You interned for Magnum in 2008, how did that opportunity arise, and what affects did this have on your outlook as a photographer?
I just applied as an intern at Magnum photos, New York. A few weeks later I got the job. I spent three months at the Magnum office and was happy to have seen so many great photographs and meet some of the Magnum photographers.
We recently featured work from your Molybdan project as I was drawn to the natural inquisitiveness that appears present in your imagery...As an assigned shoot, did you have any limits or restrictions to what you could produce?
I did not have any restrictions or limits for this shoot as long as I covered the story, I only got restricted by my own physical limits for this assignment. We had to climb the mountain two times. On the first day to take pictures of the station and on the second day we had to run up the other side to photograph inside the stake. It was about a two thousand meter altitude difference and my feet bled when I got back in town.
Travel and adventure seem to be a re-occurring theme throughout your photographs, is this a product of your photography, or does your photography become a product of your travels?
Both.
You recently exhibited your series, Wintercamper, What was the premise of the project, and why did you feel compelled to document the wintercampers?
St. Moritz is one of the most extravagant places on earth. When I went there to photograph rich Russian people I came by this cute camping site. They got my attention immediately and I forgot about the Russians. It fascinated me to see them camping in the winter in such a place and I was curious to listen to their story. So I started to photograph them and came back again to stay overnight in a caravan as well. Fleisch magazine made a nice article about this story.
In terms of genre, where do you place your photographic output?
Portrait, documentary, reportage
Do you have any major projects, events or exhibitions in the pipeline?
Yes, I’m shooting a lot in garages at the moment for a new project and will soon launch a project called “FJORDS on paper”.
If you want to take a look at more of Daniel’s work, check out Gebhart.dk
