Photography: Normen Gadiel
Normen Gadiel's muted and haunting landscapes are an insight into the vast beauty of northern Europe as well as into this German photographer's own deep reverence for nature. Despite being a self-proclaimed "Self-Portrait Addict", his eye for the drama of open spaces really made us catch our breath! Take a look at his work and read what he had to say below:
Q: What got you interested in taking photos? A: I began photographing ambitiously as I became aware of the photographs produced by Alex Stoddard on Flickr. The kind of photographs I saw inspired me to take self portraits.
Q: What is your background with art?
A: There is no direct background with art in my life. But I have always loved to look at pieces of art which were created by others. Going out of your comfort zone and creating your own stuff is a nice way of individual fulfillment.
Q: What locations are your landscapes taken in?
A: Most of the photographs are from Iceland - a wonderful place on our Earth. So much nature and just a few people makes this place special. The other photographs are from Norway and Bavaria (Germany).
Q: What do you find inspiring about these areas? A: I like the calm mood in these areas. When you get to a region which is mostly untouched by humans it gives you the feeling of being free; you can't get that feeling in a populated area.
Q: Where's a place you dream of photographing one day?
A: I think there are several places I would like to go. On my list are countries like New Zealand, Canada, and Indonesia. The beauty of the nature in these countries makes me feel humbled about the environment. It's a pity that you can't go there without harming nature.
Q: What would you say your overall style of imagery is? What kind of feeling do you aim to give the viewer? A: I try to capture the mood I described before in my photographs. I like to see the landscapes with as little influence as possible by human beings.
Thanks for talking to us, Normen--we hope you do get a chance to come photograph Canada someday!
Check out more of his work at the links below:
Website
Flickr
Tumblr