Martin Ecker ... loves photos with backlight

Taking a look at central Europe again these days we discovered the pictures of Martin Ecker. He is a semi professional photographer from the north of Austria, based in Linz. You might already have seen some of his photos in our article "autumn impressions", that we published before Christmas. Today we like to show you more of his beautiful photos and introduce Martin to you with an interview, we held with him some days ago.

Martin, please tell us a little bit about yourself to begin with. (How old are you, Where were you born and where do you live now, What is your profession and do you have other besides photography?
I am 30 years old, coming from Linz in Upper Austria, where I am currently living. I am working in the field of computer services and have been a part time photographer. After taking photos for many years with lots of joy, I since 2014 concentrate on photographing people.

Have you been involved in the arts in some form other than photography?
I am concerned, for example, also with film recordings and video editing.

Seeing your remarkable work, I am curious where your creativity comes from?
I always try to test something new and to make special photos at unusual places.

Could you share with us how you first became interested in photography?
I already as a child got an analogue camera for Christmas, I by then began to document. And in 2004 I started with the first own digital camera also to a larger extent to document and to experiment.
 
What equipment are you using now and with what did you get started? what is your favorite lens?
Currently I photograph mostly with my Sony A7 II, usually with fixed focal lengths.
After my first analog camera and experiments with a very simple digital camera, I started with a HP Photosmart 945 in 2004, digital and regular photos. At the end of 2006 came the first SLR camera and in 2014 I discovered system cameras for me.
I prefer to use a 85mm 1.8 or later 1.4.

Can you tell us about your work flow from the point you first step onto the street until you showcase the developed picture?
For outdoor photo shootings I usually arrange a spot to meet and sometimes it happens that I spontaneously decide together with the model which route we take. In other cases I’ve already planned this upfront. But often this is becomes a little walk since I like to use different locations and places.
After the photoshooting is done, I transfer the photos and sort them on the computer. Usually very many photos are created. After a rough preselection, I decide together with the model, which pictures we want to use and these are then processed by me.

Do you see a particular influence, be it a photographer or school on your work? Any subject that attracts you?
I have often seen photos and videos of photographers on the Internet and already some years ago wanted to start with photoshootings, to come in the situation to bring people joy with these photos and also to be satisfied myself with my work as photographer.

What would you say characterizes your work in comparison to other photographers?
I often try to make the best of what I see, do not let me be easily deterred by weather or at first glance boring environments.

Among your works, which is your favorite and why?
I can hardly say, but especially I like the pictures with sunlight and backlight.

Tell us your funniest or most awkward photography story.
When I planned an appointment for a shooting with two models, one of them canceled short term.
So I took the outdoor photoshooting with the other of the two models alone.
When the weather later deteriorated, the model had the idea to visit an underground car park.
There, on the lowest floor, we happened to meet the model that canceled our shoot with another photographer.

What would you tell a newcomer who asks for your advice on how to start?
practice, practice & practice… and the Internet offers so many opportunities to train, often free of charge