Mood Colorful: An Interview with Niklas Porter

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As years pass by, street photography is becoming a tough arena for competitive photographers. Everyone wants to be the next Henri Cartier-Bresson, the popularity of genre makes the overall aesthetic of street photographs to be repetitive. But not with film photographer Niklas Porter. Born in Sweden and raised in sunny Colorado, Niklas' follows a certain balance of light and darkness to create these atmospheric pictures. Highly influenced by filmmakers and cinematographers like David Lynch and Stanley Kubrick, one might even say that his photographs are cinematic; his images are cast in blue, with loud and bright specks of light to balance the dimness of his compositions. Get to know the photographer in this interview.

Hi Niklas, welcome to Lomography Magazine! Firstly, tell us more about your analogue journey. When and how did you start using film?

Hi and thank you! I really started getting into photography about 4/5 years ago. It started as a search for an emotional outlet (which it still is today) and has over the years grown and evolved to simply becoming my way of seeing everyday life as it happens around me. I bought a compact digital camera and soon thereafter an analogue camera, so I started experimenting with film photography. Now I exclusively shoot film because it is what I feel most comfortable with. I love the process of using film, from shooting to developing to printing. I like that takes time and you don’t have instant gratification. Shooting film forces me to trust myself, take the picture and then move on to the next one.

You mostly shoot the streets in a very poetic, ephemeral manner. What interests you with these genres?

These genres are simply what comes most natural to me. I try to capture scenes of everyday life to describe a particular place, time, feeling or memory. I think feelings and memories come together, often subconsciously or otherwise, and form a visual fragment with some type of narrative. I would say that is the reason I am drawn to them.

Street photography is all about the daily life. What is 'the most beautiful moment in life' for you?

I don’t think I could say that there only is one ”most beautiful moment in life”. For me, I think it consists of several everyday moments with loved ones that are the most beautiful.

You have a really nice command for light and colour! May you share with us your personal techniques or hacks, if you have any?

Thanks! Light and colour are two things that I’m really drawn to when taking photos. I don’t really have any techniques or hacks other than just finding colours and light that catch my eye when I’m walking around with my camera.

If you could dine and wine with any photographer or artist, dead, alive or fictional, who would it be?

This is a tough question, there are so many photographers that I would love to ”dine and wine” with. But if I have to only choose one I think it would be Nan Goldin. She seems to be an incredibly interesting person and I would love to hear everything she has to say about her life and her photography.

What's an ordinary, non-photography day look like for Niklas Porter?

Any ordinary non-photography day right now, to be honest, is trying to find work. I recently moved to Stockholm and am struggling to find a job...

Any on-going project, or other plans you're keen to work on?

My plans for the future as a photographer is to simply continue taking photos and see where that leads me. I would love to do more exhibitions and eventually a book, but for now, I just want to focus on taking photos.


Check out more of Niklas' work through his Instagram and website. All rights reserved to Niklas Porter.

written by cielsan on 2018-10-14

5 Comments

  1. ericnie
    ericnie ·

    very good, I like it very much!

  2. robertquietphotographer
    robertquietphotographer ·

    I'm very much into B&W but must say that these photos are really good, the colours are special and have a strong impact on the viewer. Difficult (and not necessary!) to say which photo I prefer but the combination of light and colours in the photo with the "Kitchens" make such a simple subject very attractive.
    Well done, thanks for sharing
    robert

  3. birgitbuchart
    birgitbuchart ·

    LOVE!!! <3

  4. birgitbuchart
    birgitbuchart ·

    LOVE!!! <3

  5. pastelmae
    pastelmae ·

    Beautiful work

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