Interview
Nadine Elfenbein
Nadine Elfenbein is a German photographer and video director.
She is a graduate of the prestigious Lette Verein in Berlin, and has been working as a freelance photographer. Since graduating, she has also assisted many photographers, dividing her time between Berlin and Barcelona.
Nadine’s portfolio evinces her decided priorities: people, lifestyle, fashion, and music.
Her dynamic photographs manifest intense authenticity and appreciation for the people behind the glamorous façade. Dancers, artists, fashion plates all step naturally from their portraits, stylistically pleasant, highly alluring.
Nadine is the founder and creative mind behind REFLECTISM-Forum for Visual Exploration.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“When I was 14, I held a camera for the first time and started photographing my friends hanging around in weird outfits. My father was a photographer, so I had access to all the equipment. Over time, I started to read magazines like ID and Dazed & Confused. In the mid ’90s, MTV was the perfect combination of moving pictures and sound, which really fascinated me.
I always wanted to create a colorful world around my ideas, first as a photographer and later as a video director.”
What inspires you most?
“I’ve been living in Berlin for more than 20 years now, and I get much of my inspiration on the streets and from the nightlife. The German capital is full of diverse people.
My focus is on portrait and fashion photography. I also have a great interest in music, and love listening to song lyrics.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Every detail or accessory has its reason for being there. Rather than a message, what I convey is more like a feeling or an attitude. For me it’s important to capture the special zeitgeist of my surroundings. In my portraits, I would like to underline the unique character of every personality who represents a certain lifestyle in my eyes.”
How would you describe your work?
“For me it is always important to create a special relationship between the model and myself.
I focus on capturing individual expression, aiming to get people involved and initiate a certain emotion in my pictures. I would like to reflect the emerging creative potential we have in Berlin — by selecting and portraying the variety of people who come here from all over the world.”
“An artist has the role of being responsible in society. Artists have access to all social layers. They are able to feel and reflect the urban zeitgeist in many ways.”
Which artists influence you most?
“The different aspects of my work are influenced by different artists.
Photographers: Annie Leibovitz, David LaChappelle, Rene & Radka, Inez & Vinoodh.
Artists: Nam June Paik, Marina Abramovic, Wassily Kandinsky.
Music: Moderat, Björk, the KLF, Nirvana.
Fashion: Alexander Mcqueen, Maison Margiela, Vivienne Westwood.”
What is your creative process like?
“The process depends on the aim or result I’m focusing on at that time. Is it an exhibition or a magazine project?
Sometimes I work with a team of ten people, while at other times I work on my own. Basically, I start with a mood-board. I carry out research on the story, styling, and make-up I’d like to use. Then I ask other artists to collaborate.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’m constantly working on my artist portfolio, but I do also work as a professional, comissioned photographer. I was part of several group exhibitions in Germany and had two single exhibitions in Stuttgart and Berlin recently.
Further I am working on a project called REFLECTISM - Forum for visual Exploration. It’s a panel discussion-series about the meaning of visual communication nowadays.”
