An interview with Christian Reister

June 10, 2019  •  2 Comments

An interview with Christian Reister 

copy right- Christsian Reister

 

RH: Who is Christian Reister?

Christian Reister has been living and working in Berlin for almost 20 years. The city and its inhabitants are the main inspiration for his photographic work which sits somewhere between documentary, street, and portrait photography.

from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press

Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
 

Planning

 

RH: What attracted and inspired you to your current documentary project?

CR: My Berlin Nights series started when I switched from color to black/white photography around the year 2011. I chose film and simple point+shoot cameras and tried out a lot in the beginning. I always had the small cameras with me and took a lot of pictures at night. After a year or so I realized by looking at what I got, that this may be my “new project” and I focused more on my night photography.

 

 

RH:Can you talk us through the planning stage for your project?

CR:There isn't much planning. I just had the camera with me wherever I went and took a lot of pictures. I had a wild mixture of documentary photography, city scapes, portraits, blurry abstract thing etc. The most creative part for me is always the editing process when I throw out tons of images to get the core and create a good series.

 

 

RH: Is there anything you wish you had done differently?

CR: No. I may be doing things differently with other projects and series but it is always a learning by doing process and that's essential. I believe, you learn the most by making mistakes and not being afraid to fail.

 

from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press

Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
 

Implementation and Completion

 

RH: How have you dealt with any challenges and difficulties within your project?

CR: The series took many years and I was putting together several exhibitions and books with that imagery. When you are working such a long time with your own images, it is good to involve other people along the way. People whose work you like and who are better than you in different fields (designers, curators, publishers...)

 

 

RH: How long do your projects tend to take from start to finish?   

CR: Between 3 days to 10 years (and still going....)

from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press

Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
 

Editing and Sequencing

 

RH: Do have several images to edit of one fleeting moment or do you have one well-constructed precise image that you have captured?

CR: Both. And anything inbetween. It depends.

 

RH: Within the editing stages, have you felt the project has taken on a different narrative than first envisaged?

CR: The project was always developping and changing, that's why I do it. It's all in flux. An like I said - there wasn't much planning anyway.

from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press

Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
 

 

Tips and hints

 

RH: What would you recommend for people starting their own photographic project?

CR: Take your time! Good work takes years or decades. Try out a lot, make mistakes and learn from them. There is no need to hurry.

 

 

RH: Does the camera really matter?

CR:You should be happy with your working tool, whatever it is. That matters I think.

 

 

RH: Any books you would recommend reading to get the creativity started?

CR: It really depends on what project and style you are working on. I always learn a lot by looking at other people's work, exhibitions and books. The big names of course, but also the local scene, people working in other fields of art, underground stuff.

 

 

RH: Would you recommend attending photography workshops?

CR: Yes. Especially in the beginning and at the hobby stage it can help you lot to learn from good teachers and to get to know like-minded photographers. If you take it more seriously you should look for long time seminars on photo schools. I had a 2 years course with Andres Rost and 2 years seminar with Ute Mahler/Ostkreuzschule Berlin about 15 years ago and I think I still profit from both. Both, photographically and personally.

My links:
https://www.christianreister.com 
https://www.instagram.com/christianreister

 

NEW BOOK: 
Christian Reister - Berlin Nights 
https://hoxtonminipress.com/products/berlin-nights

 

from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press

Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights

from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press

Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press

Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
from the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Pressfrom the book "Berlin Nights" by Christian Reister / Hoxton Mini Press Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights

Copy right-Christain Reister- Berlin nights
 


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australianwritings review(non-registered)
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australianwritings review(non-registered)
An organization commemoration is an incredible method to accumulate and celebrate with every one of your representatives! What's more, why stop there? Welcome partners, clients, and families, and make it a genuine gathering with one of our mark Photobooths.
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