Joachim Manuel Riederer

Finally I present to you , one of my favorite photographers and a dear friend, Joachim Manuel Riederer. Any one who knows Joachim, knows he is very special. He has a great eye for beauty and he is one hell of an artist. I knew of his work with ballet dancers before I even met him. His photographs are beautiful. I even saw a picture he took of a tree and thought WOW! this guy can make anything look stunning. I first met Joachim in Stuttgart when he came to the old Gauthier Dance studios to photograph the dancers. At that time he was working with a old school style camera which was so much fun to work with although he needed a bit of time to get it going. He arrived in a funny outfit that matched the era of his camera…I wish I had a photo of that. Shooting with him is not as easy as point and click. He demands that the subject be involved and creative in the pose or movements and the results are always fantastic. A lot of great photos came from that shoot and after that day I began to intensely follow his work. He wasn’t doing the traditional stuff other photographers were doing and he took a lot of risks. I love that about him.

I love to collaborate with other artists. For example Philip Kannicht (amazing producer) and I have been working together for over 8 years! We have always had an idea to make art that involves audience participation and technology but we needed a team member with tech experience. We both knew it had to be Joachim! The first piece we made together was called “Pacemaker//Emotion”… It was actually a “kinetic sculpture”. It was the beginning of a long collaboration between us three, that still goes on today. Since then we have created even more artistic installations. The best is yet to come……

Joachim Manuel Riederer is a photographer born in Germany. During his photography study at the Lette Verein in Berlin, where he graduated in 2008, he started a series of dancers within several ballet companies worldwide. Very quickly dance became the main direction in his artistic work. Now he collaborates with choreographers and intermedia artists to create interactive video installations. Besides dance Joachim’s photography always stayed bonden with his homeland for which he recently received the Hilde Frey award.

Thank you Joachim for being the great artist that you are. I have learned so much from you and you push us all to take more risks. We need that… art needs that.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you always want to do what you’re doing now?

I had no idea what to do as I always was interested in too many things. I was a big dreamer, always doing something creative, experimented a lot. That I would get into photography I wasn’t really sure until I was accepted at the Lette Verein in Berlin. Photography is a fantastic field. I love to express thru whatever it is. But still I do not like boundaries to any medium.

Favorite Things to eat?

Good Hummus with very fresh pita

Favorite Books?

Araki “Sentimental Journey” – a photo book that touched me deep. Literature: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby

Favorite Movies?

Fellini – 8,5, Wim Wenders – Paris Texas

Favorite Ballets?

Die Kameliendame by John Neumeier

I like dancers who…

Give me goose bumps

I am afraid of:

… hmm guess my chaotic alter Ego

A dance piece should…

Grab me out of my seat, twist me thru and leave me with unexpected feelings, new thoughts and questions.

Something you like to do other than photography ?

Creative processes in general. But the more to meet people, to collaborate, discussing, breaking things up to rebuild and improve. To learning a new lesson every day.

One of the happiest moments in your life?

Ufff hard to take one out of many. But in general to be with family and friends

One of your most unusual or coolest experiences?

.. neither want to blame or embarrass anybody here. The best stories have to remain as secrets, for good.
But always to live to moment, conscious or dreaming, doesn’t matter. Whatever comes.

One of the most embarrassing moments…

I keep it general: Too much human error every day!! It’s ok to be bollok but not if its destructive and/or others suffer from!

Who has been the most influential person/people in your life? or Career? and why?

Of course most of my friends on first sight. Also, lot’s of people, fellows and artists I cannot remember names.

One of the hardest things about being a photographer?

Hmm, I guess its the aim for perfection as in any other art. As photography is a very technical medium, there’s always equipment missing. Also, too often have to apologize, got very sloppy in giving out pictures to my models. Am very behind with developing and finishing old work. Am always too much interested in taking a new picture then developing the exposed ones. But they’ll be ready one day … keep on asking, its good motivation.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Today: sailing somewhere … ask me tomorrow and it might be floating. Prefer to live the moment

Three words to describe yourself….

Passionate, curious, natural.

A question you want to know the answer to:

How long will the capitalism stinkers last?

A piece of advice for aspiring artists?

Be independent from preconception rules and point of views of others! Do what you want to do. If it doesn’t work, keep on improving until you succeed. And of course…Always be yourself, unless you can be a unicorn … then always be a unicorn!!!