Splashing Lucid
Interview with Manuel Pandalis
Looking at your photography, such as here, one could say that you are quite broad. What are your photographic guidelines and role models?
Breaking away from role models seems to me to be an important step not only in photography or art.
Of course I had photographic idols, but I ultimately wanted to find my own way and often clashed, trying to stimulate in many directions and only now, finally, realize what is essential for me.
What are we dealing with in Lucid and to what extent is this spread typical of your way of working?
The thrill of pushing the envelope has always been a driving force for me. Lucid is absolutely typical of that in this respect. The series was created one summer evening at an outdoor pool near my studio, and like much of my work, spontaneously and without commission. The outdoor pool was already closed and we had it to ourselves. All we had to do was climb over a small wall. Since kicking us out was imminent at any time, we worked very quickly and completely improvised. In a way, an adventure.
We seem to be at a turning point, perhaps more like a point where many photographers begin to look back on their journey and ask themselves what their priorities should be going forward. Is that the same for you?
True, adaption is not something of value in itself. My success is mainly based on freelance work. Currently, I feel that many things I did for financial gain did not benefit me artistically. Regardless of how my work is judged, I see the way forward only in staying true to myself. Or in short, not only for profit.
If you knew what you know today, what would you have done differently in terms of photography, or is the question irrelevant in this form, because photography arises from a current context and one is always smarter afterwards?
Looking back, today I would turn down many of the jobs I did. Working with clients has often been somewhat detrimental to my creativity. So what is photography all about? For me it's about expressing yourself. Commercial photography nowadays tends to be mainstream, driven by people who have a tendency to be fearful and fixated on numbers. Once I had a set framework for commissioned work, the results didn't go beyond.
The decision whether to be a service provider or to focus on my own artistic profile is very important to me. If I had to start photography today, I would recommend to take this very decision right from the beginning.
