Interview with Photo Manipulation Master Erik JohanssonListThumbs
Interview with Photo Manipulation Master Erik Johansson
Photo Manipulations are always very interesting to watch because - and that's what is important - they give a realistic view of an unreal picture. Erik Johansson, a 23-year-old computer engineering student, from sweden has a sense for good ideas for manipulations.
1. First of all we would like to thank you for taking the time to provide abduzeedo.com with this interview. Please tell us more about your art and design background and what made you become an artist and designer?
I am studying computer engineering and right now I am studying my masters program in Interaction Design. It is about how to interact with the user and make computers more user friendly. It does not have much to do with me photographing, that is something I discovered later. I got my first digital camera when I turned 15, I did some changes to the photos and thought it was fun. But I really started in 2007 when I bought my first SLR camera. That is when I started to do some serious photo manipulations.
2. Your manipulations are pretty unique and full of creativity. Where does your inspiration come from? How do you come up with the ideas?
That is a hard question because I can't really tell. The inspiration is everywhere in the daily life, but I also look a lot at photos and drawings on the web. I think the most important thing is to make a note of every idea, otherwise it will might be gone in a few seconds.
3. Could you describe for us your typical 'start to finish' workflow when working on a design?
I always have a sketch of the final idea. But it always end up different, in a good way mostly. When I have come up with an idea I try to find good spots to use for the photos and then it's time for the photoshopping. The time it takes differ, but somewhere between 10 - 20 hours for each photo.
4. What are your tools of the trade, both hardware and software?
My camera is a Canon eos 40d mostly used with the Canon 17-40/4L. The computer I use has a Intel i7 processor, 6 gb ram and a Asus Radion 4850, the monitor I use is a Eizo 22". For the software part I use Vista 64-bit and Photoshop cs4, no 3d-software.
5. What, for you personally are the pros and cons of being a designer?
It's hard to always be creative, but it is a creative job.
6. How does your job as an artist and designer influence your life? Do you feel that you see things around you differently for example?
Yes, sometimes I get stuck in thinking about what kind of ideas I could do with the things I see around me. But I have learned to relax more now.
7. What are your coming projects?
The future will tell, but I might need a fish in one of the projects. I also have an idea about streetlights that I probably will realize soon.
8. What are your favourite 5 websites, and why?
Tricky question.
Fotosidan.se - a swedish photo community
Moderskeppet.se - a swedish photoshop website
Deviantart.com - good for inspiration
Worth1000.com - good for inspiration
smhi.se - the swedish weather service, important to see if it's photo or photoshop weather (-:
9. Once again , thank you very much for the interview. As a final word, do you have any tips for upcoming artists and designers?
Trying is a good way of learning, that is how I have learned most of the things I know. Thank you too.
Where to find Erik Johansson on the web
www.alltelleringet.com/ - Personal website
http://www.fotosidan.se/..../98073 - His profile in a swedish community
More work of this artist
About the author
Aloa is the moniker of the german/greek graphic designer/filmmaker & musician Alexis Papageorgiou. Im glad to share great artistic work with the readers on Abduzeedo. Contact me on aloa@abduzeeo.com or http://twitter.com/obstgemuese.
56 Comments
That's incredible, great interview and fantastic work...
realmente é uma entrevista impressionante. o cara manda bem.
ele diz que trabalha de 10 a 20 horas em uma foto.
neste período em uma agência brasileira entram de 5 a 10 jobs, impossível caprichar!
good interview,
some of those pictures are amazing, makes you want to dive right into Photoshop and start creating....
stumbled!
ive seen this guys stuff before... really incredible artist! i need a camera :(
Whoah, This guy is nutz.
That tetris one is classic.
saw some of his photo's the other day on colectiva or something, very creative work. great interview, abduzeedo = )
wow. some works were seen already. thanks.
Really nice :D Great work!
Those are great - and the interview is worth reading as well. Cheers
It all look so real!.. it's amazing
Absolutely fantastic!
I dont get the one under number 2!! I dont see anything weird!!:SS
Wow awesome pics!
The first one at the top is great. Nice concept.
I came here from a link that C.C. Chapman shared on Facebook.
SWEDEN RULE.. iam one of them :D hahaha
Wow, that shit is sick.
That's amazing.
Oh goodie! We swedish people sure know what we're doing!
Damn I want an SLR camera now.
superawesomelyultraincredibly creative!
The pics manipulation under question 2 - it is the continents of the world spilled by coffee
cool works :)
Very very very very very very very very very very fantastic works!!!!
@anonymous - look closer at the image under number 2, and think globally...it will come to you :)
elevated to status of demi-god. awesome work. and 6gig of ram!!!?? thats crazy
wouw just amazing really nice interview!
Fabulous work
Keep it up!
Saif
awww.Am laughing at every photo. magic magic magic.
Very nice work for so young designer. The floor-reflection in the image with the woman and painting is missing the painting mirror.
Patrik - You should look again, it`s there...
Great work.
Wow this guy is amazing! I could only hope to get this good some day...
você é o cara.
excelente trabalho.
Wow. Good stuff man. Nice read and excellent pics. :)
wowww !! that's amazing !! incredible works !! thanks guys !
www.yaweb.fr
WOW! im so impressed. my swedish sucks so ill take it in english. VERY original, a daily inspiration!
Great fun and very inspirational!
-Peter
I'm Swedish too :)
Tycker bilderna är skitsnygga :) - I think the pics are amazing :)
omg that's some sick pictures! Keep up the good work man!
eh.. interessante..
Wow, thats amazing! Wish I could be that good!
amazing...................awesome...
i really want learn this. and i want know that guy.
Great interview guys. Great player!
Love the photos, thanks for the great interview. Found this on twitter!
What a master! The knowhow is astonishing, but the best is the way ideas are growing in his brain all the time!
wewl What a master! The knowhow is astonishing, but the best is the way ideas are growing in his brain all the time!
Erik is a very laid back and friendly guy. I´m gonna be working with him in the near future and I can tell you this much - You´ll se more of him very soon!
i CAN't believe this ,some picture are so fantastic.And most of them are really funny.
amazing !!
Wow, this is really impressive. That's for sharing it.
Nothing to tell!!! Amazing work, congratulations!
Brilliant work!
Really nice work with the images. I wish I was that good.
Wow fantástico. Curto muito a do café com o mapa mundo ^^
ya ta muito fixe
Lovely works! Awesome touches and very creative ideas! Keep it up. You're one of the best!
This guy is awesome! GO SWEDEN :)
I love this artist, what he does is not that hard actually, I mean not that complicated, I can see how did he made those, the thing is the inspiration he has is great.
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