I sometimes scour around the internet and through magazine pages looking for photos that inspire me. However, I found out about by Tomaas by accident. I first saw an editorial he shot called Nomad's Land  for Push It Magazine. It was absolutely gorgeous, mysterious and enthralling all at once. From that moment I was a fan of his work. He currently has a gallery show starting on January 5th at Taylor Mckenzie Gallery  in Chelsea NY so if any of our readers are in New York please do visit the showing as I am sure it will be spectacular. I had the pleasure to interview him  recently and he is just as interesting as photos are breathtaking.

1.Tell us a little about yourself – (where you grew up, your life- anything you wish to tell)

I grew up in Hamburg, Germany. As a kid I worked in front of the camera, and I always enjoyed the energy on a set. It was also the sound of the old Hasselblad cameras that to me was like magic. The fast, distinct whining sound of them was something I very much enjoyed hearing. I got my first camera at fifteen. I’d go to the zoo and photograph the animals, or just walk the streets of Hamburg and take pictures of people and architecture. In high school I did a year as an exchange student in San Francisco, but then went back to Germany to finish my final year. Photography was always my passion, something I did naturally, but it was never something I thought I could make a career of, so after high school I went to University in Salzburg and Hamburg and majored in Political Science and Communications Science. After I finished my undergraduate work I continued on to receive a master’s degree in public relations and moved back to NY. I continued to take pictures and traveled extensively. During a breathtaking trip to Vietnam where I captured the land and it's people I eyed the idea of becoming a full time photographer. I then attended the International Center of Photography in NY. During a class that was taught by an accomplished fashion photographer  I received a lot of great feedback and encouragement. I started building up a small  portfolio and introduced myself to the top model agencies in NY. After that it went from testing to shooting editorials, to commercial work. Eventually Robert Bacall Representatives became aware of my work and started representing me.
 

2. Tell me about working as a fashion photographer in New York?
I think NY is a magnet for some of the most talented people in the world. True, that makes it extremely competitive, but it also offers an amazing pool of hungry talent who are all here for a reason. They’re willing to make sacrifices and get the job done.  Another great thing about NYC is its infrastructure. Everything is accessible and convenient, all of the best agencies, designers, everything on the same island.

 3. Are there any artists who you admire/ who are your influences?  

Peter Lindbergh for his theatrical sets, Steven Meisel for reinvention Miles Aldridge for his use of color. Paolo Roversi for mood. I’ve also always admired the great war photographer James Nachtwey for true representation of time, space and person

4. Describe your most memorable shoot?

A few years ago I traveled through Vietnam to capture the land and the people. I encountered an endless number of beautiful and remarkable faces, both young and old. With everything the country has been through, and especially considering it is still a developing nation, I was mesmerized by how content and balanced the people are. There were no fancy showroom dresses, no makeup, and no hairstylists, just raw life, and still I find these images to this day to be some of the strongest I shot.

 
5. Are there any magazines you would like to work with that you haven't previously?
I don’t discriminate, but of course big names mean bigger budgets,which again would allow me to pull off more elaborate shoots.

6 Your photos are very theatrical and tell a very powerful story. What goes through you are deciding the theme for a shoot?  

I really attempt to shoot on location, because I’m personally most inspired by locations. It probably is connected to my passion for photojournalism and traveling. A good location can be a story in itself sometimes. You just need to manipulate it, or put it together in a logical way. During the process a lot of time goes into finding the right location for the story you’re trying to tell, and of course it’s very time consuming. Casting is also essential, because fifty percent of the shoot is casting, finding the right model to go with the story is especially critical, because sometimes a model can inspire the story you’re looking for.

7. You have worked with models from some of the world’s best agencies. Do you have a favorite model that you have worked with?
Everyone I have worked with has given me something I can learn from. They’ve all given me a valuable piece. If it’s a new face I’m pushed more creatively as a photographer because it is more of a challenge to get what you need out of them, but if it’s a more experienced model I’m allowed to focus more of technical aspects. So in this sense, everyone I’ve worked with has been a favorite, each in his or her own way.

8. In 10 years, your dream is to be…
To do what I do now just on a bigger scale. As I mentioned earlier I love traveling and I am curious to see that once I have the capability to incorporate the visual treats this globe has to offer into my work what the outcome could be.

I would also like to focused a bit more on advertisement. In advertising you’re allowed to work with bigger budgets and compared to editorial everything in advertisement is mapped out very specifically. There’s a clear vision of what has to be accomplished from the beginning. In a sense it’s easier for a photographer to complete an assignment. Editorial is more convoluted. You have a concept and idea but not the same structure. The execution process is much more precise in advertisement. But ultimately both have the same purpose, selling a product.

Thanks for the interview Tomaas. Dont forget to check out  Tomaas' gallery show starting on January 5th at Taylor Mckenzie Gallery  in Chelsea NY.