2023-08-14 14:33:47
The Samsung Art Store, Smart TV The Frame’s online gallery, continues to capture the attention of art enthusiasts around the world, offering an extensive collection of stunning works of art and photos right in their homes. Among the many distinguished artists featured on the platform, Wolf Ademeit has earned a special place in the hearts of Art Store visitors for his renowned black and white animal photos.
Since partnering with the Samsung Art Store in 2017, Ademeit has quickly become one of the most beloved photographers on the platform. Samsung Newsroom caught up with Ademeit to discuss his distinctive approach to photographing animals, his commitment to authenticity and creativity, and his collaboration with the Samsung Art Store.
Wolf Ademeit
Behind the Lens: An Exploration of Wolf Ademeit’s Approach to Animal Photography
Newsroom: What attracted you to photography? Can you tell us a little about your journey as an artist?
I discovered photography as a child. I started by taking pictures of my friends with my dad’s 6×6 camera. During lithography training, I worked with professional photographers and discovered monochrome images – perhaps this experience inspired me to pursue black and white photography.
My artistic style hasn’t changed much over my career. The biggest evolution was that I started taking color photos for my “Art of Animals” series since I realized that color is key to fully capturing some animals.
Newsroom: What influenced your interest in animal photography? What messages or emotions are you trying to convey?
Although my background is in portraiture, I decided to visit a zoo when I was testing my 500mm lens. Upon entering, I saw a calendar that did not photograph the animals very favorably. This is where the concept for my “Art of Animals” series was born – honestly, I wanted to publish a calendar of my own to do them justice! My goal was to photograph zoo animals in an artistic way to enhance their elegance and beauty.
Newsroom: How do you determine which animals to photograph?
This is more by chance. My photos are not intended to be a documentary of these creatures. Rather, they artistically demonstrate themselves as individual beings or species. It’s important to me to capture their beauty, elegance and emotions.
I mostly look for dynamic animals before deciding if the photo can be attractive, considering lighting, perspective and background. For example, when photographing predators like cheetahs, I pay close attention to the scenery because a chaotic background can camouflage the subject.
▲ Splash
Newsroom: Are there any memorable experiences from your photography sessions?
I had a near-death experience with “Splash” when I tried to photograph a polar bear shaking itself out of the water. Without thinking twice, I climbed a small wall behind me to get a better view.
Unfortunately, the safety glass was slippery, so I lost my balance because of the heavy backpack and fell about five meters down a ladder that led to the area where the polar bears were. Fortunately, I managed to grab hold of a few branches just in time and the photo came out as I’d hoped.
Photography in the digital age: Wolf Ademeit’s collaboration with the Samsung Art Store
Newsroom: As a longtime partner of the Samsung Art Store, can you tell us how this partnership has influenced or expanded your work and exhibition?
The collaboration with Samsung Art Store was very professional from the start. I had the pleasure of seeing my photos from the “Art of Animals” series displayed at The Frame – which increased my visibility and led to a considerable increase in the number of Art Store users.
As a photographer, I naturally want to present my work to a wider audience. With The Frame and Samsung Art Store, viewers can easily access high-quality art at home. There’s a big difference between viewing a photo on a giant TV screen versus a desktop monitor. The Frame’s Anti-Glare Matte Canvas provides a more immersive experience for viewers, without any glare, just like real prints on paper in a gallery.
Also, most print services only offer color options, resulting in black and white prints with tint or white, grayish with little contrast. That’s why I produce my own photos exclusively on chemically developed Ilford photo paper – or use The Frame, which is just as reliable.
▲ Cheetah
Newsroom: Among your artworks, “Cheetah” is particularly popular in the Art Store. Could you explain the inspiration behind this photo and why you think it resonates with viewers?
Animals cannot be driven. You can only hope that a situation will unfold as desired. In this photo, something nearby caught her eye. She jumped onto the tree trunk and immediately went into hunting mode. “Cheetah” portrays as much the tension and desire as the beauty and grace of the predator species. Her expression is authentic and wonderfully visible.
Newsroom: Of all your photos in the Art Store, which three pieces best convey the characteristics of the themes in The Frame? Tell us a brief explanation for each part.
For artists, every piece of art is meaningful. “Bow”, “Three Wolves” and “True Love” are my favorite photos because high quality monochrome images are hard to come by these days.
▲ Bow
“Bow” is one of my most beautiful pictures. I like the graphic layout and the representation of the giraffe’s characteristic long neck. I saw the piece on display at The Frame at a friend’s house a while ago and I was blown away. An Ilford photo print the size of The Frame would likely be more expensive than the TV itself.
▲ Three Wolves
“Three Wolves” is a three wolf action shoot. Only the front one stopped for me, but with a bit of luck, I caught all three at just the right moment. In The Frame, gray tones are displayed optimally and appear with neutral colors. Most reproductions on color presses fail to accurately portray these hues.
▲ True Love
For “True Love”, I had to push my camera to the limit. While the moving elephants made it difficult to capture the photo, the intimate scene and playful touch between the two elephants convinced me to include it in the Art Store.
Exploring creativity and authenticity in Ademeit’s photography
Newsroom: His animal portraits offer a glimpse into the emotions and personalities of these creatures. How do you capture their subtle features and emotions?
Photographing animals requires patience and concentration as they move into the positions I’m envisioning. Unlike human models, you cannot move or instruct them. I have to be ready to capture them at any time as they won’t stay in the same spot. For “Vortex”, I visited the zoo repeatedly for many months until the zebra lay down in the exact position I wanted.
▲ Vortex
Time and perseverance allow me to capture the raw emotions of each one. Animals show their feelings just like humans do – but often, their expressions are much more unfiltered than ours. In a way, I shoot animal portraits as I would human portraits.
Newsroom: How have technological developments changed the way people engage with art?
Technology is rapidly changing the way we view artwork. Photographers are constantly challenged to upgrade equipment, which may improve the technical quality but not the artistry of the photos. Many of my Art Store pieces were taken with cameras that were quite outdated compared to current models. Today’s technological advances allow anyone to take an aesthetic photo using a camera or cell phone.
Newsroom: Do you have any words of wisdom or advice for aspiring photographers who admire your work?
Personally, I look for a background where the animal in the foreground stands out. So I wonder what will happen next. For example, when the animal is lying down, I try to guess which direction it will move.
I’ve run several workshops on zoo photography – some of them for beginners using simple equipment. With a little guidance, these photographers took very good pictures. In the end, it’s not the technique, but the creativity that makes the difference.
Wolf Ademeit’s photography will be featured in the August collection, “Top Ten Photographers”, at the Samsung Art Store in celebration of the month of photography.
Visit the Samsung Art Store at The Frame to see more stunning pieces by Ademeit.
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