Architecture Photographers:
An interview with Johannes Heuckeroth
An interview with Johannes Heuckeroth
Johannes Heuckeroth is a 27 year-old student in Design at the Georg-Simon-Ohm-Hochschule in Nüremburg (Germany) who is absolutely passionate about Architecture Photography. There are many articles and interviews I could find online, but most of them are in German — needless to say I couldn't find out a whole lot about him! So I thought it would be a great opportunity to have him talk a bit about himself, his work, and his passion for Architecture Photography.
Kunstmuseum in Bonn, Germany
How would you introduce yourself in a few words?
Addicted to photography and design, always searching for new inspiration.
How did you first got into photography and what did you start shooting?
I bought my first camera because I wanted to document things. I wanted to keep memories of things I and other people did. So in the first it was just a technical act. Years later I found a more emotional link to photography. I realized that a photo is not just a tool of documentation, it can be a tool to show other people your view, your perspective on the world. And thats amazing. The first "serious" pictures I took were photos of the landscape that surrounds me.
What's makes you so passionate about Architecture Photography?
Its combining two things: aesthetics and simplicity.
I love aesthetic things, especially buildings, and photography is a tool to make it even more aesthetic. And its simple, because you can just walk out, search for an interesting building and make a great photo. You don't need people, no organisation, etc.
Its just you, your camera and the building. And thats great.
I love aesthetic things, especially buildings, and photography is a tool to make it even more aesthetic. And its simple, because you can just walk out, search for an interesting building and make a great photo. You don't need people, no organisation, etc.
Its just you, your camera and the building. And thats great.
Düssseldorf Germany
Do you ever find yourself limited from capturing a building the way you want to?
Sure. Maybe sometimes you can't get the perspective that would be perfect because there is not enough space around the building or you have no possibility to get to a higher point for example.
There are a lot of things which can prevent the perfect picture.
There are a lot of things which can prevent the perfect picture.
What do you shoot with? How important is the choice of gear for your work?
I am using a Canon Digital-SLR and some lenses. Of course there are some situations where you maybe need some special equipment. And of course you have more possibilities with a DSLR than with a compact camera. But all in all its not very important. You have to know your gear and whats possible with it. For architecture a wide-angle lense is senseful. And there is always better equipment you want to have, but its not the essential thing. The essential thing is your passion.
Do you have a favorite architect or style of architecture?
I love the work of Zaha Hadid. Her buildings are just awesome.
Also Santiago Calatrava is a genius. Both are a good example of spectacular and aesthetic architecture. There buildings are just calling for being photographed.
Also Santiago Calatrava is a genius. Both are a good example of spectacular and aesthetic architecture. There buildings are just calling for being photographed.
Porche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany
I noticed many of your works are done with long-exposure. Can you tell us about the impact you're trying to get by choosing a slow shutter speed?
Hmm, when I am using a long exposure its mostly night. So I am using it because I have to 
When I am using it at day, it's an instrument to get motion in the image, for example through moving clouds in the sky or moving cars.
If someone offered you the keys to any private or public building in the world to shoot from any possible angle, which would you choose and why?
Thats a tough question! Currently I am very interested in cityscapes, so it should be a building with a great view on an amazing city. May be I would choose the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, located in Dubai. A city I recently visited for my biggest photography project yet.
What's your idea of a perfect vacation spot?
It should be a mixture of unbelievable landscapes and a futuristic city. There should be no people, just silence. And it would be amazing to have a good view on our earth, so may be it must be located on the moon.
Apple Store Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, France
If for one day you could see everything through someone else's eye, who would it be and why?
If "someone" could be an animal, it would be a bird. Having the opportunity to see every spot on the earth from above must be amazing. There is no better view than from above.
What's something that gets you out of bed on a morning?
The sun.
This is your last day alive — how do you spend it?
I don't think that I would know it. So it would be a day like any other.
Phaeno Science Center in Wolfsburg, Germany
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I have no idea!
Did you ever want to be an architect yourself?
Definitely not, I love looking at architecture and photographing it – but planing and creating a building must be a very tough job.
If you had to sum up Architecture in 3 words, what would they be?
Function, beauty, quality.
Philologische Bibliothek in Berlin, Germany
To see more of Johannes' work go to his website: PFNPHOTO.COM
