Beyond The Crane sat down with Malmö based photographer Daniel Jaghobi for a discussion about his approach to work, his eureka moment and just how he managed to get models to be comfortable posing nude…
Jaghobi will release his latest photo book on March 17th, 2023 where he will be hosting a photo exhibition of some of his work. The event will take place at Famn on Södra Förstadsgatan 81 from 18:00 – 21:00.
DJ: I am an engineer within the life science industry, specializing in R&D and quality management of med-tech products. During my spare time, I am a photographer where I work on my own artistic projects and sometimes do portrait assignments as a side hustle.
BTC: How did you get started?
DJ: I have been taking pictures for five years now; it all started when I bought my first analogue camera at an antique shop in Gothenburg. My intention was to buy furniture instead, and then I started chatting with the owner who was a photographer himself. I became interested in this small, inexpensive analogue rangefinder, and he was kind enough to give me a discount.
BTC: Was that your eureka moment?
DJ: That was a pivotal moment; it was as if I received my first Poké mon which would accompany me anywhere I went. I saw the world in a new light, and it sparked a lust to explore every inch of it.
I have always been drawn to the visual aspects of art, be it video games, movies and art. However, I did not get to explore my creative side as I was strongly encouraged by my parents to pursue an academic career in science and engineering. That was until I bought my own camera…
The simple controls taught me the basic aspects of taking a picture. When I grew up, digital cameras were the norm and I always found the vast number of controls and menus confusing to use.
BTC: Why do you do what you do? DJ: I feel that photography is a playful way of exploring the world around me. It also provides me with challenges that stimulate my brain and soul.
BTC: What does your work process usually look like?
DJ: It depends on what I want to do. For art projects, I take my time exploring techniques, themes and people in order to be able to pre-visualize a concept. From there, I start shooting until I get a sufficient body of work. When I otherwise don’t have a specific project in mind, I often bring a camera with me and shoot just for the sheer fun of it.
BTC: Do you show your projects/images to someone else for thoughts and input along the way? If so, who? How does it happen?
DJ: I always consult with my lovely girlfriend, who gives me invaluable creative input to my work. It could be during the actual shoot when I ask her for a second opinion regarding the composition seen through the viewfinder. It could also be that I consult with her during the editing of the digitized negatives. I am very thankful for her insights.
From Daniel’s upcoming publication “RedPrint”
From Daniel’s upcoming publication “RedPrint”
BTC: How do you know when a work/project is finished?
DJ: That is a tricky question because I feel like all the work I have exhibited so far could go on for years. But I have to limit myself in terms of time; I also want people to see what I have been working on. I see it as leaving the door “half-open” for a continuation of the project.
The mathematician Carl Gauss was a notorious perfectionist who would never release his work until he perfected it. If he would have released his work, he would have advanced the field of mathematics by 50 years!
BTC: How do you avoid getting too comfortable in your photography?
DJ: I think I manage to avoid becoming too comfortable by always challenging myself. The challenges could be purely technical ones, such as the strict use of a single format, focal length, film or techniques. But it could also be challenges of an aesthetic and thematic nature.
BTC: Can you cite an example of that in your work?
DJ: For instance, I was uncomfortable with shooting people nude. Partly because I don’t want to do the same sexualised and distasteful nudes that I keep seeing others do, and partly because I didn’t know how to make the model feel at ease. I now had a challenge, which I solved by strictly using a Polaroid camera, an RGB light panel and asking the models to pose as if they were an ancient Greek sculpture.
BTC: And how did that turn out?
DJ: The end result couldn’t have made me happier. Not only did we produce nude photos without the dreaded male gaze, but the models had a really fun time during the shoot. So much so that they wanted to do it again. Being able to show (and give) the models the developed Polaroids probably gave them an increased sense of control of the visual narrative.
Photo / Collage of Daniel: Christian Skog
BTC: How do you get YOU into what you do?
DJ: By constantly challenging myself with themes and techniques but also letting my playful and curious nature guide me forward. Photography has taught me to really listen
to myself and my needs, which I have never experienced when studying science and engineering.
BTC: What inspires you?
DJ: Most of the time, I find my inspiration through other artists’ work. It could be photographs, paintings, movies, books or video games. But really, the environment around me also serves as an inspiration for me. The geometry of buildings, the shapes of nature and the colourful personalities of the people I meet.
BTC: What is it like to be a creative type in Malmö?
DJ: Malmö is a great space to be in as an artist. There are a lot of co-creative people and spaces, and the vibe is very relaxed – I never feel any competition between fellow creatives. Everything is very DIY here like in Berlin, as opposed to the more competitive and resumé-focused scenes in Gothenburg or Stockholm or Vienna.
BTC: What is your favourite place in Malmö and why?
DJ: My favourite spots here in Malmö are around the industrial harbour. Most of the spaces are abandoned and desolate, which fuels my inner explorer to scout the areas. As a kid, I was drawn to post-apocalyptic games and movies. The thought of physical spaces outliving us humans is fascinating to me, why I do not know. But I do know that it is beautiful. The harbour really encapsulates this beauty. One particular spot I like is the abandoned silos close to Ön in Limhamn.
BTC: Going forward, what are your plans for the future?
DJ: My journey never ends, and I have several potential projects in mind. I want to explore bodily shapes and textures using weird colour rolls that turn everything blue. Beyond that, I want to keep exploring book and zine formats as a tool for presenting photographs. Hopefully, I will exhibit some works at a gallery too.
BTC: Why do you still do what you do?
DJ: Because it provides my life with meaning, and inspires me to keep exploring the world and people. I am not really in it for money or fame, but to stimulate my curious drive.
LEARN MORE
You can follow Daniel’s latest work on Instagram at @husstleblad
Beyond The Crane sat down with Malmö based photographer Daniel Jaghobi for a discussion about his approach to work, his eureka moment and just how he managed to get models to be comfortable posing nude…
Jaghobi will release his latest photo book on March 17th, 2023 where he will be hosting a photo exhibition of some of his work. The event will take place at Famn on Södra
Förstadsgatan 81 from 18:00 – 21:00.
Cover portrait / collage of Daniel: Christian Skog
DJ: Daniel Jaghobi; BTC: Beyond The Crane
BTC: What is it that you do?
DJ: I am an engineer within the life science industry, specializing in R&D and quality management of med-tech products. During my spare time, I am a photographer where I work on my own artistic projects and sometimes do portrait assignments as a side hustle.
BTC: How did you get started?
DJ: I have been taking pictures for five years now; it all started when I bought my first analogue camera at an antique shop in Gothenburg. My intention was to buy furniture instead, and then I started chatting with the owner who was a photographer himself. I became interested in this small, inexpensive analogue rangefinder, and he was kind enough to give me a discount.
BTC: Was that your eureka moment?
DJ: That was a pivotal moment; it was as if I received my first Poké mon which would accompany me anywhere I went. I saw the world in a new light, and it sparked a lust to explore every inch of it.
I have always been drawn to the visual aspects of art, be it video games, movies and art. However, I did not get to explore my creative side as I was strongly encouraged by my parents to pursue an academic career in science and engineering. That was until I bought my own camera…
The simple controls taught me the basic aspects of taking a picture. When I grew up, digital cameras were the norm and I always found the vast number of controls and menus confusing to use.
BTC: Why do you do what you do?
DJ: I feel that photography is a playful way of exploring the world around me. It also provides me with challenges that stimulate my brain and soul.
BTC: What does your work process usually look like?
DJ: It depends on what I want to do. For art projects, I take my time exploring techniques, themes and people in order to be able to pre-visualize a concept. From there, I start shooting until I get a sufficient body of work. When I otherwise don’t have a specific project in mind, I often bring a camera with me and shoot just for the sheer fun of it.
BTC: Do you show your projects/images to someone else for thoughts and input along the way? If so, who? How does it happen?
DJ: I always consult with my lovely girlfriend, who gives me invaluable creative input to my work. It could be during the actual shoot when I ask her for a second opinion regarding the composition seen through the viewfinder. It could also be that I consult with her during the editing of the digitized negatives. I am very thankful for her insights.
BTC: How do you know when a work/project is finished?
DJ: That is a tricky question because I feel like all the work I have exhibited so far could go on for years. But I have to limit myself in terms of time; I also want people to see what I have been working on. I see it as leaving the door “half-open” for a continuation of the project.
The mathematician Carl Gauss was a notorious perfectionist who would never release his work until he perfected it. If he would have released his work, he would have advanced the field of mathematics by 50 years!
BTC: How do you avoid getting too comfortable in your photography?
DJ: I think I manage to avoid becoming too comfortable by always challenging myself. The challenges could be purely technical ones, such as the strict use of a single format, focal length, film or techniques. But it could also be challenges of an aesthetic and thematic nature.
BTC: Can you cite an example of that in your work?
DJ: For instance, I was uncomfortable with shooting people nude. Partly because I don’t want to do the same sexualised and distasteful nudes that I keep seeing others do, and partly because I didn’t know how to make the model feel at ease. I now had a challenge, which I solved by strictly using a Polaroid camera, an RGB light panel and asking the models to pose as if they were an ancient Greek sculpture.
BTC: And how did that turn out?
DJ: The end result couldn’t have made me happier. Not only did we produce nude photos without the dreaded male gaze, but the models had a really fun time during the shoot. So much so that they wanted to do it again. Being able to show (and give) the models the developed Polaroids probably gave them an increased sense of control of the visual narrative.
BTC: How do you get YOU into what you do?
DJ: By constantly challenging myself with themes and techniques but also letting my playful and curious nature guide me forward. Photography has taught me to really listen
to myself and my needs, which I have never experienced when studying science and engineering.
BTC: What inspires you?
DJ: Most of the time, I find my inspiration through other artists’ work. It could be photographs, paintings, movies, books or video games. But really, the environment around me also serves as an inspiration for me. The geometry of buildings, the shapes of nature and the colourful personalities of the people I meet.
BTC: What is it like to be a creative type in Malmö?
DJ: Malmö is a great space to be in as an artist. There are a lot of co-creative people and spaces, and the vibe is very relaxed – I never feel any competition between fellow creatives. Everything is very DIY here like in Berlin, as opposed to the more competitive and resumé-focused scenes in Gothenburg or Stockholm or Vienna.
BTC: What is your favourite place in Malmö and why?
DJ: My favourite spots here in Malmö are around the industrial harbour. Most of the spaces are abandoned and desolate, which fuels my inner explorer to scout the areas. As a kid, I was drawn to post-apocalyptic games and movies. The thought of physical spaces outliving us humans is fascinating to me, why I do not know. But I do know that it is beautiful. The harbour really encapsulates this beauty. One particular spot I like is the abandoned silos close to Ön in Limhamn.
BTC: Going forward, what are your plans for the future?
DJ: My journey never ends, and I have several potential projects in mind. I want to explore bodily shapes and textures using weird colour rolls that turn everything blue. Beyond that, I want to keep exploring book and zine formats as a tool for presenting photographs. Hopefully, I will exhibit some works at a gallery too.
BTC: Why do you still do what you do?
DJ: Because it provides my life with meaning, and inspires me to keep exploring the world and people. I am not really in it for money or fame, but to stimulate my curious drive.
LEARN MORE
You can follow Daniel’s latest work on Instagram at @husstleblad