Interview with Steen Doessing
by Marcin Stawiarz

My name is Steen Doessing. I was born and grew up in Denmark. I moved to England in 1980 and settled in The Thames Valley where I'm now living with my Family.

When I was 12, my father gave me an old Agfa 120 box camera. My uncle was a keen amateur photographer using Leica and he taught me all the basics including developing my films and printing them in his darkroom and that was it - I was hooked. I bought my first 35mm camera when I was 18 I think and moved through several makes and models in years to come. During this time I became aware of Ansell Adams and his Zone System and was fascinated by his technique and the results he achieved. I acquired a 4x5 field Camera from England (I had to assemble it myself) and tried to learn to use this technique. I was far too impatient and undisciplined and also it was too expensive for me to shoot 4x5 sheet film so I started working with Medium Format Cameras which I still use particularly for very long exposures (many hours).

I went to Art and Design College in Aarhus - Denmark where I studied Graphic Design and Art. However, I never finished my studies but went on to take a degree in Electronic Engineering.

The first photographer that really touched something inside me was Ansell Adams. His images are at every level sublime. He had an ability to draw the viewer into the image to such an extend that it felt like you were standing there right next to him while he was carrying out his meticulous adjustments and taking the photograph. Brett Weston for his fantastic ability to extend the range of a photograph while still keeping details in everything. Later on I became aware of Roman Loranc. His "Water" and "Trees" portfolios, especially his "Tule" series have a feel that I am still trying to capture. Michael Kenna of course who has re-defined the rulebook of Contemporary Photography and is continuing in doing so.

I was born and grew up in Denmark, which meant I was always surrounded by water - the ocean, lakes and rivers were everywhere I looked. 24 hours a day. My senses were filled with the smell, sound and the visual impression of water. Water to me represents life and the equanimity and power of nature. Water is where I came from. My fascination with water is never ending. I can sit on the shoreline for hours without taking a single photograph and just take in the sea. I am consciously trying to focus on and experiment with different subjects which is interesting in itself. I'm always drawn towards strong and simple shapes and designs so you'll likely see some non-water work from me at some stage although water is where my hart is.

My work contains a strong sense of tranquillity and calm but also of some drama. I am often asked if this is who I am, or if my art is a way of escaping from something else or if it's purely decorative? I guess you can say that this is who I am or more precisely this is who I'd like to be or it's a state I'd like to reach. Although this state of calm and balance is in stark contrast to the pace and stress imposed upon us by modern life, I can’t say I am trying to escape from something. It is a state of equilibrium that exists everywhere around us which I am constantly searching for and whenever I cross it I endeavour to capture it with the camera.

Colour to me distracts from the inherent graphical qualities of a photograph. Black & White leaves the viewer free to create his/her own impression and feel of the shades and tones and most importantly to create his/her own interpretation of the emotion of a image.

Steen Doessing Official Website:
www.steendoessing.com