Interview with photographer Christian Aas
What better way to belated kick off the year, than with the first Design Montage feature — an interview with Brisbane photographer Christian Aas. In 2004, Christian moved from Norway to Australia, to study a degree in Photography at Griffith University in Brisbane.
If you live in Brisbane, then you MUST remember the iconic airborne performers who graced the cover of the guide, posters and signage for last year’s Brisbane Festival. Christian was selected to work alongside Kevin Finn of The Sum Of, for the entire festival project in 2012.
The project won several top-notch awards, including BADC Silver for Photography Editorial Commissioned; International Loupe Awards Silver and Bronze for Commercial, Advertising, and Fashion; and was selected as a Finalist in The Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
If this interview couldn’t get any more exciting, Christian has just completed a collaboration with The Queensland Ballet Company. The results are stunning. When I asked Christian about this opportunity, he replied…
“One of my mentors once told me we should all learn something new every day, and this was one of the key reasons why I approached QBC. After getting in touch with the marketing department I was granted access to training sessions and rehearsals over a couple of months.
Not knowing much about ballet in the first place this was a fantastic experience involving lots of talented people, but most important was the visual outcome developed through the project. Instead of concentrating on the dance itself, I wanted to do a more polished documentary portrait style to capture the personalities behind the dance.”
Christian occasionally posts about photographers he’s inspired by, on his blog, and his latest work is best viewed on his website. You can also find him popping up around Brisbane making delicious Norwegian waffles as part of his spare-time project, The Iron Ladies.
How have you got to where you are today? Describe a little background on why and how you got started…
While doing academic studies back in Norway I started working for a student magazine, whilst mostly writing they also asked me to provide photography. This and the fact that I was looking for a new challenge made me apply for photography studies at Queensland College of Art.
After finishing university I started freelancing for a local newspaper before I landed an assistant position with a commercial photographer in Oslo, Norway. I assisted for 2 years before I made a move back to Brisbane where I kept assisting for another year before I started shooting full-time.
In a few words, describe yourself…
I like pizza. I also like beer and a good laugh.
The most important things in my life are Lis, my girlfriend, my mum and dad, and good friends.
Everything else is really secondary, a kind of bonus I guess. We can be the greatest achievers but what does it mean without the important things in our life?
Left: Soloist Yu Hui, The Queensland Ballet Company. Right: NRK Television, Norway.
What are you spending your time on at the moment?
Besides client-based jobs, I’m looking into the possibilities for a more CGI-influenced direction in my work.
Do you have a ritual for getting into the creative mindset? Or a creative process?
I believe we’re all getting to a point where we have to master multitasking to a certain level, and this obviously affects our mindset or the way we process information.
When cooking food or exercising or doing something that activates my mind in a positive direction, that is when I start thinking about creative projects.
What or who inspires you?
I tend to find the creator more stimulating than the work itself. We have so many talents both locally and nationally that don’t get enough credit for their achievement. It is one thing to find inspiration in visual research, but the most fascinating part is to meet the person behind the content.
If I have to mention specific artists check out Brisbane-based Kate Bernauer, Magnum photographer Jonas Bendiksen, Filip Dujardin for his architecture photography, and my former classmate, Toronto-based photographer Dean West. Besides these great artists, there are three individuals that have personally inspired me in different ways, Brisbane photographer Eric Victor, Norwegian photographer Sigve Aspelund, and the creative brain behind The Sum Of, Kevin Finn.
What are you most proud of?
I would be proud of something meaningful. Maybe one day.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A pilot.
