Christoph Maderer has been shooting for ION from the first moment.
Armed with his camera he is capturing moments of real life. His first ION action shooting and the resulting image campagne, created a massive impact in the scene. With fresh and revolutionary angles he created a new style and has become one of the top photographers in the business. Read his interview about his life and what it takes to be a great photographer.

Name
Christoph Maderer

Occupation
Photographer

About

Tell us a little about yourself?
I am 36 years old and from Nuernberg, Germany. I started shooting about 10 years ago and I am doing it professionally since 2005.

What are you up to at the moment?
Besides my regular jobs I was publishing a calendar and recently I was doing some own projects in my studio with a professional dancer and a burlesque showgirl.

What do you love most about photography?
To freeze a moment in life and to get feedback of the work I am doing.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
I am always psyched to try new things and combine different fields of photography.

What do you associate with ION and how do you reflect it in your work?
I think ION is a fresh, stylish new brand and I try to follow this with my photography.

You shot the first action shooting for ION and your flash pics received a huge impact in the kite scene. It was also one of your first jobs. - what gave you the idea for this shooting?
The shooting was 2005 in Ras Sudr / Egypt I was just starting to get my first jobs in photography. I was doing an internship for NKB during my studies and the first thing they did, they took me to Egypt to do this shooting with no expectations.
I was shooting skateboarding for a while and I tried to adapt the way I shoot skateboarding to watersports. That’s why I brought my flashes to the water. At first I didn’t realize that nobody did this before, but after I got so much feedback worldwide I was really suprised.

When did you know, you want to be a photographer and how did it influence your career?
Shortly after that shooting in Egypt I got a call from the chief editor of Monster Skateboard Mag and he asked me if I would like to have the job as senior photographer. In addition to my work for Boards and More that was the point when I finally realized that is definitely what I want to do in the future.

What makes a good picture for you?
When people watch it longer than one second.

What can be done to charge up a person with individuality and personality to get a good picture?
Be inspired and try. Don’t let yourself be distracted by the choice of equipment.

How did your style change over the years?
I guess every photographer goes through different stages. At first your are keen to make a technically good photo, then you realize there is a lot more necessary.

How important is the technical part of photography in your work?
Its very crucial to know the technical side of it, it helps to achieve the result of your ideas.

Do you prefer random shootings or to stage your shootings?
I really like to stage my shootings even on random shootings.

What fields od pfotography do you like most (product/action/editorial/fashion)?
Of course I favor action, but its really nice to have some variety. I really enjoy working in different fields of photography, I don‘t like if somebody pigeon-holes me.

How impoprtant is authenticity for your work?
It depends what kind of work it is, on own projects and on passionate things it’s vital.

What's your interpretation of "REAL LIFE IS OUT THERE"?
In the age of virtual online world it is even more important to get out and see whats really going on.

Wha did you choose this pic to visualize it?
Look outside of your glass panel and you might discover bad or great things, real life…

For more info about Christoph Maderer visit his website: http://www.christophmaderer.com/