Interview with Sven Hartmann

Hi Sven! Tell us about yourself in two sentences - who are you?

My name is Sven Hartmann, I'm 33 years old and I'm from Germany. I'm quite introverted, which is why I remain unknown to many people.

QWhat's the weirdest situation you've found yourself in while taking a photograph?

AWhen doing street photography you often end up in weird situations. Sometimes you're following someone very interesting for a few minutes to capture them in an impressive setting, while keeping yourself unnoticed by them. Sometimes you find yourself sitting in an uncomfortable position in the middle of the street.

QWhat do you shoot on? What's your favourite set up?

AI've captured some great moments with my smartphone, but most of my photos are taken with a Sony a6000 because the a6k is technically superior when it comes to street photography. Basically I shoot 75% of my photos with the 16-50mm Kit-Lens because it is a very small and highly flexible setup. Many people ask me about the cam or lens I'm shooting on. But to be honest, I really don't care much about having the most sophisticated camera or some super fancy numbers on my lens. Discover the limits of your equipment. Once you've found out its limitations, you'll know what to buy next.

QWhat's your number one tip for an aspiring photographer?

AFirst of all, like mentioned above, get to know your camera and learn the very basics. Then just go out and shoot. Make sure to observe your surroundings closely and keep your camera nearby.