Hi all,

Got interviewed by the Swedish photo site Fotosidan.se. To read the interview in Swedish click this link.

Read the full post for a translation to English.

Read this and please comment. If you’d like to know more about me or my work send me an e-mail at peter@petergyorffy.com.

Thanks for stopping by.

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Peter Györffy draws to simplicity.

This week’s profile has a portfolio that feels like a calm and tranquil oasis. Simplicity works for Peter Györffy and at Fotosidan.se we were attracted and inspired by his beautiful pictures.

Hey Peter! How would you describe yourself as a photographer?
- I am a spontaneous photographer who does not plan too much. I have a few  ongoing projects that are always in my subconscious. The camera goes with me when I feel like it. Most of my pictures come from half-hour long spontaneous “photo tours”. I have noticed that the more I plan, the more pressure I put on myself and then the images are artificial.

I read on your profile page that you prefer photographing landscapes and portraits!
- I am always looking for simplicity. Whether it is landscape, portrait or something completely different doesn’t matter. The classical landscape with great views of the mountains and so on does not interest me. I like to choose fairly simple and graphical elements. Regarding portraits, this is something I’m currently working on. I think good portraits can be incredibly powerful.

Your album “One” exudes calmness and the images have a carefully thought-out composition. Would you say that this is a common thread for your pictures?
- Absolutely. I am always looking for subjects that are graphic and my compositions are carefully thought through. I am definitely looking for the quiet and peaceful. I see my pictures in “one” as fine art. Ie. they are meant to be framed and decorate walls in homes and offices. I want the viewer to feel the calmness of the scenes. In contrast to the stresses of everyday life.

Where do you prefer capturing your landscape images? Do you have any locations or subjects you return to?
- I seldom go very far. I usually stay quite close to where I live, just outside of Vellinge in southern Sweden. From there I am close to the sea and the open country side. It is rare that I return to the same spot but it happens. I began photographing landscapes or open views (which is perhaps a better term) in October 2009 so I have not been to that many places yet

How and where you get your inspiration?
- Above all by simply going out to places and just breathe and observe. Without a plan and pressure the inspiration comes to me. The Internet and sites like Fotosidan.se is also a great source of inspiration. A website that I visit often is The Mindful Eye, a site that focuses on the image and on image design. Something that is talked about far too seldom.

Could you tell us more about how you came to work with photography and what it means for you to work as a photographer?
- I bought my first SLR in June 99. I had no idea what I bought, or why, it just felt right. It took quite a long time for me to figure out what I wanted to photograph and why. It is just recently, last half year, that I feel I have come to the right and work more focused on fine art and selling images both through my website and soon through a gallery. For me photography is incredibly important. The creative part gives a enormous amount back.

How do you work with the pictures in post-processing?
- For me, image processing or image optimization which I prefer to call it, is very important. It is during this process I realize what I saw and felt when I took the picture. For me, photography and image optimization equally important and fun. I work with Lightroom and Photoshop. I work with a well-defined workflow and a simple optimization philosophy. The key concepts are contrast, lights and darks. I have always had a strong interest in education and I’m currently writing on an e-book that is focusing on image optimization and workflow. The book describes my approach and thought process. I also record videos which are available on my blog where I go through how to optimize some of my pictures. I also have a 2 hour session talking about image optimization and workflow at my camera club in March. Image optimization is the technical aspect of photography and I think it must be mastered as well as photography itself. The technical and artistic sides of photography must work together.

Do you want to select a favorite picture from your images on the Photo page and tell us more about it?
- For me, “End Of The World” my favorite. It is the image that marks the turning point for me as a photographer. It is also my best selling image. I took it an afternoon in October 2009. I was feeling stressed out and kind of low. More or less in desperation, I went down to the port in Skanör and decided in the last minute to bring my camera and tripod. It was drizzling and my motivation was low. Once in I got there my creativity came to life and everything around me disappeared. I came home after an hour, mentally refreshed and with images on the memory card that changed me as a photographer.

Thanks for the chat and insight into your amazing portfolio.
Continued good luck with your photography!