Hi Frank, it's nice talking to you! First, would you like to tell us a bit about yourself? Who are you, where are you from, where do you live now? Tell us a bit about your personal background!
Hello, I'm Frank . I was born in Stuttgart and still live there. I've been away for a short time now and then, but not for long. I really like my hometown. I'm married and have a daughter. I'm almost middle-aged, but I still feel young and full of energy. My real job is as a media producer in an event agency. But I can combine the job of photographer there very well, so I'm often the event photographer too.
You are a digital creator – what exactly do you do in this job? When did you discover photography?
So it all started with Instagram when I uploaded the first pictures there in 2012 and got feedback from other photographers, and my passion was awakened. 2 years later I went to my first Instameet and there I networked with other photographers. That was a really good time. In my actual job I work in the event industry and on the side as a digital creator I mostly work with local companies and create all kinds of content.
Your heart clearly beats for Stuttgart! What do you love most about the city?
Oh yes, Stuttgart is my home and my first love. I think what I like most is that Stuttgart is so diverse and not too big. The location in a basin gives you great views of the city. But my friends are also very important to me.
You even created the hashtag #stuttgartgram and are the admin of the profile @igersstuttgart – what motivated you to open it?
At the time, I wanted to mark my Stuttgart pictures accordingly. For a short time, I even wanted to rename myself to Stuttgartgram, but I thought it should be a hashtag for everyone. Today, the hashtag has almost 118,000 posts. But at least I have secured the domain stuttgartgram.de .
I came to @igersstuttgart through the many Instameets and since I was always there anyway, I eventually became a member. Today there are still three of us who take care of the account. Unfortunately, the Instameets have hardly been able to take place in the last two years due to the pandemic, but we hope that we can organize something again in the summer. There are plenty of ideas.
Your Instagram feed is filled with great urban photography and landscape images. How did you develop your style and what do you pay most attention to when taking photos?
Like so many things, this doesn't develop overnight, but is a process. At the beginning, you pay attention to the big picture when taking photos and are happy when you have the camera under control. And after a few years, you pay attention to the small details. Many friends always ask why I'm stopping here now... I'm constantly scanning my surroundings and training my eye. I pay the most attention to incorporating the surroundings into the picture and look for lines, shapes and colors. For example, when I photograph a person, I try to create a kind of stage that they step onto. So the background plays an important role for me and of course the light.
I think it's important to stick with it but also try something different to take the next step. I, for example, find a lot of inspiration in analogue photography and this limitation helps me to move forward in digital or changes the perspective on my photography.
What inspires you and why?
I get a lot of inspiration from other photographers, but also from art and film. My photography is often quite graphic, so I feel very at home in graphic design and look at a lot of books and websites on the subject. But I think the biggest source is Instagram. There are so many creative people there with great ideas that you can take a lot from for yourself. But traveling and visiting other countries is also a great source of inspiration. In the last two years, I was mostly at home and couldn't travel much, so I tried to get to know my city anew and walked around all the districts and looked for and sometimes found new corners.
Would you like to tell us a little about your creative process? Do you try to plan your images in advance or are they more spontaneous shots? Do you edit your images a lot?
I can't really say for sure. I often plan my shoots and often go to a location that interests me beforehand and see when the best light is there, for example, and then keep going back to get to know the spot better. On the other hand, pictures are often taken by chance. So one of my most important tips is to always have your camera in your bag, even if it's just because it's a "small" version. Then you don't miss out on spontaneous moments. When it comes to editing after the shoot, I actually always edit my pictures. I do this in Lightroom, because I shoot in raw it's always necessary to make a few adjustments. I always straighten the lines/horizon and tidy up the image a bit and crop it a bit. I often add a look to emphasize the mood of the image.
When and why did you start sharing your pictures on Instagram?
That was in September 2012. At the time I wanted to try out Instagram. It was somehow strange to make everything so public, but I got immediate feedback from the community and that motivated me to keep going. The exchange and later the meetings with other Instagrammers were really good and valuable and helped me progress in my photography.
Do you have a favorite photo that you have shared? Can you tell us the story behind it?
Yes, indeed, I always like the picture of the television tower today.
The picture was taken on the way to work and, as so often happens, it was a coincidence that I was in the right place at the right time and, most importantly, had a camera with me. The weather was really bad, it had just rained and the clouds were still hanging in the forest and covering the TV tower when suddenly everything cleared up and the weather cleared most of the tower. After a few minutes, the moment was over.
What do you think about your IG community? Do you exchange a lot of ideas with them and maybe get new ideas that way?
Absolutely, I network a lot on Instagram, ask a lot of questions from people I follow and also like to answer questions. I also often arrange to meet up on Instagram to go out and take photos together or to exchange ideas. On my own blog I have a series called “On a roll with…” where I meet up with a photographer and we chat and shoot a roll of film together. If you want to take a look, please go here: www.frankhoerner.de/blog . Without Instagram, none of this would be possible.
Can you tell us some of your favorite Instagrammers who inspire you?
It's a difficult question to pick the right ones. There are so many, but I'll name 5 Instagrammers who impress me. Their pictures never cease to amaze me.
@thomas_k for his urban city shots
@pangea and the @germanroamers for their landscape pictures
@benbernschneider for my analogue penchant and creative streak
@salufi for my romantic side
@corneliusbierer for his Stuttgart pictures
Of course there are a few more that inspire me. It's always difficult to pick the top 5 from such a large community.
Do you still enjoy sending postcards?
To be honest, it's relatively rare, but it's always special at certain moments and something analogue is valuable in the digital age. So I'm always happy when I get a postcard in my mailbox.
Did you know about Pickmotion before our cooperation? If so, how did you find out about us?
Yes, I found out about you via Instagram. When you approached me about a collaboration, I was immediately enthusiastic and proud to see my designs on a postcard.
APM-0219 & APM-0218
There are now two beautiful art posters with motifs by @frankfox13 to discover in our shop - including his favorite picture ! We also offer custom-made picture frames in three colors to match! A beautiful decoration for your home or as a gift for loved ones!
