INTERVIEW

Torben Nielsen –

TAKES ON LIFE

Some bubbles are blown way out of proportion but others should not be understated. When a photo set to feature in June’s Auckland Festival of Photography caught his attention, JON RAWLINSON set out to chat with the artist behind it.

TorbenNielsen

Most of us get only one shot at life; a photographer, Torben Nielsen has many in some ways and at least two in another.

“About five years ago I died. I was in the queue to go on a chair lift for the luge in Queenstown and, basically, dropped dead from a blood clot. Luckily, the guys in the ticket booths were trained in CPR otherwise I wouldn’t be here; it would’ve been a different story.”

A much different story or a great deal shorter one at least!

Thankfully, there with the grace of God goes Torben, sharing drop dead gorgeous photos of the world with the world. From animals to landscapes and people, Torben’s work covers a variety of subjects.

“I don’t stick to a certain genre; I like variety. That does [contrast] with the photos I take for work [as a real estate photographer],” he says. “Overall, photography is a balance of having the eye to see something and having the ability to take it. Really, it all comes down to light and composition,”

Although he now lives in Hill Park, Torben was raised in Pakuranga and has lived most of his life in east Auckland, which was where his love of photography began. “My first camera was actually David Lloyd’s first camera; he sold it to me when I was at uni’. We were members of the same church [Pakuranga AOG] at the time and became friends,” the former Edgewater College student says,

“He introduced me to my wife and was a groomsman at our wedding. So, although he wasn’t a mentor as such, he had a huge influence on my life.”

A highly acclaimed wildlife photographer, David Lloyd featured in EastLife’s August 2016 edition.

“I gave David his camera back, in exchange for a couple of his prints, not that long ago. He was keen to get it back as he likes to keep every camera he’s ever owned. I’m not so sentimental with my equipment,” Torben smiles.

On occasions, Torben will have a location and subject in mind but, most often, he shoots first and plans later.

“Because my work photography is so structured, quite often I just shoot from the hip,” he laughs. “One of the photos I have in the [2021 Auckland Photography] festival – The Joy of Playing with Bubbles – was an off the hip shot taken at an event in Totara Park last year.” When it comes to post-production, art photographers tend to take a different approach to (for example) photojournalists. In fact, this is where much of the artistry comes into frame. Torben’s photographs are taken in colour but, in some cases, he converts them to black and white.

“I used to think what you shot is what you should put out; my attitude is completely different now. I do go with what I’ve shot sometimes, but I’ll also crop, delete or add things and more without any qualms about it at all. I’m trying to portray something that’s in my mind, as much as anything else.

Photography is an art form and [editing] is part of that,” he explains. “Knowing what looks better in black and white comes down to intuition. By taking away colour [digitally] a photo can focus the eye more on form and shape, making the subject stand out without the distraction of colour.”

Most of Torben’s focus has been on local subjects – especially, and for good reason, over the past year or so. However, it was a journey abroad that saw his talent rekindled.

“I gave up photography for about 25 years as I was so busy with work – in IT – and family,” he recalls. “But, in about 2005, we took a trip to Europe. I borrowed my mate’s Canon ‘point and squirt’. I’d had a jigsaw of Cinque Terre in Italy when I was young and always wanted to go there. When we did, I managed to take a photo that was almost the same [as the jigsaw image]. That really inspired me to get back into photography.”

Looking ahead, Torben is planning more shoots abroad.

“I’ve travelled but not extensively. When the borders open up again, I would love to go back to Europe, especially southern Europe, Scandinavia, and America – New York, New Orleans and San Francisco, in particular,” he says.

Art snaps may be his passion but Torben’s ‘day job’ – a real estate photographer, currently with Total Focus Photography – has helped him sharpen his skills.

“Everyone asks me, ‘so you’re the one who makes all the rooms look bigger’! I get that a lot, but I don’t use fisheye [lenses],” he laughs. “It’s all time behind the camera, though, and my editing skills have improved vastly. Real estate work requires the best possible composition, so I’ve improved in that way too.”

“Because my work photography is so structured, quite often I just shoot from the hip.”

PhotosbyTorbenNielsen:(clockwisefromtop)Place toRestForAll;TheJoyOfPlayingWithBubbles; GreenAndGoldenBellFrog; InTheThickOfIt.

FEST’ IN FRAME

Among the hand-picked pictures in frame during this year’s Auckland Festival of Photography (June 1-30), two were taken by Torben Nielson. His shots feature in a Howick Photographic Society exhibition (Uxbridge Art & Culture Centre in Howick) which is part of the festival.

“I’ve been in it [the festival] for the last few years. This time I have a couple of photos in the festival: The Joy of Playing with Bubbles and Fire Dancer.”

Torben is hoping to hold his own, solo exhibition in future. In the meantime, he’s continuing with quite the winning run, claiming awards in competitions including the Photographic Society of New Zealand National Exhibition, as well as the prestigious Trenna Packer Salver and George W. Glennie photography contests.

“I haven’t been entering competitions for very long but I’ve done well,” he says. “Awards may help sell works but, mainly, entering competitions is more about gaining recognition that you’re on the right track.”

In particular, since joining the Howick Photographic Society in 2012, Torben says his photography and style have ‘developed’ markedly.

“I’ve learned a lot through the Society. They often run competitions and you learn a lot from people critiquing the photos.”

Further recognition came last year when he was awarded LPSNZ, an honours distinction bestowed by the Photographic Society of New Zealand.