Danish architecture and landscape photographer Kim Høltermand’s stark, striking images have appeared in numerous publications, including Process Journal and Grafik. He was included in Netdiver’s Best of the Year 2008 and was awarded first place in the 2009 International Photography Award’s Professional Architecture: Buildings division for his photographs. The Journal recently interviewed Mr Høltermand on his techniques and inspirations.

What equipment do you use? Do you use off-camera lighting, or do you rely solely on natural light?

I use a Canon DSLR and lenses from both Canon and Tokina. I solely use natural lighting for both outdoor and indoor shooting.

What software do you use to edit your work? What do you do to process your photographs?

Most of my post-production work is done in Adobe Photoshop CS5 but I also use OnOne Plug-In Suite 5, Noiseware, Noise Ninja and several others.

Color is a strong subject. What is your goal here?

My goal is to desaturate my images to an “eerie” tone that suits the apocalyptic and lonely mood in my work.

A pairing of images from Mr. Høltermand’s ‘K3nc2r1Hus4t’ and ‘Illuminated’ galleries.

There is a particular location you photograph in both K3nc2r1Hus4t (3rd from last) and Illuminated (the first image). What is this place and what is its significance to you?

Yes. Those are special light boxes found on the walls of the K3nc2r1Hus4t (a concert house – the numbers in the title stands for the four studios in the concert house). I think I like them due to their very graphic expression and because I have a past in the graphic design business I specially loved these.

For The Strange Attractor’s Still Life project, you used the Diana F+. These images, especially the early ones, are a dramatic departure from your architectural style. How much did the camera influence this? Can you describe your process and intent with these images?

The camera influenced it a lot. I had never previously worked with an analog/film camera and had a blast shooting away, not knowing if the pictures would end up being good or bad. I wanted to give a more personal feel around my work – a look behind the scenes of my life and the world around me. Most of the landscape photos were shot nearby where I live. I also included people in my shots (the little girl in some of the last shots is actually my daughter Sally) which is definitely not my cup of tea but felt that I had to try it out in order to move closer to a more human and personal photo-series.

For the Still Life project, Mr. Høltermand shot with a film camera for the first time.

Regarding this project, you wrote it “has definitely triggered the inner experimental photography child.” How, exactly? Do you plan on exploring this more?

Yes, definitely. It made me want to play more and experiment with my work. Normally I crave the clean, aesthetic and minimal but sometimes I feel the need to break out of that perfectionistic box that I love so much and make some noise. The Strange Attractor’s Still Life project definitely helped me want to try that out even more.

Who do you look to for inspiration?

I find inspiration in a lot of different places; magazines of all kinds but specially magazines about graphic design, photography and architecture. Books; I love those big coffee table books on graphic design, art, movies (mostly Sci-Fi) and cult classics – currently I have The Stanley Kubrick Archives lying beside me when I work – Kubrick is King. Music; Icelandic band Sigur Rós has been the number one inspiration in my work, I must say. Their music is almost always in my mind (and in my iPod while shooting) when I work on a photographic project, but also Hammock, Moby, Air, Efterklang, Trentemøller, M83, Max Richter, Mikael Simpson, Mike Sheridan, Olafur Arnalds – the list is endless. All of these sources of inspiration are my driving force in making my errie, melancholic, post-apocalyptic and moody world come to life.

That comes across in color and composition, but it is most apparent through the absence of people in most of your photographs. Can you comment on this?

I like the viewer to feel alone. Like the last person on earth wandering around among this deserted beautiful architecture. It sets an unsettling and eerie mood that I like very much. And it makes the architecture stand out even more.

What are you working on now?

Right now I am working on several different projects; among others I am in the preparation for an upcoming exhibition in St. Petersburg this fall, where 40 of my photographs will be exhibited in the Manege, the largest exhibition hall of St. Petersburg. I’m also working on some personal projects and maybe a re-design of my website – who knows. Right now, no two days are alike, so you will never know which cool projects awaits me or are currently being shot and produced.

What are your plans for the future?

I always strive to become better in my field and hopefully I will be working with even more creative people and on even more insanely cool projects than I already have. So far it has been a true joyride and hopefully this is just the beginning.