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FLOWER MEN: A CONVERSATION WITH KEN HERMANN
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Danish photographer Ken Hermann speaks of his creative journey to uncover an artistic style that feels true to him in a wide-ranging conversation. His photography project titled Flower Men shot before the pandemic during a short trip to India speaks to his ongoing creative evolution—one that centres on photography as a primary means for connecting with different cultures worldwide.
When you come across a photo shot by photographer Ken Hermann, the last thing you expect is a lack of inspiration. From picking up the camera as a hobby in his early teens to working as a photojournalist, launching his book Flower Men, and exploring Asia—his artistic path is far from linear. His diverse professional experiences have shaped him to become someone that admires and seeks to pay tribute to lesser-known places and the so-called mundane aspects of life. After speaking with Ken, it became clear that he hopes to invoke empathy and admiration for diversity in his peers and future generations through his photographs.
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In your own words, can you describe what photography means to you as a photojournalist?
Photography means a lot to me, and it's a lot more than "just a job". I have been shooting for as long as I can remember, long before it became a profession, and hopefully, I will continue to do so until I pass on.
When was the moment you realized that photography was your future?
At the age of twenty, while backpacking through New Delhi, India, I discovered photography. It merely started as a hobby as I would pick up photography gear here and there during my travels. With further reading into the craft, my interest grew, and with time I honed in on my technique, which later led to my becoming a professional photographer. I now hold a degree and run a studio in Copenhagen, and have worked as a freelancer ever since.
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"I was fascinated by the place, and especially the flower merchants. I liked how they transported their flowers, which almost made them look like they were wearing big floral dresses. And even more fascinating was the fact that they were strong and masculine at the same time soft and delicate in the way they handled the precious flowers."
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How did the Flower Men project come to fruition?
Flower Men is a personal portrait project shot in Mallick Ghat Flower Market in Kolkata. I got the idea for the project when I was there on an assignment 5-6 years ago. I had an extra day in Kolkata and went to the flower market, It is a beautiful and at the same time very stressful place - the market is one of the biggest flower markets in Asia and is very busy. I was fascinated by the place, and especially the flower merchants. I liked how they transported their flowers, which almost made them look like they were wearing big floral dresses. And even more fascinating was the fact that they were strong and masculine at the same time soft and delicate in the way they handled the precious flowers. I wanted to do the portraits on a plain and simple background, so the Flower merchants stood out, and I like how the individual men pose with their flowers - the masculine man and the beautiful flowers.
- What fascinates you most about India?
I like India's culture because it is so different from Copenhagen, where I live. I think India is a polarising place for most people, I just love it. My first time was over twenty years ago when I went backpacking. Ever since then, I've been back almost once a year.
Is there a stigma attached to selling flowers in India?
There are many superstitions and religious beliefs around flowers in India, some of which I couldn't photograph because they were holy flowers, and they lost their "power" if photographed.
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How did you set up the shots?
I spent the first few days finding suitable locations, and I wanted all the portraits on the same austere background. The lighting was pretty simple, and I used my partner in crime' the Move 1200, with a giant softbox throughout the entire project - a combination of daylight and flashlight. I wanted this very bright, almost overexposed look to the pictures, so all the portraits are shot mid-day with powerful sun and straight from above. I travelled with one assistant, and we had one local guide to help us.The biggest challenge was the heat, I was there just before the monsoon, and it was 45 degrees every day - after two hours of shooting, your clothes were completely soaked in sweat.
What would you like people to take away from the Flower Men?
Hopefully, people find the portraits fascinating; and even though some of the flower merchants were poor, they were all very proud of their work, and I admire that very much and hope people can see that.