Leica S Editorial by TINA TRUMPP 2016

In “Shades of Sensuality,” German photographer Tina Trumpp captures the female nude—natural light and soft contours create a uniquely graceful and sensual portrayal of women. The art of nude photography from a woman’s perspective.

INTERVIEW:

S Magazine: You’re a musician and a photographer. Does one of those roles take precedence, and how do they fit together?
Tina Trumpp: In general, I’m a sensual and creative person; both music and photography are equally important to me. I grew up in a very musical family, so it was only natural to pursue a career in that direction. I discovered photography during my school years, back in the analog era, thanks to a great teacher. I’ve just always been lucky enough to meet the right people in life and then be able to try out different things. Right now, I’m doing more photography, but that doesn’t mean I prefer photography over music. It’s more about a feeling and the desire to do something.

How would you describe your style, and does it have anything to do with your music?
I like to shoot in natural light, but also with large softboxes to achieve the softest, most flattering, and natural-looking light possible. I’d describe my style as more classic—trashy looks and harsh lighting just aren’t my thing. For the perfect photo, the model’s posing and the atmosphere are very important to me. I invest an enormous amount of time in this beforehand. In the end, everything comes across as timelessly simple and harmonious—that’s how I approach music as well.

When you’re working freelance, women are often your subject. Why is that? Do the images reflect a specific image of women that you have?
I do think I have a specific image of women that I also try to portray in my photography. Personally, I see women as very sensual, yet at the same time strong and sexy. When shooting a nude series, it’s important to me to avoid any hint of sexism. The woman shouldn’t be an object of desire, but rather a beautiful, graceful, and dignified muse.

“Shades of Sensuality” is a nude series. Why nudes?
I’d wanted to do a pure nude photo series for quite some time, but I spent a long time searching for the perfect model. Emilie immediately understood what I wanted and what was important to me. I think she was able to be herself, even though she naturally received certain guidelines from me along the way. On set, a kind of harmony—or even intimacy—developed between the two of us, which I think is also evident in the photos.
Yes, the photos are nudes, but from a woman’s perspective. Beforehand, I’d studied other photographers who’d explored this theme. Unfortunately, though, I found only a few who inspired me or who portrayed women in a way that I could personally identify with. I think there’s a big difference here between whether a man or a woman is taking the photos.

Your color photos have a rather soft look. Why is that? Does that look already emerge during the shoot, or does post-production play an important role for you?
A lot of it comes together on set exactly as I envision the image later on. That certainly has to do with my rather classic photography style. The art of retouching then lies in manipulating the image only to the extent that it still looks natural. Here, too, a certain degree of alignment is required—this time between the photographer and the retoucher. Peter Witte from Magic Group Media and I have absolutely the same taste: We both like that slightly imperfect beauty; pores should be visible, as should moles. The model’s personality should be preserved—I’d even like to bring it more to the forefront. Images should come alive and not be retouched to death. This is a very important aspect of my photography. I also love timeless elegance.

To what extent does your commercial work differ from your freelance work?
In fact, in my freelance work, I focus primarily on the sensuality of women. But I really enjoy both—every day with the camera is like a gift to me. I don’t make any distinction between freelance and commercial work.