Photo by Sasha Lytvyn, taken exclusively for this issue.

Adam Kremer is a Canadian/ Australian photographer based in Brooklyn, New York.

His practice is an ongoing exploration of personal narrative through the genre of still life. Often removed from the studio in favor of landscape and alternative contexts, his approach is married to the naturalistic elements of light, object, and photographic process, allowing space for a visual language in still life where images reflect the act of living.

His clients include Hermès, Jil Sander, Dior, Calvin Klein, WSJ Magazine, Vogue France, Vogue China, Noisé Magazine, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, and Hauser & Wirth Publishing. He is represented commercially by Quadriga Management.

Hey Adam, how’s life in Brooklyn these days? What’s been exciting or inspiring you lately? Anything that’s caught your eye?

Life in Brooklyn is very warm after what felt like a never ending winter. Right now I’m just looking forward to traveling a bit and working on nice sunny projects.

I walk past this small garden every morning and always photograph the flowers with my phone. This observation inspired a recent editorial still life:

Your work carries this mix of precision and looseness — like it’s both done and undone. How do you know when a photograph is done?

I’m glad that mix comes through. My ideal situation is producing a refined image from simple means - I would never think of my work as ‘raw’, but I’m increasingly focused on stripping away a lot of the technical elements of photo production. 

I think the image is ‘done’ when it feels like it captures the feeling of ‘living’ and shows traces of its making. That could be through communicating the presence of camera/ photographer with composition or in the selection, arrangement, and presentation of materials in still life. It’s really important to me that my images feel more ‘made’ and less ‘produced’.

What’s your first memory of photography — the moment you realized an image could hold more than just what’s in front of the lens?

This would be taking control of the family camera while on holiday in my late-teens. I remember making photos of some buildings and people on the street, then having an overwhelming desire to share them on Facebook with my friends. The idea of making something from nothing while exploring was exciting and new.

How would you personally define a “good” photograph? Is it about feeling, form, maybe something else?

A mixture of form, some kind of photo-historical reference, and balancing clashing relationships between the ‘subject’ and surrounding materials/ location context. I think photos are most interesting when they either focus on the absolute essence of the ‘subject', or they communicate a scenario outside of the image. A great image can communicate a world beyond its content. 

There’s often a quiet sense of nostalgia in your images — is that intentional or something that finds its way in on its own?

That’s just me. I’m always longing or dreaming and trying to feel something more.

Can you walk us through your creative process?

The most important ritual in my life is taking a long morning walk before starting work in my office or on set. Walking is extremely important to me and I’ve accepted that all my most productive  and creative thought happens while moving. 

I take a lot from being out in the world and just existing, then those observations and feelings are applied to my work.

AI has been shaking up creative fields — what’s your take on it, especially as someone whose work often feels deeply human and tactile?

I don’t think it has much of a relationship to my practice, but I find it to be really useful in the everyday administrative side of my business. I’m not opposed to engaging advanced technologies, but I’m trying to remain a few steps away from this kind of technology when making photographs.

Looking back, what would you say has been the biggest challenge in your creative journey so far?

Remaining focused on forward momentum and having a creative/ professional north star. Juggling advertising, editorial, personal work, and normal life can get pretty mentally hectic so I’m constantly pausing to consider where I’m at creatively and professionally. 

Most importantly, I try to make space to live parts of my life without a camera and remember that not every experience needs to be turned into work.

If you had to pick one of your own photos that best describes your visual world, which one would it be and why?

It’s always going to be an extremely recent image - Maybe this extra ‘vibe’ image from a recent fashion-y still life editorial for Noisé Magazine. I’m always adding in these images without product to help set the tone and move the story forward:

The commercial world and personal work often live side by side. What’s something you love — and maybe something you wrestle with — about working  professionally in photography?

I love exploring things I find interesting and beautiful and combining them all together - communicating massively vague ideas and emotions through a collection of beautiful moments. Hopefully it results in something that excites viewers

Obviously images are absolutely everywhere and I think looking at too much photography as a photographer can be a seriously overwhelming experience. Going back to the previous question about the challenges of a creative journey - I think it’s really important to explore a healthy balance between work and life, and time away from the camera.

What advice would you give to young creatives trying to carve out a space for themselves today?

Work towards understanding who you are and what you love, then focus on making that. 

Try to remain aware of the line between art and commerce.

Be kind to yourself.

Adam’s List

Your favorite museum or bookstore:

I just toured the Nakashima foundation, so I’ll pick that as my favorite ‘museum’ right now.

The last book you read:

I just finished reading ‘Seeing is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees, Conversations with Robert Irwin’. Now I’m reading Keith McNally’s memoir ‘I Regret Almost Everything’.

A line (from a poem, song, or conversation) that stuck with you:

If one thing matters, everything matters.

A tune you’ve been humming lately:

Kylie Minogue’s ‘I Should Be So Lucky’

Your favorite moment in a typical day:

Waking up with my partner.

The last thing you saved in your notes:

A grocery list for last night’s dinner.

Your favorite app / account you follow on IG:

I’m using Spotify pretty much all day in my office.