Detlev Schneider

The photographer and the stars

He meets the stars and shows them as humans. Expressive portraits are his passion.

When Superpromis go on sale show, there are appointments every minute. Portrait for a German magazine, because Dennis Hopper presents a new film? Half a hour. Maximum. "The interesting thing is to reach someone quickly," says Detlev Schneider. "You can only do that if you yourself are open." Many photographers hide behind their camera, as a portrait photographer you must not be afraid of famous people. The 44-year-old professional from Berlin knows what he's talking about because he has portrayed stars like John Malkovich, Peter Ustinov, Nick Cave and Boy George.

Sometimes it helps to help the star with practical problems. Isabella Rosselinis Jacket has wrinkles? Since the photographer just takes the iron. What in return brings him the nicest compliment: "The special thing about your pictures is that you manage to open the people in a short time," says the actress. "You are so sympathetic that you want to give yourself the best of yourself." Schneider is even so sympathetic to admit that such personal statements are the absolute exception in the business. Mostly it's professional. Nevertheless, people fascinate him. "If I did not take pictures of people, I would not take pictures."

He was already 10 years old with his father in the darkroom. But first there was another career goal: cameraman. Immediately after school, Schneider began training at film production in Hamburg, where he grew up. At the age of 23 he shot his first films. And photographed the actors in the shooting breaks. It was not until he met Roger Willemsen, who invited him to portray the guests on his television show, that he discovered that he actually has a very special talent for portraits and how much fun he enjoys doing. "I can only advise every young photographer," he says today, "take the camera and do it." In the meantime, Schneider no longer works as a cameraman, but devotes himself entirely to his work for newspapers, magazines or record companies, to whom he delivers covers.

More and more interesting people meet the photographer in the theater and film scene in Berlin, where he lives since 1999. He often portraits them without a commercial order and then prefers to use the analog rather than the digital camera. Also, all portraits are recorded analogously. "Because the look and the concentration are different, if you know you only have 10 pictures, not 1000." His latest project is a book. with portraits of celebrities and people he met on his travels. They all ask the three most important questions they have. To God, to the world, to life. Maybe they are normal, unspectacular people, but they touch the viewer by their gaze. "The personality is important. What I see in the eyes of a stranger, "says Schneider. He captures moments that will not come back like this. "And that never gets boring."