For almost three years, photographer Erik Almås assisted Jim Erickson and doesn't believe there to be a better mentor. Erickson inspired, encouraged and nurtured his image-making and gave him a set of working habits that have helped him succeed as a photographer.
Erik, originally from Norway, now calls San Francisco home and shoots constantly and travels around the world for clients such as Toyota, Puma, Nike, Hyatt, USPS, Citibank and Amtrak. His sensibility is down-to-earth, he loves what he does and is a most talented compositor in creating memorable advertising images for his clients.
When Erik has his feet on the ground, he enjoys contributing to 7x7, shooting fashion stories with a passion for art and beauty. When he's not working, he likes to bike, sail and spend quality time with friends.
11.12.08
Platinum, Printed, Cigarette Butts
If you have a degree in what field is it? I have a BFA in photography from The Academy of Art University, San Francisco. Had some truly inspiring teachers that changed my goals from shooting sporting events for my hometown newspaper to wanting to create great images.
What was your strangest assignment? How about shooting a muffin wrap? I’m sort of a formalist and wish I got stranger assignments.
Which photographer would you like to meet? Irving Penn. I would love to chat about platinum, printed, cigarette butts with one of the last living Masters. And Annie Leibowitz, for some of that energy and flawless composition.
What famous person (living or dead) would you most like to photograph? The first person that comes to mind is Tommy Lee Jones. The imagery in No Country for Old Men was just amazing.
Aside from your camera and lighting, what item could you not work without? A great crew. Not quite an item but a great crew is the thing to have.
Is there anything you would not digitally retouch? My Polaroids.
From where do your best ideas originate? The few truly inspired ideas I get have come to me in the oddest places. If I new exactly what place or in what mental state that was, I would go there, be and live there and become one super creative machine.
How do you overcome a creative block? By giving myself time. Time away from photography. Time to sleep, to read, to observe. To listen to myself and let the urge to create new images surface again.
Do you have creative pursuits other than photography? No. I’m still learning how to be creative and one medium seems overwhelming enough.
What music are you listening to right now? Anything that fits into the contradiction of soulful electronica.
What’s your approach to balancing work and life? Hmmm. Still working on this one. It’s hard as photography sort of IS my life. Have realized though that time away is important so I’m trying to spend more time doing other things.
What’s your favorite quote? “By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.” —Franz Kafka
Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession? Don’t stop your pursuit. It will be a longer and more challenging road imagined but the reward of making your living creating pictures is so worth it.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career? That curveballs will be tossed at you every day. From all kinds of angles. And most of them are not personal.