This week we interviewed Berlin based, portrait photographer Jakob Stolz for our 'In Focus' series.

SECTION 1 - BACKGROUND

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE IMAGE / PRINT SHOT ON ILFORD FILM AND TELL US WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU?

To me this is my most personal photograph I've ever taken. It's my grandfather Kurt who passed away last year at the age of 87. All his life he lived in Duisburg, Germany and worked as a carpenter. I started photographing him 7 years ago and continued so to the very end. These photos are very close to my heart - spending time with him, photographing him and seeing life slowly draining from his body and mind was a very hard but important thing to experience. Adieu Kurt.

In Focus Jakob Stolz. Black and white portrait of an old man with a tear running down his face.

JUST IN CASE ANYONE DOESN’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU DO, CAN YOU GIVE US THE OVERVIEW?

My name is Jakob Stolz - that´s the name my parents gave me on a warm summerday in a small village in Bavaria in 1992. Growing up there was a real blessing to me - countryside - small - quiet - lovely. But it got a bit boring so I moved a bit around. From Germany to Australia, from New Zealand to Hamburg to studying visual journalism in Hannover and since 2021 I call Berlin my home. I would call myself a portrait photographer. Nothing is more interesting to me than a human face. The story behind every wrinkle and every scar. I more often find myself on movie sets and would like to continue working more commercially. Now I´m part of a Photo Studio in Berlin Kreuzberg, Studio41 - you are welcome for a coffee and a session!

In Focus Jakob Stolz. Black and white portrait of an old man smoking a cigar in his mouth.

HOW AND WHY DID YOU GET STARTED SHOOTING FILM?

When I was 10 or 11 I went on a holiday trip to Italy with a friends family. One man had an old Canon Camera and he allowed me to shoot with it. Two weeks later after the holiday ended, we met and he showed me the photos I've taken. All of them where portraits. Fast forward 12 years I bought myself a Mamiya 645 and a pack of ILFORD HP5+, a development kit and started shooting film. To me shooting film slows everything down - especially when you are a hectic person like I am. It takes time. To make quality work always takes time - not just in photography. I realised that the outcome of shooting film just gave me better results over all. That's how it started.

In Focus Jakob Stolz. Black and white contact sheet of two men posing for a photoshoot.

WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST PHOTOGRAPHIC INSPIRATION TO DATE?

For sure Paolo Roversi, Sarah Moon, Stephan Vanfleteren, Jacques Olivar, Penn and Avedon. I always come back to these Legends and everytime I see a photograph which I have seen hundreds of times before I always find new inspiration in it.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF PHOTOGRAPHY TIP OR ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?

Try to see light as a painter - shut the f*** up and shoot.

WHAT FILM PHOTOGRAPHY RELATED PROJECTS ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON (OR ARE IN THE PIPELINE)?

In 2022 I started working on a project about Toreros in Spain. It's A mixed project with digital as well as film photography. This October I'm planning to go back to Madrid for a week and continue working on it.

In Focus Jakob Stolz. Black and white side portrait of a man holding his kneck.

WHAT / WHERE IS YOUR NEXT SHOOT AND HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT FILM / KIT YOU WILL USE?

Currently I'm working on a book about people in Berlin. I work with alot of actors, musicians and everyday people who inspire me. The choice of film is easy as I work only with ILFORD HP5+. To me shooting with this film is just easy - I can pull it like crazy - I can push it like crazy and even if I think if fucked it up it still gives me results which I can work with. Most of the time I shoot with a Pentax67 and a Hasselblad 500cm. Depends on the person who is in front of me and the mood I/we have.

WHAT ARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC GOALS GOING FORWARD?

My biggest goal is to never lose the pure joy of taking photos. The time we are living in with social media, photo contests, the business side of photography, deadlines, clients etc. can make me forget why I even shoot in the first place. This is why, besides my digital work, it's really important to me to continue shooting film. It slows me down, makes me think, makes me curious, makes me wonder. It's pure - a pure joy - a homage to life itself.

In Focus Jakob Stolz. Black and white contact sheet of a man posing for the camera.

SECTION 2 - SHOUT OUTS

We all need a bit of inspiration and love so this is your chance to tell the community about yours – from the film photographers whose work inspires you, the labs you trust with your film, your ‘go to’ film photography stockists, your favourite community darkrooms or just anyone in the community who you feel deserves a special mention.

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR 3 FAVOURITE FILM PHOTOGRAPHERS.

For sure there is Jack Davison (@jackdavisonphoto) - I look at his work and it gives me goosebumps. His creativity and how he sees the world is just an inspiration.

Tarek Mawad (@tarekmawad) is another Legend I absolutely adore. His style of shooting is something else! Doesn't matter if it's portrait, fashion or sport!

Stephan Vanfleteren - to me one of the greatest Portrait photographers.

In Focus Jakob Stolz. Black and white portrait of a man with glasses and a hat on with his face slightly turned.

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHY YOUTUBE CHANNELS.

I really don't have one favourite one - I research a lot and everything that helps me to learn and grow is one of my favourite's.

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHIC RETAILERS.

For sure Khrome in Hamburg! https://khrome.de/

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE LAB SERVICE.

My favourite Lab is Fotopioniere in Berlin. https://fotopioniere.com

In Focus Jakob Stolz. Black and white portrait of a man holding one eye.

SECTION 3 - FAVOURITE KIT

WHAT FILM CAMERAS DO YOU OWN AND WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

I shoot on a Pentax67 and Hasselblad 500cm the most. For my day to day snapshot work I shoot with a Olympus MJU 140.

ASIDE FROM YOUR CAMERA, LENSES AND FILM, WHAT ACCESSORIES MAKE IT INTO YOUR CAMERA BAG?

Always some cash and my little notebook.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF PHOTOGRAPHY KIT YOU HAVE FOUND OR BEEN GIFTED?

Pentax67 with the 105mm 2.4!

AS THIS IS AN ILFORD INTERVIEW IT WOULD BE REMISS OF US NOT TO ASK ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE ILFORD PRODUCTS. TELL US YOUR FAVOURITE ILFORD FILM, PAPER OR CHEMS AND WHY?

I've never used anything else than HP5+, ILFOSOL 3 and ILFORD RAPID FIXER.

In Focus Jakob Stolz. Black and white portrait of a man slightly blurred.

AND FINALLY…

NOMINATE ONE OTHER PERSON YOU THINK SHOULD FILL IN THIS FORM AND WE WILL REACH OUT TO THEM.

I would like to nominate Moïse Youmba (@moiseymb), he is a Berlin based commercial film photographer whose work I really admire! I personally don't know him - so please say Hi from me! 🙂

In Focus Jakob Stolz. Black and white shot of three men in water.

 

Images ©Jakob Stolz