Belgium-based German photographer Daniel Sannwald is difficult to define. His work inspires the imagination with its crisp, superreal style, and his juxtaposition of images creates fantasy. A regular contributor to Dazed & Confused, each project Daniel undertakes is dramatically different and unique. See for yourself.

Images

 

Q&A

Name: Daniel Sannwald
Age: 29
Nationality: German
Based In: Antwerp / Belgium
Website: www.danielsannwald.com
Representation: www.murrayarthur.co.uk

How did you start your career?
When I was very young my mother took me on a trip to Turkey in her VW Käfer car for some vacation. I can’t remember the trip so well but I remember it was the first vacation I was allowed to use her camera. One of the first pictures I ever took was when my mother was sleeping in the car. I was six years old and she looked so perfect to me. I remember that at that moment she symbolised every idealistic feeling I had about a woman.

That was maybe not the exact start of my career but the start of me trying to use a camera to capture what I love.

What do you think is your best work so far?
Louis Vuitton Special for Vogue Hommes Japan.

Who or what has influenced you?
My friends.

What is your earliest recollection of noticing or being inspired by photography and/or style?
My earliest recollection of noticing photography was with my father who was an artist, who used a lot of video and photography in his work. He took a couple of images of me dressed up in costumes and projected the images on canvas and airbrushed them into very strange collages. As a teenager I was really inspired by the way my mum took photos. She always hates to take photos but the outcome is always good. She is almost like a kid holding a camera for the first time. Every photographic rule is broken and the image just looks free. Only my mother is able to cut off all the heads of a family portrait and make it still look nice.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
Dressing up as a homeless person and pretending on the streets that I didn’t have a family.

What music do you like to work to?
If a CD would exist with live recordings of people performing at different karaoke bars then this would be the best ever for me.

Three people you would love to work with:
Jamie Bell, Miuccia Prada and Mario Hugo

Describe your dream project?
I would like to have some time of to work on a documentary film. One evening, my boyfriend and I had nice idea together which I would like to realize with him in the near future.

Where do you find inspiration?
In almost everything.

What are you loving at the moment?
How my boy moves his hair with his forehead when he is surprised.

Film you think everyone should see:
“Der Rechte Weg / The right way” by Peter Fischli and David Weiss.

Best advice you have ever been given?
Enjoy.

Who do you think is one to watch?
A nice magazine from Belgium called Ultraviolet Magazine, and my talanted friends Jenny Mörtsell, Bruna Kazinoti and Albert Folch.

Thanks to Daniel Sannwald for his time and work, and to Ruben Debuck for the tip!