TITLE: Weakness

This photograph explores sides of masculinity that doesn´t just show strength but also worries, anxiety and weakness.

AUTHOR: Måsse Hjeltman (Sweden)

Hello!
My firs experience with photography was through my fathers darkroom placed in a small guest toilet in our apartment in Stockholm. When we moved to the south part of Sweden in the mid 1980's I lend my fathers equipment and set up my own space and started to develop my photographs.

I didn't really have any photography role models at this point but about 10 years later I discovered photography as a visual art form through the covers of my musical heroes as Madonna, Depeche Mode, U2 and David Bowie. The covers of the albums made a strong impact on me as a young man.

So the first photo book I purchased was "star track" by Anton Corbijn back in 1997. He really impressed me with his dark, graphical pictures that almost stood out as paintings. I understood that photography is an artform that is strong in its media.

I see myself today as a photographer even though I'm not making my living on it, yet. Trying to develop my own style and enjoying every time a new project is on.

I think my pictures are strong, timeless and expressive. And I think you can see that Antons Corbijns graphical style is still an influence in my work along with many others.

Regards/ Måsse Hjeltman