Who? Stefan Dotter. What? Editor in Chief of Whitelies Magazine online & print. Where? Berlin. Camera? Rollei 35, Rolleiflex, Canon 5D Mark II from: Bamberg, Germany.
3 years ago he did not even have his own camera- now he is an awarded fashion photographer. Envelope met the independent photographer and Editor in Chief of Whitelies Magazine, Stefan Dotter in Berlin.
THE WHITELIES EDITOR
Whitelies Magazine is a fashion and culture publication positioned as an independent platform for artists who do not follow the commercial stream. Tell us the story behind Whitelies - and how did it start?
Whitelies is an initial passion project that turned properly serious last year. I started the online magazine when I was still stuck with studying Business in Vienna as a way of expressing my opinions within Art & Fashion, my aesthetics and what moves me. Last year I found the people who trusted in me and inspired them to invest their time as well. Now we are a collaborative magazine where everyone brings their equally important part to the publication.
In what way does living Berlin inspires you?
Berlin is a very vibrant place to live in. It’s very easy and convenient to work creatively here, however there is not a serious attutide towards it and the city has a lot of traps with young creatives getting stuck in the club scene or other sort of things. I understand it’s hard for most of the people to motivate themselves every day to get up and be productive when the majority is living the party life constantly. Not for me, I absorb the things that inspire me while still keeping my distance to the whole scene.
When did you get your first camera, and what kind of camera was that?
I got my first camera about 2,5 years ago. It was a Nikon D3200. God I hated that camera.
How did your interest of photography start?
Everything I always did was centered around aesthetics. It was just a matter of time for me to find an area where I can work mainly with aesthetics. Photography was always interesting to me but it was the work of Luc Braquet and Lena C. Emery that really inspired me to try it out myself.
Where does the fascination for shooting people come from?
It’s a funny question regarding that I’m turning to still-lives right now! Having a person in a picture always adds some kind of emotion to it. We constantly express emotions and if you manage to capture it there is always a depth in the photograph.
What makes a great photo?
It really depends. For me it’s the moment. And your relationship to the subject. Because you never photograph people “how they really are” - it’s a false statement. You always capture them exactly how you see them. A strong relationship, positive or negative, is the key. If youre not emotional yourself while taking the picture, you won’t be able to capture it. Because you have to feel something. And what makes not. Too much thinking and too much retouching.
What inspires you the most?
Can be anything. I guess most inspirations I draw from paintings, other photographers and the beauty of women. Where did you grow up? I grew up in a small town called Bamberg in the South of Germany.
In what way do you think Scandinavian People is interesting?
The simplicity, melancholia and the strong relationship towards nature.
What is style for you?
Style is a refleciton of your personality. Subconcious personality. If youre thinking too much about it rather than getting up and throwing on the first thing that comes to your mind, its not real.
Have you always been a black/white person?
I have been for a long time I suppose but actually I’m very much shifting towards colours now! Well pastel colours, but it counts.
We love your sens of style, for photography- what photographers do you love the most?
The most amazing photographers I could think of are Lena C. Emery and my mentor Sebran D’Argent.
Whats your highlight in your carrier so far?
Being awarded Fashion Photographer of the Year by EYEEM and Huffington Post last year and auctioning off my first photograph for charity in collaboraiton with Vitra and Studio Odile Decq last year.
Where can we buy Whitelies magazine - the printed version?
Actually from now on we are stocked worldwide - you can find it everywhere from Melbourne to Seoul to Milan to NYC.
WHERE TO GO IN BERLIN?
Where do you take your coffe in Berlin?
I stopped drinking coffee and switched to green tea actually but Roamers has a good coffee.
Where do you eat in Berlin?
Vegans are gonna hate me. Calfliver at Fleischerei.
Where do you go out in Berlin?
I like to stick to cozy bars like Schwarz Sauer or Godot.
Any independed stores you will recomend?
I’m not the shopper type either but The Store x Soho House is pretty nice. (Read the envelope article here)
Where to stay in Berlin if youre a traveller?
Do Airbnb, Berlin has insane apartments for little money. It’s the spirit of the city. If you want to find a middle-thing between this and a Hotel try Gorki.n (Read the Envelope article here about Gorki)
Envelope by Celine Aagaard
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