I has the absolute privilege of being able to send photographer Manuel D (aka frankfurban) some questions about his stunning cityscapes.

Check out the interview below!

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and how you became a photographer? What inspires you to create?

My name is Manuel D. @frankfurban
I was born at the end of the eighties in Frankfurt am Main Germany. Since I never owned a camera I discovered my passion for photography quite late through smartphones.

2. Did you study photography or are you self-taught? What are your thoughts about art education? Is photography a subject that can be taught well in an academic setting?

I neither studied nor learned photography.

3. What is the most surprising or challenging aspect of being a photographer? Is there anything you don’t like about it?

The biggest challenge for me is to meet my constantly growing demands.  And to always find new motifs that captivate me.

4. Social media has changed the way that people interact with art, and with a lot of people are now viewing images online. What are your thoughts on social media and how has it impacted your practice? Is it something you enjoy?

Additionally, does knowing that your work will predominantly be viewed online effect the way you create it?

I am actually very positive about social media.  I think nowadays it simply belongs to it.  And it also brings many advantages, e.g. to increase its reach.  But of course there are also many negative aspects.  The competition is strong.  And to be really successful you have to deliver regularly.

5. Your photographs of cityscapes are extremely fascinating and you have a really good eye for interesting compositions. What is it about the city that intrigues you enough to make you want to photograph it over and over and what do you think that images of landscapes tell us about the human condition?

 Urban & Streetphotography has always fascinated me the most.  And since Frankfurt am Main with its skyline and its contrasts has a lot to offer, it’s a good idea to take pictures there if you’re already from the surrounding area. I also knew from the beginning that you’ll have the most success on Instagram if you have a common thread to follow.

6. The way that you shoot and edit your images gives them a really moody feel, almost as if we are looking at the calm before the storm. Do you think that it is important for an artist to have a certain style and if so, how would you describe yours?

Of course it’s not a must to have your own style, but i think it can’t hurt, and has many advantages, for example the recognition value.  But of course also the aspect that you get better over time if you specialize in a certain way.

7. I really like the way that your images seem really considered, with a lot of emphasis on symmetry  and showcasing the wide spaces and structure of the city.

How do you know that a location will make a good image and what do you look for in a location? Have there been any instances where you wish you had taken a photo, but didn’t?

Let’s call it intuition. often I look for symmetry, interesting structures or strong contrasts and try to integrate them into my paintings.

And of course there have been some situations where you regret not to have taken a picture.  But the next opportunity will come.

8. What is your photo shoot process like? Do you typically have an idea of where or what you’re going to shoot or are you more spontaneous with your images?

How many images do you typically shoot and what is your image selection process like? What do you do with all of the unpublished work?

Additionally, can you talk about the challenges you face whilst shooting outside on location and how it differs whilst shooting at night and shooting during the day? How do you make sure that you and your equipment stay safe?

Most of the time I move around aimlessly and let me surprise what comes.  But sometimes I also have an exact idea of what I want to photograph and how it should look like later.

Normally I take 3-5 pictures of every location, sometimes with a person in the picture and sometimes without.  And then I decide later what I like better and currently fits better into my feed.

Photographing by day or night is not really different from each other.  I make sure that nothing happens to me and my equipment by not photographing the wrong people and try to respect the personal rights of the people.

9, A really fascinating aspect of your cityscapes is that in most of the images of large cities, people are often absent, and we are able to study the landscape of the city in a way we are not able to in real life. Is this absence of humanity something you have deliberately chosen to explore and do you think that people engage more to images of a wide empty spaces, as opposed to crowds?

In fact I make sure that not so many people are in my pictures because I think it distracts from the essential part of the picture.  Also, the city looks more mystical when abandoned.

10. The digital revolution has made photography accessible to almost everyone but do you think that anyone can be a photographer? Is there a difference between an image maker and an image taker?

Nowadays everybody carries a camera in his trouser pocket. and the quality of the pictures is really impressive. but for me this does not make a photographer.  To have an eye for photography, to find interesting perspectives, to be able to tell stories, all this is hard to learn.

11. In your opinion, what makes a good piece of art? What was the last image/piece of media that captivated you and what was it about it that left an impression on you?

i think good pictures should arouse emotions. at best they should tell a story.  Often it is personalities that make a picture interesting. But places can also tell a story.

12. How often do you consider the audience when creating work? Do you create work for yourself or for others?

Additionally, does knowing that your work will predominantly be viewed online effect the way you create it?

First and foremost, of course, I follow my own needs when creating my art.  To keep a consistent look on Instagram you sometimes have to limit yourself a bit.  But I do that for me and not for someone else.

13.  How often do you search for inspiration and do you ever feel the pressure to create more work as your career has progressed?

On average I’m out and about three times a week taking pictures.  Sometimes I have phases where I discover a lot of motifs in one day and come home with really good pictures. And on other days there is not one good one.  But I have learned not to put pressure on myself anymore.  The next good motive will come for sure.

14. Do you think that an artist’s work should be constantly evolving or do you think they should create what sells? How has your own work changed since you first started and is art worth creating if it’s not commercial?

Important is first of all that creating art is fun.  A further development in creating will probably not be stopped.  Everybody changes his view on art in the course of time.  For example, I used to make sure that there were no people in the picture.  In the meantime this has changed completely, because I know that people often manage to tell a story.  In addition, my editing style has also changed over time.

15. Copyright, especially in the technological age, is a huge problem for artists.

What actions do you take to ensure that your work is not being used without your permission, and have you had any experiences with plagiarism? Is this an issue that you think about and what are your thoughts about intellectual property rights for artists?

Copyright is indeed a sensitive topic especially on platforms like Instagram and Co. and I have been a victim of copyright abuse.  You can’t really protect yourself from it. Even a watermark can be removed.  The only thing that helps is to report the abuse and to hope that the respective platform operator will take care of it.

16. What are you currently working on and where can people find out more about you and your work?

My next bigger project I have planned for the end of the year is an exhibition of my paintings. Currently I am still looking for a suitable Location in Frankfurt am Main. If someone can be found this way, I would be very happy about it 🙂