Mette Klint
1. Congratulations on winning in the Global Photography Awards! Can you share a little about yourself, what inspired you to pursue photography, and how has your journey evolved since your first shot?
Thank you so much, and thanks to the jury for this recognition. I am honored and very grateful. I am a photographer from Denmark with a professional background in architecture and construction. Alongside my technical career, I have nurtured my passion for visual art since 2015 and also completed my photography studies at KPP in 2023. Photography is my sanctuary, a space where time slows down, and I reconnect with myself. It offers a calming contrast to the craziness in the construction world. I am especially drawn to flowers, their fragile strength, their wild elegance, and the stories they tell. Each image is an intentional composition of light and shadow, balancing the feminine with the masculine, reflecting the poetry and rawness of nature.
2. Can you share the story or inspiration behind your award-winning piece? How does winning this award make you feel about your journey in photography?
I am a member of Scott Kelby's VIP & Inner Circle group, where we explore many aspects of photographing and editing, and assignments like this one - Fine Art Architectural Photography. In this picture, I combined my two worlds: as a constructing architect, the precision of architecture and the emotion of my flower photography, and it was very inspiring. Winning this award is just crazy, and I am still really amazed and proud. It makes me consider doing more architectural photography and exploring that side.
3. How do you decide which photo to submit for a competition?
I choose images that speak to me with both emotional weight and visual impact, and are strong enough to stand on their own without words.
4. What first made you pick up a camera?
I have been playing music from a very young age, but in 2015, I traded my instruments for a camera. It became my new way of creating, with light instead of sound.
5. What’s your favorite type of photography, and why do you love it?
Flowers are my greatest passion; this is where I can get into flow, forget time and place, and just try to be in the creative mode as long as I can.
6. What’s your go-to camera setup, and why does it work best for your projects? What’s your favorite feature?
I work with my Sony A7R4 and my 90 mm macro lens for flowers, but for this picture, I used my wide-angle lens 14-24 mm.
7. If someone looked at your work, what’s the one thing you’d want them to feel?
Calm and presence, a moment to pause, breathe, and see beauty in light, shadows and form.
8. What was the most challenging part of capturing your winning shot?
The challenge was finding the right angle, standing at the base of the structure, walking around searching for the exact spot where everything aligned, where the curved and vertical lines merged into a higher unity, and revealed the perfect rhythm of the building.
9. Is there a specific place or subject that inspires you the most?
Flowers and nature get me in the zone; this is where I create and get inspired.
10. Who or what has been your biggest influence in photography?
I am proud to say that my friend and mentor is the best flower photographer in Denmark Ann Malmgren, and she has been the biggest influence in my photography, and made me the photographer I am today.
11. What message would you share to inspire photographers to participate in photography awards, and what advice would you give to help them excel in the competition?
Dare to share your vision, do not submit what you think others want to see, but what feels authentic to you. And just take a chance, take a chance on yourself.
12. What’s one piece of advice for someone just starting in photography?
Stay curious, have fun and play, create and explore, be patient and just keep on taking pictures and your unique voice will grow from there.
13. What role do editing and post-processing play in your creative workflow?
It depends on the picture and the vision I have for it; in this picture, it played a big role. Axel Towers is taking in broad daylight, but my vision was to transform it to a black and white fine art, so editing meant a lot to this photo.
14. How do you see technology, like AI, influencing the future of photography and your own approach?
AI will expand creative tools, especially in editing, but for me, the essence of photography is presence, being there, seeing, feeling, and that cannot be replaced.
15. If you could photograph anything or anyone in the world, what would it be?
After this amazing experience, how about photographing architectural wonders around the world!
