Kaupo Kikkas - Hats off, gentlemen!
Kaupo Kikkas - Hut ab, meine Herren, ein Genie!
On hearing Chopin for the first time, Robert Schumann eternalized his impressions with the famous quote Hats off, gentlemen, a genius.
After a whirlwind week of working with Kaupo Kikkas, I am inclined to think exactly that. The award winning Estonian photographer Kaupo Kikkas presents artworks with a highly unusual and almost raw individual message. He does not do photo shoots, but artistic experiences. His juxtaposition and integration of the portrayed and their surroundings offers a glorious feast for the eye. Stark and powerful surroundings are hugging the portrayed. It’s an entirely new voice or maybe rather eye.
The Photo Shoot
This week’s photo shoot experience with Kaupo leaves me with the impression that he loves life through the camera. His impeccable eye for texture, movement, color, contrast, and perspective seems to create sound through visual impression. Kaupo Kikkas is able to connect his two main interests - music and photography - absolutely perfectly.
Working with Kaupo is easy, because he is so genuine. He connects to people through his work. His stark and strong, yet funny and charming character is highly charged with energy. His uncompromising focus reminds me of characters from Ayn Rand’s novels, and his constant perception of his visual surroundings is actually quite contagious.
Relaxed focus is the best way to describe the overall feel of his actually very intense work sessions. Kaupo’s exact instructions before and during the shoot make what could be a tiring photo session a breeze. He addresses every aspect of each photo scene with patience and clarity, and it is exactly this focus that is instantaneously relaxing. Even though all scenes are meticulously planned and prepared, there is always room to improvise and to use light and surroundings in new ways.
Even though we took many, many photos, at the end the main feeling was that we had made a true connection, a connection that seemed so easy, one wonders, if I have known Kaupo forever (we met four days ago).
Take a look at the work of this artist. We certainly will see lots more of him in the future. Hat’s off, gentlemen!
Visit www.kaupokikkas.com to view galleries!
