Mette Klint
1. Congratulations on winning in the European 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 honoured and very grateful. I am an award-winning fine art photographer from Denmark, with a degree in Architectural Technology and Construction Management.
Alongside my career as a Construction Manager, I have pursued my passion for photography since buying my first camera in 2014, and I completed my studies at KPP in 2023.
Photography has become a way of seeing the world differently. In my architectural photographs, I explore the meeting between geometry, light and shadow. I try to move beyond documentation, revealing rhythm, balance and quiet emotion through carefully crafted compositions.
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?
Last year, I was named Category Winner in Black & White Architectural Photography, and I am still so grateful for that recognition. It made me think about whether I should explore architectural photography more deeply.
So, when I was in Arnhem in the Netherlands, I simply had to photograph this architectural wonder designed by Ben van Berkel. Winning Gold for this image feels like a wonderful confirmation that I should continue exploring this side of my photography.
3. How do you decide which photo to submit for a competition?
I choose images that speak to me through both emotional weight and visual impact and that 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 2014 I traded 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 a creative flow, forget time and place, and simply be present in the creative process for as long as I can. Flowers give me the freedom to explore emotion, light, shadow, and form in a very intuitive way.
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 A7R IV and my 90mm macro lens for flowers, but for this picture I used my 14–24mm wide-angle lens, which allowed me to capture the larger shapes and spaces of the architecture.
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, shadow 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 and searching for the exact spot where everything aligned and revealed the rhythm of the building.
9. Is there a specific place or subject that inspires you the most?
Flowers and nature are where I enter my creative zone. This is where I create, get inspired, and lose track of time. But after exploring architecture more deeply, I have discovered that buildings can give me the exact same feeling.
10. Who or what has been your biggest influence in photography?
I am proud to say that my friend and mentor, photographer Ann Malmgren, has been the biggest influence on my photography. She has inspired me enormously, challenged me to develop my own way of seeing, and helped shape 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. For this image, post-processing played a big role. My vision was to transform the photograph into a black-and-white fine art image with texture and feeling, so editing was an important part of bringing that vision to life.
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 connecting with the subject. That cannot be replaced.
15. If you could photograph anything or anyone in the world, what would it be?
After this amazing experience, I would love to photograph architectural wonders around the world, exploring them through my own artistic eye and discovering the unexpected beauty in their shapes, spaces, light, and shadows.
