photographer
lisa linke
With her passion for race tracks and fast cars Lisa Linke has made her own way in the world of car photography. In this interview she tells us what role plans, coincidences and interpersonal relationships play for her in her job.
The Sturgheons: Lisa, can you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Who are you, where are you from, what do you do?Lisa Linke: My name is Lisa, I’m photographer from Germany. I grew up alongside the beautiful German Wine Route, but am living in Los Angeles for the last few years now. I have a background in architecture and marketing, but at some point decided to follow my passion and turn it into a career. My photography focuses on automotive work, and I have a real passion for cars and racing.
Do you have a motto, a wisdom?I don’t think I do :-)
Any attributes you can describe yourself and your work with? I think I’m a very creative person and love to work with others who share the same mindset. It’s important to me to have a plan and to be prepared before a job starts, but once I’m on set I love capturing spontaneous moments instead of staging my images.
Was there a particular time or impulse that pushed you towards photography?When I think back I realize that I've always been interested in photography. For me it was the combination of cars and photography that made me want to turn my hobby into a career. Especially being at the racetrack and photographing motorsports, those things were always fascinating to me. You couldn’t really plan ahead and had to capture the moment as it appeared. I think that excitement and the whole experience overall made me realize that that was what I loved doing the most.
What drives you in your work these days?When I first started pursuing this career it was hard to get recognition, especially as a woman in this business. I had the motivation to prove myself, and I wanted to make sure my work stands out. I also just love my work. Every job is different, and you get to work with so many great people. This is something that makes it fun for me, it never gets old.
What aspect of your work makes you the happiest?I'm the happiest when I'm on set. I love meeting new people and collaborating with them on a project. Sharing creative thoughts and bringing them to life is something I really enjoy. Out of every job there are new friendships that evolve and that’s something you don’t experience in every work environment.
What kind of equipment do you work with? Are there must-haves?I currently have a new Sony mirrorless camera system, but also photograph with Hasselblad or Phase One, depending on the scope of the project and the agency's needs.
In my opinion there aren’t really any must-haves. I think you should use the gear you feel the most comfortable with, which is how you can be the most creative.
What do you think makes a good auto photographer? Do you have role models?I think a big aspect of being successful as a photographer is how good you are at selling yourself and your work. Clients want to work with photographers who are good at collaborating and communicating. So obviously marketing is very important, because you have to make sure the clients are aware of you and keep you in mind for the next project.
Of course there are a lot of photographers whose work I love and look up to, but I think finding your own way is more important. You want to have your own ideas and point of view in order to stand out.
Which is/was the most photogenic car for you so far?That's a tough question! I think since I work a lot with the Porsche brand it's easier for me to find the right angle while shooting one of their cars. Sports cars always seem to be more photogenic, but that's probably because they are more interesting and exciting looking overall.
And the most exciting race track in the world?The Nürburgring! The annual 24h race is something I photograph every year. It's just such a unique place and to be capturing the event never gets old. I love the atmosphere, the people and the track layout itself. To me it's sort of a challenge to photograph the event every year. I'm trying to find new ways to tell the story, and I discover new spots and perspectives every time I am back there.
If you are allowed to have only one car in the garage, which one would it be and why?I am a big fan of vintage BMWs and Porsches. So it would either be an air-cooled 911, or an old E30 BMW M3. It’s just such a different aesthetic and vintage cars are so different to drive. Another thing that comes with owning a classic car is the car culture here in California, that is unique in it’s own way.
Drive the Circuit de Monaco yourself in a racing car or a meet and greet with your favourite driver?I think I would prefer a good conversation over the racing experience. Something I really enjoy about my job is meeting new people and listening to their stories. When I photograph editorial work a lot of the times it’s about the driver, the car and their adventures together.
A lot of people have asked me about if I’ve driven on track, or if that is something I’m interested in, but I personally never really wanted to trade my spot behind the barrier for the driver’s seat.
Do you miss Germany? If so, what do you miss most?I do miss Germany, and besides German food and German countryside, I miss my family the most. I usually spend a lot of time there, but obviously things are a bit different this year. Originally I wanted to be back home over the summer and the plan was to shoot a few projects there, but I will try to do so once traveling is possible again.
What are your next projects?At the moment everything has been postponed or canceled. I had a few shoots lined up, but due to the current situation photographing projects in California is nearly impossible. I want to be mindful of the situation and stay at home, so I'm currently working on some personal work instead. But hopefully I can be out shooting again soon!
USA, April 2020. | Interview by The Sturgheons with Lisa Linke. | Photos by Lisa Linke.
