Ahmed Krausen

Muslim-photographer.com is pleased to have with us the photographer Ahmed Krausen.

Ahmed hipshoots Ahmed

Ahmed Krausen was born as Eckhard Krausen in the year 1955 in the town of Aachen, Germany. He was brought up in a strongly Protestant family within a predominantly Roman Catholic community. He states that the political events of the sixties and the seventies contributed positively to his personality.

His main interests have been Social Studies, Theology and Geography. In 1978 he left Germany for Denmark and since then he has been living in the capital of Copenhagen.

Between 1979 and 1985 he travelled for long periods to various countries in Asia, Africa and New Zealand searching for answers to the many questions regarding life and death.

The teachings and inspirations he received especially from people in Egypt and Sudan changed the course of his life forever. The lessons and experiences he gained there later proved to be crucial to his decision to become a Muslim.

In 1989 he finished his education as a mechanical technician. This education, however, could never really challenge and inspire him to the same extent that photography has done.

In 1990 he went to Italy for work and after two years he returned to Denmark dissatisfied but with valuable additions of professional experience, knowledge of both how to make Italian food and a new language.

Finally, in 1992 he embraced Islam, Alhamdullilah.
Since 1995 he has been married and has four children.

What inspired you to pick up a camera?
Photography is my life. I have been photographing since my childhood with a little Agfa pocket camera; therefore the camera has been always my constant traveling companion. With the photography I can “freeze” a fraction of a second and can make it durable for a long time. The photography is the only one media where you can make details visible, that normally your eyes can’t imagine. I would wish that Muslims would see more details.

The mosque in Edinburgh, Scotland was completed in 1989, Architect: Dr. Basil Al-Byati

Which do you prefer, film or digital and why?
These days I capture scenes mostly with digital, both small and medium format, but I am still using film on occasion, especially for black and white photography.

mosque in Stockholm

Have you had any formal training in photography?
I took a one year’s course at the Copenhagen Photo School. There I was able to dwell on my practical photographic experience and experiment further to develop my interest in various types of cameras and photo equipment as well as films.

View of the prayer hall of the mosque in Ivre, Belarus

Living in Denmark, how do you find people’s attitudes to Islam and Muslims in general?

Denmark is not any more the country I once knew some 30 years ago. The cartoon crisis has changed Denmark and its previous reputation. The crisis has made the life for Muslims living here more difficult.

Do you find that being a Muslim has interfered with your photography or has it helped your success?
The camera has been the most important tool on my spiritual way to Islam. The significance of Light is for me a bridge between Islam and photography.

Alaa Is a student, studying Human Resource Management Faith meets Faith: This is a dialogue between Scholastica from Brazil (she is nun 20 years and lives in a convent near Copenhagen, Denmark) and Alaa. During the meeting they talked about fellowship, opposites and discussed the topic Is it possible to be a believer in Denmark?

We at Muslim-photographer.com admire your street portraiture, do you take them spontaneously or do you position the subjects to make the scene fulfill your ideas?
The majority of my portraits are the resulting scene from an idea: I like to “tell” a little story as such: as you can see in the photographs of the Muslim family on a bicycle; and the Muslim woman together with a Nun.
It is important for me to show my point of view, to be a Muslim but with a European context. Sometimes it can take years to realize an idea. I always discuss my idea, my vision, with the persons involved and tell them for why and for what I need the photo.
The idea, “Islam in Europe” started in 1997 in London, which was inspired by a book I had bought there about Islamic Architecture in the Muslim World.
Over 13 years of systematic photographing, the photographic documentation has been growing together with me and my vision to what it is today. My vision, my idea is to publish a book about the diversity of Islam in Europe. The book will contain a combination of images principally of architecture: with the focus being on old and new mosques in different European countries; and to have images of Muslim lives in Europe which illustrates ways, challenges and development opportunities for the everyday European Muslim.
I am currently searching for photographers and writers who can contribute to the book and help realize this greater vision.

The Danish Muslim Peter Abdullah and his family on a weekend cycling trip in the park of Copenhagen. O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (49,13)

Do you get art-block (writers-block) and if so how do you get over it?
As I Have previously said photography is my life.
I visit exhibition and websites of other photographers; read photography books; and I have personal contact to professional and amateur photographers. I know that my works will never become a “Harry Potter” sales hit, therefore I take it easy, I go at my own speed.
Inspiration for my work comes through my confidence in Allah, my personal experiences, consistency and creativity.

Muslim graves at the military cemetery "Neccropole Nationale Strasbourgh-Cronenbourg,", France

What is your favoured equipment?
It depends on what I need to capture. For travelling I use a Canon 5D with two or thee prime lenses. For portraits I prefer a medium-format camera such as the Phase One equipment and its software. At least I still love my analog Konica Hexar which is with me most of the time.

The minaret of the ”Bilal Mosque“ in Aachen, Germany, estd. 1972, Architect of the minaret: Gernot Kramer

Which photographer do you admire the most and why?
The French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson is definitely my role model for photography. His Black and White photography is fabulous.

The New Mosque in Granada,Spain completed in 2003. Architect Sidi Karim Viudesn

You have visited much of the planet, which place has stayed in your heart the most?
I remember mostly the time I had spent in Egypt and Sudan 25 years ago, where the people there had helped and inspired me to open my eyes to Islam.

The Fatih mosque is located in the former Saint Ignatius Catholic Church in Amsterdam, which was built in the 1920s and used as a church until 1971. In 1981, Muslim immigrants to the Netherlands converted the church into a mosque

You visited Sharjah in June this year how did you find the interest of the people towards street portraiture and street photography in general?
I have done numerous exhibitions in Denmark, Germany and Egypt, but the most successful one was the recent ‘Dunya – Glimpses of Muslim Life in Europe‘ displayed at Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization in the United Arab Emirates during the period June 17th to August 14th 2010. I got the impression that the people in Sharjah were and are very interested in Islam as a whole and they like to concern themselves with Islam in a very positive way.
They also liked very much the way I had made Muslim life in Europe visible through photographic means. I am very happy that Sharjah Museum had hosted my work, because it also presents the topic of Islamic Civilization in a good and general way.

Sukina und Muneera went together to school in Bristol and living to day in London. Their parents came as immigrant from Jamaica to England. 4 years ago they convert to Islam. They make Islamic inspirational Hip Hop. The Sound of „Poetic Pilgrimage“ is a mix of Soul, Reggae and Afro Beat.

Do you have any advice for beginners or guidance for other photographers that you would like to share?
Yes. Please remember that expensive photo equipment does not automatically make you a good photographer. The basics are the key, such as: focus; exposure; timing; and composition are very important. Also the photo has to tell a story in its own way.

Thank you Brother Ahmed Krausen for taking time to be interviewed by muslim-photographer.com the online magazine and portal for muslim photographers.
His website and other images can be seen here at the following URL
http://www.ahmedkrausen.com/

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