For some time now the photo and video sharing platform Instagram has been gaining popularity. A number of bloggers are becoming well known for their online galleries such as one of the most famous German bloggers, the Berlin-based Instagramer Konrad Langer. His shots generally depict scenes from the German capital and his posts are attracting thousands of fans on a daily basis. 

I suppose you could say that I stumbled across it by chance. I bought my first ever smartphone in 2013 and downloaded the app so that I could keep in contact with friends of mine who only shared their photos on Instagram. After a few weeks I realised that there was an active Instagram scene in Berlin and since then I have been regularly posting pictures of my ventures.

What I liked about Instagram was that it allowed me to start taking and posting lots of photos for the first time. I really liked the fact that you can present some truly expressive pictures using relatively simple technology. To this day all I need is my smartphone in order to post my Instagram shots. In general I suppose you could say that photography that is primarily created with an Instagram account in mind is less conceptual and usually happens intuitively.

This, of course, doesn’t mean that every photo is a mere snapshot. Many Instagramers have developed their own style of photography that is adaptable to this kind of network. Unfortunately similar styles and motifs seem to be reproduced time and time again. Group dynamics are both a curse and a blessing for every creative network.

I would classify many of my motifs under the theme of street minimalism. My aim is to portray city life in a more reduced and composed way, focusing on the interplay between architecture and people.

In Berlin I often photograph places with modern architecture but I also like to wander around the suburbs and get inspiration from the big housing estates in areas such as Marzahn or Gropiusstadt. I feel that I’m really on to something when I manage to take from a perspective that is in some way unusual or perplexing.

Alongside architecture and city life your gallery shows some fashion and beauty shots. What makes fashion shots that bit different?

So far I’ve only done a handful of serious fashion shoots. What seems to be important here is the attempt to get the best possible connection between the model, clothing and surroundings. Different people work well in different backdrops so first you should consider whether it makes sense to do the shoot in the first place.

Most of my photos do actually just happen spontaneously when I’m wandering through Berlin. Even well-known places can look completely different depending on the light, people present or a new perspective. What’s important here is that you’re always up for creating something new.

To what extent does living in Berlin enrich your work?

Berlin is a big, diverse city that is constantly changing. There is rarely a shortage of motifs to choose from and it’s definitely easier to discover new things in Berlin than it is elsewhere. The large creative network that the city has to offer certainly enriches and broadcasts my photography.

That’s a difficult question. If I manage to convert my experiences in smartphone photography and on social networks into a well-engineered technical and conceptual form, I could see a future for myself in this industry. I also think that I have other strengths apart from just producing photos.

The “trend platforms” for sharing photos is constantly changing. What do you think will be the next big thing after Instagram?

I reckon it will trend towards types of social networks that are more and more dynamic – kinds that focus more directly on the storytelling side of things. Live, interactive, intuitive – snapchat and periscope are two good examples of the direction in which the future of social networks might be headed.

Thanks a lot for the interview!