Søren Drastrup never intended to be a photographer. Taking pictures was merely a means of saving his ‘visual memories’ from the age of fifteen.”Where I grew up in Denmark there wasn’t much to do unless you were playing football or into some other sport.”
“The city will change you in one way or another” – Søren Drastrup
Currently based in Berlin, he moved from Copenhagen four years ago after studying to become a cabinet maker. Søren was meant to move back home, however he fell in love so decided to stay. “The city will change you in one way or another,” he says mysteriously of the German capital.
Søren’s subtle portraiture has the ability to communicate messages which are too complex for words. “I was never a big speaker, so photography is a great way for me to speak without saying a word.”
“I want to convey diversity, intimacy and truth through my images” – Søren Drastrup
He cites Nan Goldin, Larry Clark and Wolfgang Tillmans as major influences due to their documentation of groups of society that are usually hidden from the public. The likability his images hold to those of his idols’ is most apparent through the raw intimacy of his portraits.
When asked if he feels any responsibility as a photographer, he simply replies, “I want to convey diversity, intimacy and truth through my images.” He modestly refers to himself as a “listener and observer.”
“It is important to show my subjects in a way that they like themselves. I also feel I have a responsibility to capture the environment that I am a part of. Most of the subjects for my portraits are friends, acquaintances or lovers, so the intimacy is mostly already there.”
