Interview • 016 PH

Peter Catlos

İstanbul, Turkey

Please introduce yourself: What is your name, where are you from, what do you do?

Hi. My name is Peter Catlos. I grew up in the former Czechoslovakia—later Slovakia—and moved to Switzerland 18 years ago. I'm currently working as a specialist for a parent organization of Swiss health insurance providers in Berne, Switzerland. Besides my regular job I'm also shooting some weddings. I'm happily married and proud dad of 3 wonderful kids.

What is your relationship with photography? How did you get into it and what keeps you interested or motivated?

I felt in love with photography back in 2012 as I bought my first DSLR camera for our trip to Eastern Canada that year. At the beginning I used to do all kind of photography—landscapes, portraits, long exposures, weddings.

I've discovered my call for street and documentary photography during my first trip to Istanbul, Turkey in 2014. Together with an Instagram friend of mine—a Turkish photojournalist—we took photos in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Istanbul. That experience triggered something in me and from that moment on I knew, that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

I like to keep things simple and stay as unobtrusive as possible. That's why I'm using small cameras with compact lenses, mostly 28mm or 35mm focal length. In the last 2 years I've been shooting mostly film. My desert island camera would be definitely the Leica M2 with a 35mm lens and a fresh roll of Kodak TRI-X in it.

What always motivates me are interesting people. I love to travel to new countries and to discover different cultures and religions.

What are you currently working on, and—if there is—what is your next project or journey?

Lately I'm really fascinated by the film photography—I just love the whole process and the shooting experience. I'm also developing and scanning my films by myself.

Next two countries on my list are Iran and Japan. I'd also like to visit some other cities in Morocco like Casablanca and Tanger.

Thank you, Peter!

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Photography: Peter Catlos (2018)
Location: İstanbul, Turkey

Links: Website, Instagram

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