*A new interview series with a play on “20 questions,” where I try to mix it up with different questions. Some serious, some not so much. I’ll also be focusing the series on some of the best street photographers from the cities I visit around the world during my 100 Cities project.

I photographed Amsterdam earlier during my 100 City project, but have yet to do a local interview for the city. Until now. When it comes to photography, Amsterdam brings its crazier, anything goes side that its known for, but also a scenic, charming side that provides two very different atmospheres blended together. When it comes to local photographers, Amsterdam also brings the talented Julie Hrudová. While born in Prague, she’s called Amsterdam home for years and it’s where her photography career has really grown. 

Much of Julie’s work gives a surreal and mysterious feeling. There’s a playful atmosphere mixed with humor and a slight strangeness to it all. Many times, her scenes bring questions that keep the viewer looking and wondering. Her unique eye for the obscure and how to capture and play with reality in her own way recently awarded her at the Italian StreetPhoto Festival, as well as being named the 2017 EyeEm Street Photographer winner.

So now to learn more about her, it’s time for 20 Questions in Amsterdam with Julie Hrudová…

20 Questions with Julie Hrudová

Before we get to the 20 questions, please introduce yourself. Your name, where you’re from and one interesting thing about you?

Past:

1. What is your earliest memory of photography?

I remember getting a pink child camera for Christmas when I was four, but not sure if it worked. An earliest memory of making a picture was with my first ‘real’ camera, a Yashica. I remember having ideas about photos, but it always turned out over or underexposed and blurry.

2. What do you think drew you to your preferred subjects in photography?

My preferred subjects changed over time. At first, I wanted to capture a situation as it was and create a certain atmosphere. Initially, I did this with drawing and painting, later on with photography. Now, I am looking for a moment that is not easy to see in order to capture a situation in a more obscured way.

3. What advice would you have given yourself when first starting in photography?

Present:

4. How would you describe your photographic style and what you look to capture?

People have called it surreal… for me it’s difficult to describe. I like to make things abstract or strange, almost to oblige people to look at it longer and better. But it depends on the context, if I’m making a documentary project, then I focus on showing the subject. In that case, I choose atmospherical subjects like the fun fair or photogenic animals like herons.

5. Describe how you approach photography when out shooting?

The funny thing is that I’ve made the majority of my ‘better’ images when I was not focusing on it. I always carry my camera and I travel a lot. Often, I see something strange or funny by coincidence – afterwards I realise that it’s an interesting image.

6. When you’re looking at a photo, what makes a photo good, or even great?

It’s different with every image, but usually when it makes you think about it. When somebody works with his or her own vision instead of following the vision of someone else. Of course, inspiration is inevitable, it depends how you use it.

Not So Serious Questions:

7. You get one superpower for photography, what would it be? (You can’t choose invisibility!)

Superspeed

8. You also get 3 photography related wishes, what are they?

2 Speed Rounds (Give the first answers that come to mind!)

This or That: (pick one)

9. Instincts or Planned?

Gritty. Also gritty pretty or pretty gritty.

11. Single Photos or Series?

Singles. And later on, a series of singles.

Name 3:

12. Inspirational Photographers (Past or Present)

• Lars Tunbjork
• William Eggleston
• Nick Hannes

13. Important Qualities for a Street Photographer to Have

• Patience
• Impatience
• Ability to predict situations

Your City:

15a. Where do you like to photograph most in your city, Amsterdam, and why?

I live in the eastern part of the city so mostly I walk around there. It’s an interesting area. It’s developing and gentrifying, you find a lot of contrasts between gritty and trendy areas, many nationalities, parks and public gardens. Also, there is still some undefined space and forgotten areas but it’s moving quickly as it’s interesting to investors.

  

15b. Originally from Prague, have you gone back since for photography and do you have any projects or interest in exploring this home region photographically?

Not so much. Somehow I’m reticent when it comes to photographing too close to my origins. Even in Amsterdam when I enter my street I hide the camera. But I’ve photographed a bit in Czech Republic, also in smaller cities I am not so familiar with, like the industrial town called Kladno.

You:

16. I’ve read in prior interviews that being able to have the instant feedback of digital photography is important to you and helps you make the photos you want to take. What about this is important and helps in your photography process. And do you still find it important?

Photography allows us to trick the reality by basic settings like shutter speed. Sometimes I want to see how the world looks like when using a certain setting. But over time it has become easier to predict a light situation and to adjust to it. So it’s still important, but not 100% of the time.

17. Many of your photos have a strange, almost surreal feel. Flying and floating objects are two interests you have in photography, while folklore is another. What do you think attracts you to these subjects and feeling?

Haha you spotted that well. I do like to obscure things a little and usually it works with flying and floating objects. It adds to the in-between feeling. Folklore is indeed another interest. It often tells something about an area or country. I’m often attracted to the fun stuff and smaller stories that explain larger themes but it would be interesting to work in this way with bigger stories or news events.

18. I really enjoy your “Leisure” series. Can you talk a little bit about it and how it started?

Thank you!

It started with single images and now the series is developing very slowly as I’m very picky to what images to add. They are all unclear in their own way and there is a certain atmosphere binding the series. The subjects are ‘relaxing’ almost by coincidence.

I can say that these images are core to what I want to do with photography.

Behind a photo:

19. Pick a photo of yours that you remember capturing and share any memories you have attached to it.

This photo is from Moscow. I was there for a journalistic project and my and my colleague journalist were waiting for a Dutch Russia correspondent, an interview appointment. He wanted to ice skate with us at this huge ice skating park. I was fascinated by it, it was like a skating city. This lady was such a strange and then this picture happened.

The Final Question:

20. You have only 3 photos left on your last roll of film.

• In the first direction, you see a group of children wearing zoo animal masks
• In the second direction, you see a bachelorette party waiting at the bus stop
• In the third direction, you see a group of construction workers arguing
• And in the last direction, you see a political rally

The light is perfect at all 4 locations. What do you do? 

Definitely the children wearing zoo animal masks. I like to capture children and animals so it’s a perfect mix. Also they are anonymous, that is even better.

Another big thank you to Julie for the interview, and for anyone who would like to see more of her work, check the links below!

www.juliehrudova.com

instagram: @hrudography & @streetrepeat

facebook

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