Patricia Piatke

“I love the moment I can see the results and remember the second I pressed the shutter button and seeing that the pic came out just as I imagined the moment I took it.”

Intercru: Where are you from? Where do you live and work now?

Hi, it’s lovely to meet you!

I was born and raised in Berlin, and I’ve been traveling the world over the last 10 years. Now I’ve lived in Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands for about 1 year :)

Over the last year I’ve been going back and forth between Berlin and Fuerteventura. I spend most of the time on the island, and I go back and forth to work sometimes.

How did you get started in photography?

Actually, I started as a hairdresser 20 years ago as an apprenticeship in a little modern shop in the center of Berlin. I started to take photos of the haircuts and our cool clients in order to print the photos and put them into an old school photo album for other clients to see our work. This was years before Instagram and Pinterest. I think here I first developed my eye for portrait angles and taking a nice shot of a person that says, “Oh I’m not good in photos.”

Then I became a freelance makeup artist and hairstylist, after another apprenticeship in a makeup artist school, and I dove into the photo, video, and event business. I quickly developed more interest for everything that is happening on set. Seeing all those different photographers work was like a 3rd apprenticeship for me. I was fascinated by the different work styles, cameras, and light settings.

Sometimes I put my whole creativity into the hair & make-up concept for a photoshoot and then later received photos and was disappointed because I didn’t like the photo. So instead of complaining I thought, “Ok, maybe I need to learn how to do it myself.”

So I got started- I’m a true autodidact.

I gave myself the name Detlef Honigstein as photographer. So it’s all Detlef behind the lens.

What was your first camera?

Digital: Canon 5d Mark ll - 50mm. I saved money for it for a long time!

Analog: Praktica MTL 3 - 35mm Zeiss. I got this one from my grandpa for Christmas. It was his father’s old camera.

What do you love the most about analog photography?

Oh it’s everything to me. I really don’t like to spend a lot of time at my computer, with Photoshop and sorting files. My laptop is 11 years old it’s not the fastest haha.

I choose to stay completely analog. It gives me to chance to create the photo like it is and I don’t need to do anything with it later. I don’t crop, use filters, or even retouch. It’s freedom to me... and more time hahaha.

To achieve a certain look, I intentionally choose the film before. I really don’t get it why it’s mostly Portra 400 everywhere.

There is so much more to explore and so many different looks you can have. I love to get into the mood of the shooting idea or the designer or person it is and then intuitively to choose a film that gives an individual look to each project.

I love the moment I can see the results and remember the second I pressed the shutter button and seeing that the pic came out just as I imagined the moment I took it. First it feels like shooting blind, then it’s saving a sequence of a dream... pure magic. It’s like you saw it before it happened.

Where do you find creative inspiration?

In nature, for everything I do. If it’s hairdressing, make-up or a scenery I always use my imagination for the shoot. But my inspiration for colors, shapes, everything comes from nature. Sometimes I feel inspired by faces- I love to see my model as a muse.

Who are some of your favorite photographers?

Samuel Bradley, Paolo Roversi, Stefan Milev, Shae Detar, Herr Merzi, Carlota Guerrero, and Zhong Lin are some of my favorite photographers who come to mind.

What really makes you happy?

A good photo and good company and amazing food and animals. I love my “me time” and my surfboard in the water.

If a genie gave you 3 wishes, what would they be?

Hahahaha I love this question!

More wishes
World peace
Being able to breathe under water

In 3 words how would you describe yourself?

Intuitive, sensitive, and full of fantasy.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

I’m definitely pretty close to that. I always said, one day I want to live near to the ocean and be able to surf whenever I want. And boom, I did it! I moved out of town a year ago onto the island, got myself a car and a nice board and I’m doing what I always dreamed of!

What’s your favorite color?

Y E L L O W!

What advice would you give to your younger self?

No advice, just support: you’re doing great...keep going!

Another self-portrait of the talented artist

Patricia Piatke is a photographer, hairstylist, and makeup artist based between Fuerteventura and Berlin. To see more of her photography, you can check out her website detlefhonigstein.com or follow her various accounts on Instagram:

Analog Photography- @pitzepatze

Analog Fashion Week Backstage Photography- @honigschreck

Berlin Hair and Makeup- @sweetspotberlin

Island Hair and Makeup- @sweetspotfuerte