Delving Inside the Creative Mind of Photographer Patrick Hoelck

Patrick Hoelck Discusses His Distinctive Style in Depth in Digital Photo Pro

Recently, Digital Photo Pro Magazine chose to do a cover and feature article on Patrick Hoelck. The story explains Hoelcks' experience in the industry and the push to begin using digital photography. In the article Patrick admits that he is new to the whole digital photo process, only having done two or three shoots fully digital - and goes on to say that as the technology develops he is becoming more and more comfortable with being able to capture his distinct style and mood with this new process.

The article also explains how important lighting and the attention to detail is to Hoelck. On the subject of retouching, Hoelck describes how he doesn't believe in using the computer as a tool to cover up sloppy workmanship, preferring instead to let an obsessive personality push him to precision in lighting and perfection in the camera.

When further explored, Hoelck states, "It's more retouching in the sense that we're working with entertainers and doing what's needed to make them look a certain way. When I didn't retouch, I missed out on some jobs that I used to get, and I was always curious because I thought I was doing good work. I wasn't getting some actresses and bigger entertainers until I realized that it was because they wanted more digital retouching options. So I embraced it and I love it, but I don't rely on retouching because I never had it before.

We do tweaks for sure, but I don't believe in being a computer artist or leaning on it that hard. I don't like to leave things hanging to be digitally fixed later. I think that's kind of hack work. I never wanted that. I work very closely with a great retoucher at Digital Fusion, Joe Puleio."

As his transition to digital technology occurs, Hoelck is certain of at least one thing: He won't let the computer change his shooting style. No matter how obsessive it may be. he'd rather be a perfectionist photographer than a digital hack.

For more of Patrick Hoelck's work, visit: www.patrickhoelck.com