Erik Johansson & His Impossible Photos

A farm boy, born 1985 in Sweden, Erik Johansson creates surrealistic images deriving inspiration from artists such as M.C. Escher and Salvador Dalí. Johansson was recently featured in Adobe’s Inspire February 2013 Newsletter. This is where I first came across his work.

Background

Johansson first picked up a digital camera at the age of 15, and, according to his biography and an interview with abduzeedo.com (March 2009), he quickly became intrigued with the idea of photography and photo manipulation. Johansson didn’t think of this newly found hobby as a career, and as a result, in 2005 he headed to Chalmers University of Technology to study computer engineering. It wasn’t until he bought his first SLR in 2007 that Johansson became serious about his hobby. In 2010, he graduated with a masters in Interaction Design, but he is primarily a self-taught individual of his craft.

How Erik Johansson Inspires Me

Johansson wraps almost all of my passions for design into a single image. When I look at his work, I cannot help to stop and stare. It is reality combined with imagination meant to look like reality – impossible realities.

In 2011, Johansson spoke at the TED conference in London England. In this talk, he stresses the importance of making something look real by tricking our brains.

He wants viewers to see his images as a photograph and not just a digitally altered image.

I find, not only his work, but his passion to be very inspiring. He is a strong believer in “learning by trying.” If you do not try, you cannot fail and if you do not fail, you cannot learn. It is what makes great people great.

Workflow

Johansson encourages his viewers to make note of every idea. Not every idea will become a reality, but if you do not write it down at the time the idea strikes you, then you will most likely forget it. That is how great ideas are lost and never become a reality.

Once Johansson has chosen an idea he works in a three-step process to bring that idea to life:

  1. Planning
  2. Shooting Images/Collecting Materials
  3. Putting the Pieces Together

To learn more about his workflow, visit his biography page at erikjohanssonphoto.com.

Johansson’s Inspirations

Websites

Artists

  • René Magritte
  • Rob Gonsalves
  • Jacek Yerka
  • Mattias Adolfsson

For more about what inspires Erik Johansson, visit his biography page at erikjohanssonphoto.com.

References

Who Inspires You?

Tell me who inspires you in the comments below and I may just write a blog about them!

Surrealistic image of a circular home held up by a mechanical arm.

Habitat Machines by David Trautrimas

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