Minimalistic Shapes

The art of ski photography can sometimes seem like a never-ending loop on the same theme: blue skies, clouds of white spraying in the air as a young, skilled skier makes his or her way through the freshly fallen snow with beautiful mountains as a backdrop. Not that there’s anything wrong with that: it’s that very dream-like picture that makes so many of us want to give up anything in our daily lives just to experience that feeling, if only for one perfect moment.

Every now and then, however, a ski photographer who challenges the current dogma emerges – using a different style of imagery, a new way of skiing in front of the lens, or the use of new or different tools for the job, such as low-end cameras or drones. Max Draeger is such a photographer. Born near the Bavarian capital of Munich in southern Germany, but now living in Innsbruck, Austria, he has a front seat to some of the best skiing in the Alps right on his doorstep. His style is almost the opposite of the classic formula. His images are stripped bare of everything but their most basic elements following a bare-bones approach that leaves anything deemed unnecessary out of the frame. They’re almost monochromatic, with a clear focus on the most important part in the frame. He captures the action, or the feeling, and not much else. It’s a minimalistic style of photography, clearly different in this day and age, but also unequivocally Draeger’s own.

HOW DID YOUR JOURNEY IN SKI PHOTOGRAPHY BEGIN ?

– At first, photography was a hobby my dad and I shared. Every time I went to the mountains with my friends, I simply wanted to capture what we were doing. But I guess it was during a two-month trip to Iceland that I finally realised that this is what I’m meant to do and that photography had become more than just a hobby to me.

ICELAND? THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING.

– It was in 2016. I spent two months there, travelling around that insanely beautiful country with a friend. We explored, hiked, climbed, drove through the highlands, and took loads of photos – it was mostly landscapes back then.

IS PHOTOGRAPHY YOUR MAIN PROFESSION THESE DAYS?

– I made some of my very first money doing some very simple product photography when I was a student, and I guess that set the course for my future. Today though, working as a photographer for the outdoor and sports industry is my full-time occupation. In fact, it’s even more than that, it’s my life. These days, I spend most of my free time skiing and biking.

– It’s been a gradual evolution to where I am today. I simply invested all my time and energy into it, and made a commitment along the way. I’ve never formally studied photography; I simply learned by doing.

WHAT ARE YOU DRAWN TO WHEN IT COMES TO SKI PHOTOGRAPHY?

– Mountains are one of nature’s most magnificent phenomena, especially when they’re covered in snow – the forms and structures are unreal. I think of athletes who move in these environments as artists drawing on a canvas, and that connection really inspires me.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY?

– I thrive for clean and minimalistic images. I want to emphasise the lines and shapes I see and reveal the synergy of humans moving in nature’s most beautiful environments.

– I usually aim for fairly monochromatic images – often in black and white, or with very faded colours. You’ll find a lot of black and white in my photos, or empty space. Some people say my work is almost abstract. I suppose that’s just how my brain works: it reduces the chaotic world into simple, clean forms and contrasts.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO EXPRESS IN YOUR IMAGES?

– Being in the mountains is something very real – existential, even – and I love to capture the emotions and feelings people experience in those surroundings. As a result, much of my imagery is less about what it looks like to be somewhere or do something, and more about how it feels to be there.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO SKI?

– I could name all the classics, for good reasons, but it’s impossible to pick just one. When it’s good at home, there’s no reason for me to leave. There are so many great resorts close to Innsbruck, all with awesome skiing. Being surrounded by impressively skilled friends and athletes, as I am nowadays, is very inspiring, and I’ve spent the last couple of years working on my own skiing to get better.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO PHOTOGRAPH, THEN ?

– It’s really all about being in the right place at the right time, with the right people. You’ll find me pretty much all over the mountain – although I’m not so likely to be in the park. I love big ski runs and adventures, but I also really enjoy a fun powder day among the trees or a few laps on groomers. I suppose that’s the true beauty of skiing: it’s so varied and multi-faceted.