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JV: In art school in Stockholm in the early 80s my teacher of photography and mentor was one of the best fine
art photographers of Sweden. From him I learnt to take photography seriously. He let me share his darkroom,
spent many long nights there printing black and white, I’m a good printer. In the early 80s I shot a lot of rock
bands in Sweden and NYC in clubs like Mudd Club and Peppermint Lounge. Funny thing is that some of the
people i shot back then i’ve now become friends with in the last couple of years.
MBW:
From what I have gathered you definitely have your own majestic stance on whatever subject you are photographing ... I mean it’s never just a snap shot ... it is art !!! ... it’s difficult to put a finger on because it is extremely
unique in each and every Johan Vipper picture I’ve seen and so that is why I hope you don’t mind my asking ...
but what could possibly be going through your head as you approach your subject ... it somehow reminds me of
how a lizard catches a fly with his tongue ???
JV: Exactly. It’s that special moment. I catch it. It’s intuitive. The Lizard King of Photography. Ha.
MBW:
Do you have any stories you would like to share of when you were a boy that may have been the beginnings of
your inspiration to take pictures ???
JV: Learned the basics of photography from my father at the age of eleven. My dad had set up his own darkroom
in the bathroom of our apartment. I really loved watching him developing film and printing black and white.
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