Nikolaj Lund’s Portraits of Classical Musicians

May 21, 2012

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I was drawn to music because of a coincidence and I also shied away from it because of another series of coincidences’ says Nikolaj Lund, known for his series of photographic portraits of classical musicians. After being trained in classical music where he specialized in the cello for over 20 years, Nikolaj made a big professional leap and become fully dedicated to photography due to a neck injury. Yatzer did an exclusive interview with Nikolaj Lund to discover the witty musical mastermind behind these photographs. In his case, the lack of sound is totally compensated by jaw dropping images.

Danish-born 28 years old Nikolaj Lund is a semi-professional photographer based in the city of Aarhus, Denmark with two degrees from the Royal Academy of Music in Denmark, and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. The quality of Nikolaj’s voice has the musicality of a cellist; it is low and kind, without a trace of arrogance. His story is most related to a music career that was brilliant from the very beginning. He picked up music at the famous Rudolf Steiner School and photography at the age of 14 years old. ”Ever since I got my first camera I carried it around with me to concerts. I always enjoyed documenting whatever was happening around me – trying to capture musical moments”. Four years after he finished with his studies, he was devoted entirely to photography. Before he started portraying influential classical composers, such as Martin Frøst, clarinet, and Isabelle van Keulen, violinist, he had already started with his old colleagues. It never appealed to him to shoot inside a studio which he found to be rather limited and less inspiring. He still enjoys being outside, exposed to the surroundings and his own ideas that, are shaped on the spot. ”If you want me to do your portrait, we have to do something different. We have to have fun”.

Toke Møldrup, Danish cellist | photo © Nikolaj Lund

Toril Vik, Norwegean flutist | photo © Nikolaj Lund

Brian Friisholm | photo © Nikolaj Lund

He manages to convince musicians to throw off their bows, sway their violins through the Sahara desert and play with their string or brass instruments. Taking them outside their natural environment and photographing them completely out of context, he confesses that there are some classic musicians, who are not so self-conscious about themselves; however, he wouldn’t hurl everybody in the water.

”It has to match their personality, too”, he explains. Needless to say, that we end up admiring both the musicians and him. And his photographic commissions keep rolling in from all over the world. Yesterday for instance, a Spanish pianist called him saying that he wanted to go all the way to Denmark to do a shoot withNikolaj. The best thing is when he receives a mail from a client saying that he is super satisfied with his work. ”I can live upon this for a few days”, he seamlessly admits.