Maak Roberts
Photographer

 

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I was born a Virgo in 1972. My dad is British, my mum German. Moving around a lot in my youth (I spent time in Australia, England, France and Germany) meant I never really grew roots but did grow to like traveling and change. I got my first camera when I was 10 and we lived in Australia. It was a Kodak Instamatic and I took lots of pictures of koalas who since they were so high up in the trees ended up being the tiniest specks on the photos. Later on I did some workshops, i.e. darkroom, pinhole camera and all that, published a school paper with my best friend, and did an internship with a still life photographer. I started photo school in Berlin in 1996 – Lette Verein – but when they kept on asking me why I couldn’t just try and do the same as everyone else I left after not quite 2 years. During that time and immediately afterwards I also assisted different photographers and learnt lots of useful things. I then got my first assignments and things started to pick up speed. I spent the first few years of my career shooting for magazines and record labels. Gradually though I began to find out that I was into funny stuff and staged my photos more and more, which somehow seemed to work better for advertising. I had a bit of a breakthrough in 2004, as in making my style more recognisable and finding an excellent agent in Christine Defrance. In my work I am attracted to unusual, absurd and comical stuff and what the French call „trompe l’oeil“ – a trick of the eyes – without wanting to be too ironic or downputting. After all I believe people photography is about showing something unexpected in people but also making them look good. I also believe in retaining a tangible quality in my pictures and not retouching them as if there was no tomorrow. It all usually starts with an odd idea, sometimes based on what I see in the world outside, at other times on what I find in the world inside. At the end ideally my picture will make you look twice and then maybe smile. I am quite meticulous when it comes to planning and organisation and I try to really think things through, especially when I know there will be retouching involved later on. Since early 2008 I am being represented in the UK by Germaine Walker - another brilliant photographer's agent. In April 2010 I opened my branch office in Hoxton and now spend more time in London than Berlin.

1972 in Hamburg zur Welt gekommen, mein Vater Engländer, meine Mutter Deutsche, und in Australien, Deutschland, England und Frankreich aufgewachsen, habe ich die Unstetigkeit und Reiselust mit in die Wiege gelegt bekommen und bis heute nirgends wirklich Wurzeln geschlagen. Als kleiner Pimpf begeisterter (wenn auch erfolgloser) Naturfotograf, vertiefte ich meine Beziehung zum Medium später über Workshops, machte zeitweise die Schülerzeitung, übernahm das Schulfotolabor und endete als Praktikant bei einem Still Fotografen in Hamburg. 1996 zog ich nach Berlin und fing eine Ausbildung beim Lette-Verein an. Spätestens bei der Frage „Herr Roberts, warum versuchen Sie nicht einfach mal, dasselbe zu machen wie alle anderen auch?“ verging mir aber die Lust, und nach nicht ganz zwei Jahren Fotoschule suchte ich das Weite und mein Heil in der Arbeitswelt. Ich hatte immer nebenher assistiert und fing dann verstärkt an, mich um die eigene Karriere zu kümmern. Langsam kamen die ersten eigenen Jobs für Plattenfirmen und Zeitschriften, und die Dinge entwickelten sich. Ich entdeckte, dass mich witzig inszenierte Fotos am meisten interessierten, ein Faible, das mich schliesslich in die Arme der Werbung trieb. 2004 war ein bedeutsames Jahr: mein Stil wurde klarer, und in Christine Defrance fand ich eine ganz vorzügliche Repräsentantin. In meinen Bildern versuche ich, die Welt und uns Menschen auf ungewöhnliche, absurde, humorvolle Art zu zeigen, wobei mich vor allem die Überlagerung verschiedener Bildebenen anzieht. Auf Französisch sagt man „trompe l'oeil“ - die Augen überlisten. Dabei gebe ich mir Mühe, Leute von einer guten Seite zu zeigen, eher als überspitzt ironisch. Ich strebe auch nach einer haptischen Qualität in meinen Bildern (wie sagt man? Authentizität?) und erlaube mir, nicht alles in Grund und Boden zu retuschieren. Meine Ideen finde ich sowohl in alltäglichen Situationen, auf der Strasse als auch in mir selbst. Ich stelle mir dann vor, wie Leute später zweimal hinsehen müssen und schmunzeln, was mich dann selber am breitesten grinsen lässt. Bei alledem bin ich, was die Vorbereitung betrifft, extrem sorgfältig (da schlägt eben mein Sternzeichen - Jungfrau - durch) und versuche, die Dinge wirklich durchzudenken, was gerade in der Nachbereitung oft Gold wert ist. Seit Anfang 2008 werde ich in England von Germaine Walker vertreten - noch so eine grossartige Agentin. Einst nur als Ausgleich zur entspannten Lebensqualität von Berlin gedacht, verbringe ich seit April 2010 den grössten Teil meiner Zeit in London, wo ich in Hoxton ein zweites Büro angemietet habe.

Number of clients: 1

1Live Be Berlin Berliner Morgenpost Berliner Sparkasse Bild BNP Paribas BMAS BMWi BMBF Das Handwerk Daimler Chrysler Deutsche Bank Deutsche Post DEVK Die Bahn Die Grünen DPD Dyrup Elsevier Fernuni Hagen Gilden Kölsch Hornbach Hotel Concorde Berlin IG Metall Ikea Klicktel Lichtenauer Lotto Brandenburg Procter & Gamble Random House Rewe Group Simyo Smart Sony PSP Stabilo TLG Immobilien Umbro Uniplan Volks- und Raiffeisenbanken ...

Aimaq Rapp Stolle Circle Culture CP Compartner Die Interaktivisten Ergo For Sale Fritzsch|Mackat Grabarz & Partner Grey Worldwide Heimat Ideenhaus Jung von Matt JWT London Lida Ligalux Massmann, Neuser an der Spree McCann Erickson M.E.C.H. Melle Pufe Ogilvy & Mather Publicis Redwood Reinsclassen Roemer Wildberger Scholz & Friends Schwarz Gruppe Serviceplan TBWA London TBWA Paris The Reeves Agency Amsterdam Vasata Schröder Florenz We Do Zum Goldenen Hirschen ...

20 Ans Das Magazin / Züricher Tagesanzeiger DIE ZEIT Emotion Future by Semcon GDI Impuls Hamburgmagazin (SZ) J'n'c Fashion Maxi Musikexpress Neo2 Neon Spex Stern SZ Magazin WAD We'Ar Different ZEIT Campus ZEIT Wissen Zoom-zoom (Mazda) ...

Number of pubs: 1

some

Number of Titles: 6

SLIDESHOW

EDITORIAL 1

PORTRAIT

COMMERCIAL 1

EDITORIAL 2

COMMERCIAL 2

Number of Captions: 257

Project: Birthday Issue Magazine: WAD

Project: Crime Novels Creative: Robert Schumann

Project: Crime Novels Creative: Robert Schumann

Project: Crime Novels Creative: Robert Schumann

Project: Crime Novels Creative: Robert Schumann

Agency: Aimaq Rapp Stolle Client: Dyrup

Agency: TBWA London Client: Sony Playstation

Agency: Ligalux Client: Uniplan

Agency: Ligalux Client: Uniplan

Project: SMART Electric Drive Magazine: WAD

Project: Klar-Komm-Man Magazine: ZEIT Campus

Agency: Ligalux Client: Uniplan

Agency: Ligalux Client: Uniplan

Agency: Scholz & Friends Berlin Client: BMBF

Agency: Scholz & Friends Berlin Client: BMBF

Agency: Scholz & Friends Berlin Client: BMBF

Agency: Scholz & Friends Berlin Client: BMBF

Agency: Scholz & Friends Berlin Client: BMBF

Agency: Fritzsch Mackat Client: Lotto Brandenburg

Agency: TBWA Paris Client: BNP Paribas

Agency: TBWA Paris Client: BNP Paribas

Agency: WE DO Client: Berlin Partner

Agency: WE DO Client: Berlin Partner

Agency: WE DO Client: Berlin Partner

Agency: We Do Client: Berlin Partner

Agency: Jung von Matt Client: Deutsche Post

Agency: WE DO Client: Berlin Partner

Agency: Fritzsch Mackat Client: Lotto Brandenburg

Agency: WE DO Client: Berlin Partner

Agency: Fritzsch Mackat Client: Lotto Brandenburg

Agency: Springer & Jacoby Client: Hamburger Dom

Agency: Fritzsch Mackat Client: Lichtenauer

Agency: Springer & Jacoby Client: Hamburger Dom

Agency: Fritzsch Mackat Client: Lichtenauer

Personal Work

Agency: Publicis Berlin Client: TLG Immobilien

Agency: Publicis Berlin Client: TLG Immobilien

Agency: Publicis Berlin Client: TLG Immobilien

Agency: We Do Client: Hotel Concorde Berlin

Agency: Ogilvy & Mather Client: Gilden Koelsch

Agency: Ogilvy & Mather Client: Gilden Koelsch

Agency: McCann Erickson Client: 1 Live

Agency: Ogilvy & Mather Client: Klicktel

Agency: Aimaq Rapp Stolle Client: Dyrup

Agency: Reinsclassen Client: Pink

Project: Zoë Jenny Magazine: Maxi

Project: Made in Hamburg Magazine: SZ Hamburgmagazin

Agency: Reinsclassen Client: Pink

Personal Work

Agency: Aimaq Rapp Stolle Client: Dyrup

Project: Akim Magazine: Out

Agency: Grey Worldwide Client: Procter & Gamble

Agency: Grey Worldwide Client: Procter & Gamble

Agency: Grey Worldwide Client: Procter & Gamble

Project: First Graders Magazine: ZEIT Magazin Leben

Project: First Graders Magazine: ZEIT Magazin Leben

Project: First Graders Magazine: ZEIT Magazin Leben

Project: First Graders Magazine: ZEIT Magazin Leben

Agency: Vasata Schröder Florenz Client: Gelomyrtol Forte

Project: First Graders Magazine: ZEIT Magazin Leben

Agency: Vasata Schröder Florenz Client: Gelomyrtol Forte

Agency: Vasata Schröder Florenz Client: Gelomyrtol Forte

Agency: Reinsclassen Client: Pink

Agency: Reinsclassen Client: Pink

Project: Klar-Komm-Man Magazine: ZEIT Campus

Agency: Ergo Client: BMWI

Agency: Ergo Client: BMWI

Agency: Aimaq Rapp Stolle Client: Dyrup

Personal Work

Personal Work

Project: Alle lieben Superhelden Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Alle lieben Superhelden Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Alle lieben Superhelden Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Alle lieben Superhelden Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Personal Work

Project: SMART Electric Drive Magazine: WAD

Magazine: DIE ZEIT / Studienführer

Magazine: DIE ZEIT / Studienführer

Project: Follow Your Heart Magazine: Emotion

Project: Follow Your Heart Magazine: Emotion

Project: Follow Your Heart Magazine: Emotion

Personal Work

Project: Récréation Personal Work

Project: Récréation Personal Work

Project: Récréation Personal Work

Project: Birthday Issue Magazine: WAD

Project: Birthday Issue Magazine: WAD

Project: Birthday Issue Magazine: WAD

Project: Birthday Issue Magazine: WAD

Project: Birthday Issue Magazine: WAD

Personal Work

Agency: Ergo Client: BMWi

Project: Made in Hamburg Magazine: SZ Hamburgmagazin

Project: Joe Corre Magazine: WAD We'ar Different

Project: Present London Magazine: WAD We'ar Different

Project: Stencils Magazine: Pap

Project: Stencils Magazine: Pap

Project: Stencils Magazine: Pap

Project: Stencils Magazine: Pap

Project: Stencils Magazine: Pap

Project: Postcard Mailing Personal Work

Project: TRANSformation Magazine: Neo 2

Project: TRANSformation Magazine: Neo 2

Project: TRANSformation Magazine: Neo 2

Project: TRANSformation Magazine: Neo 2

Project: The German In Me Magazine: WAD

Project: Therapy Magazine: Stern

Project: Therapy Magazine: Stern

Project: Therapy Magazine: Stern

Project: Jeans Magazine: WAD

Project: Front Cover Magazine: Neon

Personal Work

Project: From the Sticks Magazine: ZEIT Campus

Project: From the Sticks Magazine: ZEIT Campus

Project: From the Sticks Magazine: ZEIT Campus

Project: Berlin Tiergarten Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Berlin Tiergarten Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Berlin Tiergarten Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Berlin Tiergarten Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Berlin Tiergarten Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Plan or Drift Magazine: Neon

Project: Plan or Drift Magazine: Neon

Project: Plan or Drift Magazine: Neon

Project: Rocktronics Magazine: WAD

Project: Rocktronics Magazine: WAD

Project: Rocktronics Magazine: WAD

Project: Rocktronics Magazine: WAD

Project: Rocktronics Magazine: WAD

Project: Comic Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Comic Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Comic Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Comic Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Personal Work

Personal Work

Creative: Azar Kazimir Client: Michelbergerhotel

Creative: Azar Kazimir Client: Michelbergerhotel

Creative: Azar Kazimir Client: Michelbergerhotel

Creative: Azar Kazimir Client: Michelbergerhotel

Magazine: Maxi

Magazine: Maxi

Magazine: Maxi

Personal Work

Personal Work

Project: WAD Exhibition - 10 Years Magazine: WAD

Project: Worst Drummers Creatives: Miguel Gonzalez, Pablo Arellano

Project: Worst Drummers Creatives: Miguel Gonzalez, Pablo Arellano

Project: Worst Drummers Creatives: Miguel Gonzalez, Pablo Arellano

Personal work

Personal Work

Personal Work

Agency: TBWA London Client: Sony Playstation

Agency: We Do Client: Hotel Concorde Berlin

Personal Work

Personal Work

Smilla Personal Work

Personal Work

Personal Work

Mara Personal Work

Personal Work

Personal Work

Personal Work

Bruno Personal Work

Personal Work

Lisa Personal Work

Fynn Personal Work

Ida Personal Work

Project: Nachtathletik Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Nachtathletik Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Nachtathletik Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Nachtathletik Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Project: Nachtathletik Magazine: J'n'c Fashion

Agency: CP Compartner Client: Fernuni Hagen

Agency: CP Compartner Client: Fernuni Hagen

Project: The Man Issue Magazine: WAD We'ar Different

Project: The Man Issue Magazine: WAD We'ar Different

Project: The Man Issue Magazine: WAD We'ar Different

Project: The Man Issue Magazine: WAD We'ar Different

Personal Work

Personal Work

Personal Work

Agency: Scholz & Friends Berlin Client: Das Handwerk

Agency: JWT London Client: Wilkinson Sword

Agency: JWT London Client: Wilkinson Sword

Agency: JWT London Client: Wilkinson Sword

Project: Made in Hamburg Magazine: SZ Hamburgmagazin

Project: Studienstress Magazine: Neon

Project: Studienstress Magazine: Neon

Project: Jugendsünden Magazine: ZEITCampus

Magazine: Maxi

Project: VIP Lounge Magazine: WAD We'ar Different

Project: VIP Lounge Magazine: WAD We'ar Different

Project: VIP Lounge Magazine: WAD We'ar Different

Project: VIP Lounge Magazine: WAD We'ar Different

Project: Filmszenen Magazine: Musikexpress

Project: Filmszenen Magazine: Musikexpress

Agency: Ergo Client: BMWi

Agency: Ergo Client: BMWi

Agency: Ergo Client: BMWi

Magazine: Future Client: Semcon

Magazine: Future Client: Semcon

Magazine: Future Client: Semcon

Personal Work

Agency: Roemer Wildberger Client: Berliner Morgenpost

Agency: Heimat Client: Hornbach

Agency: Heimat Client: Hornbach

Agency: Heimat Client: Hornbach

Agency: Heimat Client: Hornbach

Agency: Heimat Client: Hornbach

Agency: Zum Goldenen Hirschen Client: BMAS

Magazine: ZEITWissen

Agency: Grabarz & Partner Client: DEVK

Agency: Springer & Jacoby Client: Hamburger Dom

Agency: Aimaq Rapp Stolle Client: Dyrup

Agency: Ergo Client: BMWI

Agency: Ergo Client: BMWI

Agency: Ergo Client: BMWI/BF

Agency: Ergo Client: BMWI/BF

Agency: Ergo Client: BMWI/BF

Agency: Ergo Client: BMWI/BF

Agency: Grabarz & Partner Client: DEVK

Agency: Zum Goldenen Hirschen Client: BMAS

Number of contacts: 1

Germaine Walker Crayford House 49a Tabley Road London N7 0NA Tel +44.20.7697 8291

kombinatrotweiss Kaiserstrasse 69 60329 Frankfurt am Main Tel +49.69.269 1682 80

All images copyright by Maak Roberts. No usage without prior written agreement. Responsible for the content of this site - according to 10 Abs 3 MdStV - Maak Roberts. No responsibility for the content of other sites linked to this site. Profile photo: Yuna Yagi

3 Academy Buildings Fanshaw Street London N1 6LQ Tel +44.20.7033 6518 Mob +44.7505.511 919 Immanuelkirchstr. 17 D-10405 Berlin Tel +49.30.443 41 443 Mob +49.172.396 38 32