Erik Johansson (b. 1985) is a Swedish photographer and visual artist based in Prague, Czech Republic. He is known for creating surreal worlds through the combination of photographs. He primarily focuses on personal projects and exhibitions, and his approach to photography is unique in that he seeks to capture ideas rather than moments. Using his camera and imagination, he strives to create a single, realistic image that tells a story, even if it includes elements that seem impossible. Essentially, he works to solve the problem of how to capture the impossible.

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Work Process

Erik places a strong emphasis on realism in his work and aims to make the viewer feel as though they are part of the scene. While much of his process involves post-production and combining photographs, he also makes an effort to capture as much as possible on location. This often involves building props and carefully planning the shoot.

Lighting and perspective are crucial in creating realistic compositions through the combination of images. If certain elements cannot be captured on location, Erik recreates them in a controlled environment. He has a thorough understanding of every aspect of the process, from idea and planning to photography and post-production, in order to ensure that everything comes together seamlessly. Each photograph and element serves a purpose in the final image.

Erik handles all post-production himself in order to have complete control over the final result. The idea, photography, and post-production are all interconnected, and the final image does not surpass the quality of the photographs used to create it. Similarly, the strength of the photographs is derived from the underlying idea.

Erik does not use computer- or Ai-generated material, nor illustrated- or stock images, relying solely on complex combinations of his own photographs. This process is time-consuming, and he produces only about ten new works per year. To learn more about how his images come to life, you can watch his behind-the-scenes videos as well.

Where to see his work

The best way to experience Erik’s work is in big scale where the details really come to life. Head over the exhibition section to see upcoming exhibitions in your area or if you plan a visit to Prague you can visit the newly opened studio and showroom of Erik Johansson; Studio Svenstorp.

Equipment

Camera System: Hasselblad X2D-100c + H6D-100c
Light System: Profoto
Computer: Custom Built PC + MacBook Pro
Monitor: Eizo ColorEdge CG318-4k
Software: Adobe Photoshop CC + Lightroom

Erik Johansson is global ambassador of Hasselblad

Commissioned Work

Erik is equally skilled in both photography as well as retouching. As he is doing all the post production of his work, both personal and commissioned, it gives him a unique ability to be in full control of every aspect of the creative process, allowing him to bring any imaginable image to life. His understanding of every step in the process gives him total control over the entire workflow, from sketch to final image, ensuring a high-quality, realistic result. Creating an image in this way requires extensive preparation and effort to achieve a realistic outcome. Erik is available for commissioned projects worldwide.

For commissioned work requests don’t hesitate to contact us. You can also see a selection of commissioned projects here.