Of my varying interests, I am most fascinated by the human body-- the varieties, aesthetics and its expressiveness. When I look at people on the street or in the train, I look at their different characteristics, and imagine how I would photograph them. Everyone has an interesting story (which can be told in body language); each human form has its own aesthetic beauty. The naked body allows me to take an honest look at a person. Stripped away of clothes what remains is pure, a true representation. Each line, contour, wrinkle, scar has a story and is itself a story. I often have difficulty expressing myself, telling my own stories and desires, so it is easier for me to express myself through others or help others to express themselves through images.
Playing with light and shadows can bring out the hidden aesthetic features of people, which often are overseen or not recognized. It always fascinates me when my models rediscover or become aware of their own aesthetic in front of the camera. Identity and sexuality are issues that concern me. I consider photography as visual storytelling, a medium of desire; therefore, I have always sought to capture those who still struggle for a voice, for representation.
Photography is not about perfection: imperfections make interesting images. Photography gives me an opportunity to express my thoughts about social problems, to view the world from different perspectives, to be provocative."
Daniel M. Schmude was born and raised in Berlin. A Camera Obscura gifted to him by an uncle in 1992 was an early introduction to photography and the beginning of his development as an artist. In 2001, he began studying photography in Berlin and New York.
Upon graduation in 2004, he had his first official exhibition in Berlin titled “The Grimm Tales" and established Launch Photo Studio in 2005. Since then, he's exhibited in museums and galleries and his works have been published frequently. Daniel still lives in Berlin and works wherever inspiration brings him.