CHRIS FRAIKIN
PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine|November 2022
Dutch photographer Chris Fraikin has just re-published Archtracts, a book of minimal-styled studies of architectural details. Niall Hampton catches up with him to find out more about his work
Chris Fraikin
CHRIS FRAIKIN

CHRIS FRAIKIN'S photographs of buildings feature strong lines, geometric shapes, and striking colours, and call to mind the work of the famous abstract artist Piet Mondrian. Perhaps there's something in the water in the Netherlands because Fraikin and Mondrian are both natives of that country. But while Mondrian's works were produced in a studio, the canvases that Fraikin chooses are outdoors and in the built environment: industrial buildings and factory sites that were designed to be functional, but which on closer inspection, often also have a certain amount of visual appeal hiding in plain sight.

Producing photographs in this vein is something that Fraikin has only been doing seriously since 2015, and was a reaction to becoming disillusioned with photographing live music. He was looking for a new creative outlet and eventually discovered it by photographing buildings. As Archtracts, a book containing these contemplative, minimalist architectural works, gets a second printing, we caught up with Fraikin to discover more about this long-form project and how it first came about.

Can you describe your photographic style to someone who has never previously seen your work?

I call my works 'archtracts': minimalistic extracts of architectural, urban, and industrial objects. I mainly shoot in industrial areas - usually in the Netherlands - where almost all buildings seem to be nearly the same because they are mainly built for functional content rather than beauty. But if you take the time to open your eyes, you will often discover very interesting details in the shape, proportion or colour schemes in these buildings.

You started out as a graphic designer, and image design is really noticeable in your photographic compositions. Does this training mean that you always see things in geometric terms without having to think about it?

Denne historien er fra November 2022-utgaven av PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra November 2022-utgaven av PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA PHOTOPLUS : THE CANON MAGAZINESe alt
The Art of Copying Art - James Paterson shows you how to use your Canon gear to capture artwork and paintings the right way with simple camera and lighting skills
PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine

The Art of Copying Art - James Paterson shows you how to use your Canon gear to capture artwork and paintings the right way with simple camera and lighting skills

Whether you want to capture a painting like the above, digitise old prints or reproduce any kind of canvas, there's real skill in capturing artwork with your camera. Not only do you need the colours to be accurate, you also need to master the spread, angle and quality of the light to minimise glare and show the work at its best.This painting by the artist Bryan Hanlon has a wonderfully subtle colour palette. To reproduce the painting in print and digital form, it needs to be captured in the right way.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024
Fright night
PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine

Fright night

Canon photographer and digital artist Alexander loves to craft incredible fantasy scenes with a spooky horror twist

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
Sharpen your shots with DPP
PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine

Sharpen your shots with DPP

Sharpening a digital image also increases contrast at the edge of details

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
CANON ImagePrograf PRO-1100
PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine

CANON ImagePrograf PRO-1100

Deeper blacks, better bronzing, greater lifespan and 5G Wi-Fi -Canon's new printer is full of new tech, says

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Canon's new 'kit lens' is actually a half-price f/2.8 trinity lens!
PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine

Canon's new 'kit lens' is actually a half-price f/2.8 trinity lens!

The Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM lacks a red ring, but borrows premium features from its L-series siblings

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
DREW GIBSON
PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine

DREW GIBSON

Pro motorsports photographer Drew on why he hasn't (yet) switched to Canon's mirrorless system, why old-school techniques can be the most reliable, and the lessons learned from more than a decade shooting the world's biggest car brands

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2024
Up in smoke
PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine

Up in smoke

Make a smoky shape in Affinity Photo and get to grips with the amazing Liquify Persona under the guidance of James Paterson

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Expand your creativity with Generative Fill
PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine

Expand your creativity with Generative Fill

Photoshop's Al-powered feature brings revolutionary new tools to image editing. James Paterson reveals all...

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Turn your images into vintage postcards
PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine

Turn your images into vintage postcards

Wish you were here? Sean McCormack explains how you can give your summer photographs a vintage postcard look

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
The Angel Malibu
PhotoPlus : The Canon Magazine

The Angel Malibu

Light painting an American movie producer in the Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan was a highly unlikely evening out for David!

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024