Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2023 - Creative Finalist
© Denis Klero / Red Bull Illume
Photography

Denis Klero's approach to fantastic imagery

Denis Klero is a multiple-time semi-finalist and a specialist in the Creative category. We talk to him about his approach, how he expresses himself and what the future holds.
Written by Red Bull Illume
4 min readUpdated on

You often submit your images to the Creative category, is there a reason for that?

Denis Klero: The Creative category allows the photographer, and only the photographer, to reach his fullest potential. Here the athlete is the clay from which the photographer sculpts his work, filling the frame with only those objects that are necessary for the realization of the idea. I consider such photos to be more profound and meaningful. Very often photographers show only the skills of the athlete with little creative input. We want to see the full creative potential of the photographer, don't we?

Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2019 - Creative by Skylum Category Winner

Denis Klero

© Denis Klero / Red Bull Illume

Your submitted images have very different approaches. Where do you get your inspiration from?

Denis Klero: You have to be observant and look at the world through the prism of action photos. Borrowing ideas from fellow photographers working in other genres is a win-win way to create your own unique and creative image. The highest praise for an athlete and a photographer may be the question from the community: "What? How did they do that?". The principle of reasonable "combination of incompatible" in the frame plays not the last role in coming up with the idea, which allows you to create sometimes quite fantastic images without serious post-production, directly from the camera without photoshop.

Don't label your idea as impossible
Denis Klero

What do you want to express with your images?

Denis Klero: Sometimes I put a deep meaning into the image, and sometimes an idea can be limited to a joke. Something extraordinary, that has never been done before is the strongest motivating factor for creating a project for me. Our imagination is boundless, and it takes a lot of courage to realize something that seems to be impossible. Don’t immediately label your idea as impossible but try to implement the project to make sure of that.

Some of your projects are staged. What’s the idea/purpose behind that and does it enhance your creative output?

Denis Klero: I have always done both staged and classic sports photography. But I like staged photography more because in this case I completely create the picture as I want to see it - the photo contains only those objects which are necessary to express the main idea, which does not exclude the sport component of the athlete in any way. Reportage photography is completely different. In this case not everything depends on the photographer - often a successful shot is luck, a coincidence, and I am a risk-free person and don't tend to leave it to chance. Besides, in reportage photography it is impossible to express an idea that no one has realized before me.

I completely create the picture as I want to see it
Denis Klero

Can you talk us through one of your shoots? How long is the planning process and how long does it take you to get a shot you are happy with?

Denis Klero: The idea comes instantly. Organization of the shooting usually takes no more than one or two days - finding a comfortable time for me, making arrangements with the athlete, the cameraman, assistants: finding a location, buying or making props. And at the end - the final photo, which takes about 1/1000th of a second.

Do you have a favorite sport to shoot?

Denis Klero: I think I feel the same way about all sports. As a photographer I look at a discipline from the perspective of its usefulness for the realization of a particular idea. I have a rather pragmatic approach formed by a great love for action sports in general. The considerable merit in my photographic attachment to action sports belongs to Red Bull. It supported my crazy projects for many years and determined the style in which I work now.

Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2023 - RAW Semi-Finalist

Denis Klero

© Denis Klero / Red Bull Illume

How important are colors for your work? (e.g. the skate image completely in pink).

Denis Klero: Both colors and shape should work to reveal the artistic conception. However, the photo with the skater is one of the few that I didn't put any meaning into. But, surprisingly, the audience liked it very much, even though I didn't bet on it. The whole point of it is in the aesthetics of the dynamic form and the use of an unusual lighting solution, which is not typical for classic skate photography.

Do you have any projects planned for the future?

Denis Klero: I have more than fifty ideas on my wish list, from simple, uncomplicated photo shoots to large athletic projects and short films, which unfortunately I can't realize without the support of big partners.

Denis' Red Bull Illume images through the years

We are definitely excited to see any of the fifty ideas which Denis has on his wishlist! If you want to see more of his mind-bending photography, check out his website and Instagram. For more bike photography check out the gallery of breathtaking bike shots. If you want more in-depth interviews, read through the unique perspectives of Léo Grosgurin, a fellow bike photographer, and Ross Taylor, for his unique spin on surfing photography.
Photography