Nick Cave

Olaf Hein does what portrait photography sets out to do, and that many aspire to; following an angle of truth in a moment unique to that time. Though it appears effortless, the style of drawing out the distinct character of the subject through consideration of light and shadow, environment, and poise is masterfully handled by Hein in a way that defines the moment and defies authorship—who is posing who? The push and pull between the portrait subject’s actions and the viewpoint of the image often keep us on our toes as we tumble through flames, landscapes, and arena stages. These compositions have a theatrical flair to them, a moment of “Wow,”which comes as no surprise as Hein has photographed for Adidas, Coca Cola, Nike, Rolex, Rolling Stone,Stern Magazine and Vanity Fair; including musicians, writers, actors, and athletes, such as Kurt Cobain, Iggy Pop, U2, and Nick Cave. His meticulous eye for detail keeps us coming back for more as his images contain more than can be seen at once, arresting attention with details so sharp they may cut your eyes.