INTERVIEW: 21st century photographer Freddy Krave
"I never met a guy with balls bigger than mine"
– 5 min read
Meet Freddy Krave-a Milan based 21st century photographer with a lens that’s fiercely authentic, erotic, intriguing and unapologetically queer.
Widely shared across digital platforms, his art has attracted a cult-like following online and is a riot of pop culture references, self-expression and visual rebellion where selfies become art and masculinity is provocatively reimagined.
Freddy’s aesthetic is unmistakably his own: camp collides with chaos, glamour dances with grit. In this interview, we dive into the mind behind the imagery exploring his inspirations, his digital books and what it means to create art that’s both intimate, gorgeous and, well-a cultural reset!
For anyone just discovering your work, who are you and how does your photography reflect your perspective and identity?
My name is Freddy Krave and I’m a photographer who likes to create unapologetic art.
I’ve always been fascinated by the human body and that’s why I decided to photograph people. Seeing them having fun, feeling sexy, even being shy at times and watching them do whatever they want in front of the camera, gives me life. I just wanna capture those moments and make those memories live forever.
I never cared about what people think about me and I want my models to feel the same when they are working with me. I just want them to feel free and I want them to know that in that moment no one is judging them.
How did your love for photography begin and how long have you been shooting?
I was just a kid when my grandma gifted me a disposable camera and I remember that I just couldn’t stop taking pics. I always loved photography, it’s magical.
When I was a teenager I wanted to focus more seriously on this passion and I started to take pictures of my friends. I still recall how that made me feel, it was the best feeling in the world and I knew I wanted to do that for the rest of my life.
Photographing people. That’s what I was born to do.
Am I right in thinking you're self-taught?
Yup, you are right. I never had the opportunity to take any lessons. Today I would even dare to tell you that I’m happy I didn’t. I think that the fact no one ever told me how to use a camera or how to do my art is what makes my art so captivating. It’s 100% ME.
What gets your creative juices flowing when you shoot and are you more of a planner or do you just go with the flow?
People inspire me. Music inspires me. Movies inspire me. A lot of things inspire me.
I think it depends though. Sometimes I like to improvise. Other times I have ideas that I can’t use on the spot so I just save them for the right moment.
Would you consider pop culture a significant influence on your artistic vision?
Oh absolutely. I love pop culture. The best thing about pop culture is that it’s always evolving. It’s never boring. And you can say a lot of things about my art, but you’ll never say that it’s boring.
When it comes to dating, what are a few green flags that tell you someone’s a keeper?
They gotta love horror movies. That’s enough of a green flag for me.
Oh what's your favourite horror movie?!
I HAVE TOO MANYYYYY, I'm a horror fanatic so I can't pick only one but my favourite sub genre are slashers.
And what about red flags?🚩
Men that read your texts but don't answer them immediately are a red flag, I'm sorry. If you like someone you're not waiting 2 hours to answer and I'll die on this hill.
How has being part of the LGBTQ+ community enriched your life or shaped your perspective?
Being gay saved me from being a basic cis white straight man.
What do you want people to feel or think when they see your art?
Whatever they want. I’m being serious. I never liked to tell someone how to react to art, it’s just too subjective and personal.
We'd love to hear more about your digital books! If we put a water pistol to your head right now and made you choose your favourite out of the uncensored SELFIE COLLECTION of Freddy Krave, CHAMELON - A COLLECTION OF SELF-PORTRAITS or MEN - DISCOVER THE ART OF MALE EROTICA THROUGH THE EYES OF FREDDY KRAVE....
Is there one that feels closest to your heart or do they each represent different facets of your identity?
All of them are a representation of who I am. I would say that if you don’t like my looks, go for “MEN”. You won’t find pics of myself there lol.
When you’re not making art, what do you love doing in your downtime in Milan?
I’m a very chill guy. I like to play video games and watch a lot of movies.
If someone’s keen to be photographed by you, what’s the best way for them to reach out?
Just contact me on my social media. If you’re really interested and I think we could create art together, we’ll make it happen!!!
All three of Freddy's digital books: the uncensored SELFIE COLLECTION of Freddy Krave, CHAMELON - A COLLECTION OF SELF-PORTRAITS and MEN - DISCOVER THE ART OF MALE EROTICA THROUGH THE EYES OF FREDDY KRAVE are available right now HERE.
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Written by
Scene's head pop critic/pop culture enthusiast, sliving in Brighton. Since 2021, I write a silly monthly column, sometimes interview artists, occasionally review theatre and listen to pop music daily!
