Helge Garke

Info

Biography

Helge is an architect and photographer currently based in Oslo, Norway. 

He finished his architectural studies at the Technical University of Munich in 1999. After moving to Iceland in 2006 he took his photographic passion to a professional level and documented many projects for the award winning Icelandic office pk arkitektar. Parallel he was capturing beautiful images of the rugged Icelandic landscape.

He approaches architecture and landscapes in the same way by capturing the essence of the given location, only using the natural or given light as he doesn't want to change the natural character of the subject. But he might wait for the right light to create striking imagery.

In 2020 / 2021 he was taking part in a mentoring program at Bilder Nordic School of Photography with lead teachers Laara Matsen and Damian Heinisch. Since then he transfers his insights of the building industry into documentaries focusing on social and urban issues.


"Without light there is no photograph and without light there is no space. Light defines the way we see and feel as well our ability to percept our environment."

Professional  Statement - Architectural Photography

I've been photographing architecture professionally for 15 years now, dedicated to create striking, graphic and elegant architectural imagery.

Being an architect myself helps me to understand the space and the creative idea behind the design. My knowledge as a photographer helps me to translate the three dimensional space into a two dimensional image. The resulting images describing the essence of the design, the quality of the space and the relationship of the buying to its environment at its best.

My work has helped my clients to receive architectural awards and honours like a nomination for the Mies van der Rohe award and an Architizer A+ Awards finalist.

I'm honoured that my images appeared in several architectural monographs and some of the most prestigious print and online magazines such as A10, Archdaily, Architizer, Dezeen and Divisare.

Several of my landscape and architectural images are awarded in international photographic competitions.


"Architecture is a social and cultural act."

Artist Statement

In my personal photographic work I'm focusing on the importance of our build environment on our society. 

Here I can express my own thoughts beyond the boundaries of the building industry and  it's legal, cultural, social, political, ecological and economic preconditions.

Using Format