Laura Schäfer (star) Yes Albert The Queen has now died at the age of 96. 70 years on the throne. Especially for you as a photographer. How do you remember her?
Photographer Albert Nieboer Yes, I mean, the Queen is an icon for me, so to speak. And that is, as the word says, “The Queen”. I mean, we have several queens in Europe, but she was actually one of a kind and it’s a shame that she passed away now. But at the age of 96, yes, you can have peace with that.
Laura Schäfer (star) As a photographer, you’ve been doing this for over two decades and you’ve probably met her at one point or another. Is there any such event or experience with her that immediately comes to mind when you think of her now?
Photographer Albert Nieboer Yes I sure have. There was an appointment here in London and that was when I was starting out and she did a so-called walk-about when she passed by people. And then I was in the crowd and she came up to me and wanted to give me her hand. Just like I did with other people. But I didn’t want a hand at all, I wanted to take pictures and I missed that too.
Laura Schäfer (star) Has she already been someone who was easy to photograph, or did she distinguish herself that way, perhaps especially with her colorful clothes? Was that good? Was that bad from a photographer’s point of view?
Photographer Albert Nieboer For us as photographers it was very good. Colored clothing is always good for the picture. And that sells better too. And she was always so professional I would say. And you often got a good picture from her because she took her time and we see that a little less with the younger ones.
Laura Schäfer (star) You just mentioned it. Now with Charles or the next king is practically in front of the throne with a Queen Camilla who – you just said that – behave differently in front of the camera. What are the differences that you notice?
Photographer Albert Nieboer Yes, I mean, they come to an appointment, they arrive, get out of the car and we then sit, stand at the fixed points, as they call them, and actually want to take a picture. And then they don’t pay any attention to us. That’s when they maybe go away, that you still have a good picture or a lucky shot. You never have the certainty or certainty that you can get a good picture of them. And that’s difficult.
Laura Schäfer (star) But what about Queen Camilla, for example? I have the impression that sometimes, but maybe only with a few photographers, she looks into the cameras and smiles and knows: Okay, I have to look in at least once so that they can have their photo and are happy.
Photographer Albert Nieboer Yes, the Queen Camilla, that’s right. She also has an eye for it, and she also provides a picture. I heard that from my English colleagues too, that she’s very nice and I haven’t photographed her that often myself, but that’s good.
Laura Schäfer (star) Then maybe a question about the very younger guard, in the direction of Kate, Megan, for example: how do you perceive them? I think there are also differences, because Meghan has an entertainment background. Kate always seems very reserved, shy.
Photographer Albert Nieboer The Duchess Megan is more aware that she is doing something to get a good picture. As with Duchess Kate, the Princess of Wales now, that’s always difficult. I mean, she might take a picture for the photographers who are sitting in a pool of photographers, and she might still make an effort. But otherwise it’s actually, I would say, a catastrophe for us to get a good picture. Because they don’t actually do anything extra for us as photographers who aren’t sitting in the pools right now.
Laura Schäfer (star) You said that sometimes they turn their backs to you.
Photographer Albert Nieboer Yes, that’s right. They somehow get off the car when they get there. And even though they know that we’ll be across the street, somehow they get out of the car with their backs to us. And instead of them getting out now, normally, and being able to take a picture, I mean a back or something from the side, that’s not a picture for me and that’s really sad.
Laura Schäfer (star) I guess it doesn’t sell as well as it does now.
Photographer Albert Nieboer It’s always a lot of trouble for us to get here to England anyway to keep an appointment. And you don’t have the certainty that you’ll come back with a good picture and that you’ll be able to sell it.
Source: Stern
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