Photo-Art: ARTS OF VALHALLA / DARC ARTS

Automatic translation. Improvements are constantly being worked on.

We love his Viking-like pictures – we’re talking about Flo, alias Darc Arts or Arts of Valhalla. One of his artworks adorns the March issue of our Orkus! calendar 2025. We talk to the likeable 38-year-old about photography, modeling and metal.

Orkus: How and when did your interest in photography develop? Was there a key experience?
Darc Arts: I’ve been in front of the camera since I was 20, e.g. for Mytholon or EMP. During Corona, I asked myself whether I could also do photography. I acquired some specialist knowledge and then tried my hand at it. After about a year, I roughly found my style and so it became more and more.

O: What excites you most about photography today?
DA: To express myself creatively, to capture moments and people and to create something lasting. To create an eye-catcher, so to speak.

O: And in return: What can you do little or nothing with in front of your lens?
DA: Standard photography that you’ve seen a thousand times before.

O: Your subject matter is clearly also “dark Viking motifs” / “pagan” themes. What fascinates you about them?
DA: I like the darkness, the occult and the romance in it, it should trigger a mental movie and also stand out from the crowd.

O: I think you also like to have yourself photographed from time to time, don’t you? What do you like about this “other” side of the camera?
DA: Yes, that’s right, as I mentioned above, I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years. Back then it was actually a modeling job for Aderlass, which I got through the photographer of the job. I like being able to express myself creatively, whether it’s a shoot with animals, in water or a complete body paint. It’s always fun to try out new things.

O: What has been the most unusual or impressive experience in your career as a photographer so far?
DA: That’s really difficult to answer, every shoot is different and has its own special moments.

O: What connects you to the black scene?
DA: I discovered the black scene when I was about 23 through the Druckluftkammer in Koblenz. Even though I now mainly listen to metal, I still really like the black scene and the people in it.

O: What does your life look like with and alongside photography?
DA: In addition to my main job as a metalworker, I’m also a videographer and run a YouTube channel about metal, crafting, the Middle Ages and vlogs. I’m also a member of the Wasteland Warriors (end-time troupe) and Pearl Portu (pirate camp at the MPS/SKH). From time to time I can also be seen as an actor in movies and music videos.

O: What are your plans for the future, what can we expect in 2025?
DA: The first thing on the agenda is a job change or a move to Würzburg. Otherwise the standard festivals like Rockharz, Wacken, 70k Tons of Metal are planned. Apart from that, I’d like to get back into photography and videography after my move.