one hour with by lukas beck

ONE HOUR WITH

A long-term photographic project about presence, trust, and time.

One artist.
A black backdrop.
Highly specific lighting.
No words.
Exactly one hour.

Within this radically reduced setting, a state of deep concentration emerges. Without direction, without roles, without expectation, an inner process begins. The artists perform from within themselves – intuitively, physically, unfiltered. I accompany this process with the camera: attentive, silent, present.

Silence is not an absence, but a tool. It creates a space in which body language, gaze, and movement become carriers of meaning. What appears is not a staged portrait, but a state of being. A moment of truth between two people.

ONE HOUR WITH understands portrait photography not as representation, but as encounter. The resulting images are timeless, intense, and deeply personal – revealing vulnerability and strength, control and surrender.

The project continues to grow internationally, from one encounter to the next. Every hour is unique. Every meeting leaves traces – in the images, in the space, and in memory.

ONE HOUR WITH Rebecca Horner

ONE HOUR WITH John Malkovich

ONE HOUR WITH Mavie Hörbiger

ONE HOUR WITH Nikolaus Habjan

ONE HOUR WITH Andrey Kaydanovskiy

ONE HOUR WITH Safira Robens

ONE HOUR WITH Lisa Eckhart

ONE HOUR WITH Marie Luise Stockinger

ONE HOUR WITH Tilman Tuppy

ONE HOUR WITH Dörte Lyssewski

ONE HOUR WITH Kurdwin Ayub

ONE HOUR WITH Lili Winderlich

TIMELESS.

The origin of and the idea behind

ONE HOUR WITH:

JOHN MALKOVICH arrived with a suitcase full of clothes, but I wanted to photograph him just the way he was as he came through the door. John was thrilled, and we disappeared into my studio. We start. We do not talk. We communicate through body language and looks; glances. At some point, I start to play music. John plays along. After half an hour, my first word, “Pause?”. No, no break, no interruption. Second part.
We continue, fully focussed. Many magic moments. The hour is up.
Thank you.
That’s how it goes, how things work, that’s how magic is created, and that’s how I wanted to continue working. But could I make it work with other artists?
The synchronisation needs sometimes more, sometimes less time, but once we click, we’re off. And the work is intense. Everyone gives everything they’ve got; in the end, we’re not exhausted but rather surprised how much energy is generated when you are reduced to (or focussed on) yourself and the one other person in the room with you, your counterpart.
TOBIAS MORETTI, “You are like a child: allowed to do anything. Roll around on the floor, rheumatism or not.”
JULIA MORETTI, “You look as if you had slept for two hours. What did Lukas do with you?”
KURDWIN AYUB, “It was a bit like therapy. I wanted to cry.”
LILITH HÄSSLE, “I don’t know what to say. I have just looked through the pictures – they are fantastic; I see a different aspect of myself, different from other shootings.
The movement created these beautiful shades, which I love.”
JOSEF HADER, “All I need is “One Hour With”, when the
cough comes back.”
The exhibition consists of large-format photographs and contact sheets that tell a story almost like a film. One Hour With captivates its audience; allowing them to look over the photographer’s shoulder while he is working, allowing them to witness the creative process.
What I think makes a good portrait?

Timelessness.