Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you:
I am a self-taught fine art photographer, trying to capture some of the magic around and within me.
Your current job:
I am currently a student at the university
In which city are you located?
Graz, Austria
A word to define what kind of worker you are:
focused, I would say.
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Definitely my camera, Photoshop, my Wacom Tablet, and a good old-fashioned to-do list.
What does your office space look like?
As a student, my office space is a desk in my bedroom. But I like to keep it a busy place, lots of pictures and books and everything on hand that I need.
What kind of music do you listen to when you are working?
It varies, but usually something calm. Sometimes I migrate to a more hip-hop based music.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work?
I need lists. If I have a list of stuff that needs to be done, I tend to keep really busy with finishing every single item. The days vary in their organization though.
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
Figure out a way to make things feel like fun. Either reward yourself after completing annoying tasks or break your day up in productive hours and breaks, where you get your batteries recharged. Also, find the time of day you are most productive. If I start early in the morning, I tend to get a lot of things done. But in the evening I’m usually no good for any work anymore. I just get annoyed with the stuff I have to do, which really isn’t the point.
You’re better than your colleagues at:
I work on my own. But I try to set myself apart by also taking care of the details. I go through my images piece by piece, so everything fits together.
What is the best advice anyone has given you?
Never take life or yourself too seriously. Life is much easier if you choose to have some fun with it. I am lucky enough to have a very good life though.
What is your best tip for saving time?
Don’t let doing your work feel like wasting time. Take the time you need, stay productive, but also realize this is what you want to be doing anyway, enjoy it.
What is your routine start and end of the day?
I don’t really have a routine. I start and end every day the way I feel like, if there’s nowhere I have to be in the morning.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
My tablet, for editing pictures. In the beginning, I did all my edits with a mouse and I could not go back.
Graz x Lia Niobe
Kaiserfeld Café: It’s a really nice old place, where most people are reading a newspaper while sipping their coffee. There is also a small gallery included.
Café Binder: A very traditional Austrian coffee place, where there is a fluid transition from coffee to beer and wine in the evening.
aroom: Next to the university. More of a students coffee place with really good coffee.
Auschlössl: Situated at the edge of a park. It’s really nice in the summer sitting on the terrace. There’s also food.
Tribeka: A bit of a hipster place. There are a couple of them across the city. It’s really good for getting some work done though as there is a lot of table space and sockets everywhere.
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