Running Quiet: A Conversation with Manuel Perić
Collaborator
Interview
WWW RS 005
We don’t believe in building in isolation. Temper was never meant to be a solo voice. It’s shaped by the people we meet along the way. The ones who share their point of view, their pace, their temperament.
This is the start of a conversation series with the collaborators behind Temper.
First up: Manuel Perić — a photographer from Vienna, father and trail runner who sees things most people miss. He’s been capturing the raw, quiet tension behind some of our early visuals. We asked him a few questions.
Q: Hey Mani! Thanks so much for taking the time. Can you tell us a little about your work and what drives your passion in your field?
A: I’m a photographer, born in the Austrian Alps and now living in Vienna. I’ve always been into nature and sports. When I started out, I didn’t want to shoot people—just landscapes, nature, and still lifes. But over time, I got more into working with people—especially those who were creating something or wanted to create something with me. Now it’s a mix of nature, sports, and people. Every project is different. Sometimes it’s just a job, sometimes it lights a spark. That’s what keeps me hooked.
Q: What was the moment or project that made you realize you wanted to pursue a career as a photographer?
A: Skateboarding was my first love. I started skating in 1997 and was immediately hooked. Living in the countryside in the ’90s, skate culture felt far away. It was hard to even find a skateboard magazine. But when I finally got my hands on my first issue, everything changed. I was completely mesmerized—those wide-angle fisheye shots, the harsh flashes freezing skaters mid-trick, the rolls of film. I tore out every page and plastered my bedroom walls with them. It wasn’t just skateboarding anymore—it was visual storytelling, and I couldn’t get enough. It took another ten years before I bought my first digital DSLR. But once I did, it all clicked. Photography gave me that same feeling skateboarding did back then.
Q: Even if you don’t play tennis, have you ever had a moment where you saw a connection between what you do and the intensity or flow of a game like tennis?
A: I don’t really play tennis, but I like it—and I’m hoping to learn in the not-so-distant future :) What draws me in is the people. There are creative minds with ideas and visions. There’s movement, sweat, pain, anger, and happiness—a perfect mix for something beautiful.
Q: In your view, what can sports like tennis teach us about focus, resilience, or creativity?
A: Do not blink!
Q: At Temper, we believe in the four temperaments that drive us — The Opportunist, The Stoic, The Strategist, and The Initiator. Which temperament do you feel most connected to when you’re working, and how does it influence your process?
A: I feel most drawn to The Stoic. It helps me keep a clear mind, especially in moments where everything else feels chaotic. But I also see myself—maybe unexpectedly—as The Strategist. There’s a quiet planning to how I work, even when it doesn’t look like it. I like thinking things through before I move. That balance keeps me grounded.
Q: What has been one of the toughest challenges you’ve faced in your work and how did you overcome it?
A: It took years to convince myself that I'm a real photographer—and in challenging times, the imposter still kicks in.
Q: When things get intense or difficult, what keeps you grounded? Would you say you adopt more of a Stoic approach, or do you dive in like an Initiator and push through?
A: At first, I feel the pain and become anxious, then the stoic kicks in, and then I try to do something about it. Sometimes it happens in the blink of an eye, and sometimes it takes me longer.
Q: Whether in work or life, we all have moments where our emotions take over. How do you channel your emotions, and do you think your temperament plays a role in how you handle those moments?
A: I see myself more as a calm temperament. I try to keep a clear mind, but sometimes it gets overwhelming. The only thing that really channels me is the outdoors. I spend hours outside with my dog. I start with a chaotic, loud mind and run until the noise finally stops. Sometimes it takes hours or even days, and sometimes just a few minutes.
Q: Can you share a story where your work felt like a rollercoaster of emotions—highs and lows—and how you navigated through them?
A: I guess working in the creative industry every day is an emotional rollercoaster—waiting for jobs, emails, payments, taxes, clients, and balancing private life. It’s a constant mix of highs and lows. Not everyone is cut out for this unstable life. One year, you wish for more spare time; the next, you take every shitty job they offer you.
Q: How do you approach collaboration in your work? Do you have a certain mindset (or temperament) you bring into a team dynamic?
A: I try to stay calm and focused. I’m not the loudest or the one who talks the most in meetings at first. I always take my time, and listen to everyone, and then I start to speak.
Q: The Temper community celebrates raw emotion, hard work, and connection. How do you see your work contributing to that kind of spirit?
A: I guess I'm the hard working fella.
Q: What’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or ideas that you’re particularly excited about?
A: There are no big projects planned at the moment, just a few small ones. I’m looking forward to spending as much time as possible with my wife, daughter, and our dog. But I’m always motivated and ready for a new project.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to people pursuing their passion, what would it be?
A: My first boss in the creative industry gave me a piece of advice after I quit: "Don’t start a career as a photographer." And here I am—I didn’t listen. I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame. It wasn’t easy, and it still isn’t, but I wouldn’t have chosen any other path. My advice? Always listen to others—but also listen to yourself. No one else can decide what’s right or wrong for you.
Q: What does the phrase “A game never ends” mean to you in the context of your work or life?
A: There is always a new day and a new dawn.
Q: In what ways do you think your temperament has changed over time—both in your personal journey and professional life?
I’ve become calmer—and also clearer. I learnt to set boundaries.
