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.
Get a print from our latest campaign with Mani in our fanshop!
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.
