Photography makes your experience complete

I grew up in a small town at the edge of the Black Forest in southern Germany, where I spent most of my time as a kid strolling through the woods, building forts, and throwing stones in the creek. My family didn’t do big overseas vacations; most of the time, we went to the mountains of the Alps. As a kid, I didn’t really understand why my parents always wanted to go there. Most of my friends went to warm countries with beaches, while I had to go hiking. Years later, I realized my parents were right; the nature, landscapes, and mountain culture we have in the Alps are incredible, and I return there at least once a year.

Even though I was fascinated by cameras as a kid, I didn’t really find my way into photography. The first camera I owned was an analog point-and-shoot camera from the drugstore that was in the design of a German cartoon figure. Later, I won a crappy digital camera in a raffle. I liked photography but didn’t understand how to take good pictures or what to do with them. In school, I went to the Photo and Video club but left after my first project and a fight with the teacher about the rules of photo and videography. I still remember his words: ‘It’s just not good if you don’t follow the rules!’ Now that I have worked for years as a full-time filmmaker and photographer, I can say he was wrong.

After school, I decided to go for a work and travel year to Canada. I was excited to see the wide world, and Canada seemed to be a good start since I imagined it to be like the Alps but a bit bigger. I just didn’t realize HOW MUCH bigger. I fell in love with this giant country and being outdoors. From my first paycheck there as a janitor, I bought a camera. I realized that when you’re traveling, there are so many new experiences that you won’t be able to remember – yet they are worth remembering. Also, it’s easier to share these experiences with other people if you can show them pictures. A lot of people say that you won’t be able to fully enjoy and experience something if you have a camera in front of your face. For me, this turned out to be the best way to experience something – I’m excited when I’m somewhere nice and the light is good, I’m grateful later when I edit those pictures because it takes me right back to these moments, and I’m happy to share a story using a selection of these pictures with other people. I tried to travel and “fully” experience moments without a camera – it doesn’t work for me. All I can think about is, ‘Man, I wish I had a camera to capture this!’

Back from Canada, I studied journalism for TV, Radio, and Internet. That’s where I really got into photography. After university, I started working as a camera operator and cutter. Even though most of my work today is commercial, I love shooting documentaries. Being able to dive into a story and capture it is so much fun. I think that’s why in my photography, I focus more on having a ‘whole story,’ a set of pictures of real moments, instead of THE one amazing shot at the end of the day. For that, the Fuji X-Pro2 is my favorite camera. I was hooked the first time I had it in my hands. The look and feel of an analog camera make it easy and effective to use. I applied my editing style to the film simulations, so I can already see (more or less) how the pictures are going to look like when they are edited. This might sound like a small benefit, but it’s actually a big one: If the pictures look “edited” already in the camera, I get more excited and take more and better pictures. I also have the feeling that since it is a small camera with an analog charm, people are not “afraid” of it and act more natural. And it feels very natural to use it too. No matter if I’m exploring giant cities like Tokyo, backyards in Venezuela, bikepacking in the Black Forest, hiking in the Alps, or just a casual night in a bar with friends – it just blends in anywhere. I shoot most of my pictures with the Fujifilm XF 18mm f/2 – it is super small and lightweight, and I prefer a bit wider lenses because I think you are more ‘within’ the scene instead of watching it from a distance.

I don’t see photography only as a hobby or profession itself; it is the best addition to any hobby, travel, or just cool thing that you do. For me, documenting when I travel (or be out in nature) and sharing these stories afterwards is a big part of the whole journey. Photography makes the experience complete. I know that today, social media and especially Instagram are so full of crap, and a lot of photographers told me they don’t enjoy posting stuff there anymore because they feel like people don’t pay much attention to it, especially if you don’t have many followers. I still want to encourage you: Take your camera with you (yes, I know phones take good pictures too, but it’s just not the same if you look into your phone or have a real camera in your hand) and take time to take pictures, give them your look (edit them or just use the simulations that are in Fuji cameras), and share your story with other people. It doesn’t matter if you post them for your 50 or 50,000 followers or you just print them and bring them to your grandparents – people will be interested and appreciate it.

In the end, that’s what it is all about – do your thing and share it with other people.

My latest YouTube video:

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