About me

How I Got Into Photography

I am often asked how I got into photography. I used to be a soldier, and during my service-which included deployments abroad as a medic-I developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), although it only became clear years after I was discharged. One symptom of PTSD is, among other things, a more or less severe impairment of concentration. In order to counteract this, I spent some time looking for a hobby that could help me improve my focus. One characteristic of photography is the act of focusing on the subject: a very small frame, keeping the camera steady, waiting for the perfect moment to press the shutter. I have now been taking photos for about ten years. For me, it’s not about perfection, but about concentration.

Or to put it another way: For me, photography is a form of personal therapy.

In addition to my passion for photography, I am also active in other creative fields-specifically graphic design and web design. Here too, I am not a professional, but rather approach everything in a relaxed, hobbyist way. For me, it’s an exciting cycle: Photography is always at the center, but graphic and web design are the perfect complements.

It’s important to me to work exclusively with my own material. That means all the photos I use for my designs or my website come from my own camera. This way, everything remains authentic and I can incorporate my personal touch into every step.

I mainly use graphic design to create logos for my website or to design letterheads and business cards that match my style. This way, I create a coherent overall impression that highlights and completes my photographic work. It’s simply fun to experiment creatively and see how a photo can turn into a completely new design.

Web design, on the other hand, gives me the opportunity to present my photographs individually and exactly how I envision them. I can create my own little online gallery that perfectly suits me and my images. This gives me full control over how my work is presented to the outside world and allows me to share it with others.

In short: For me, the interplay between photography, graphic design, and web design is a creative cycle in which everything belongs together. I enjoy bringing my ideas to life in different forms-and always trying out new things along the way.

Just a small note on why I explicitly refer to myself as an hobbyist photographer and not simply as a photographer:

Many people who call themselves photographers have years of experience and have often invested a tremendous amount of time and money. These are things I simply cannot claim for myself. And even though the term “photographer” is not legally protected, I prefer to leave this designation to those who have truly dedicated significant time and resources to their profession.

By calling myself an hobbyist photographer, I want to show respect for that, and at the same time, it accurately describes what I am: someone who enjoys photography as a hobby-an hobbyist photographer!