My journey to become an architectural photographer - a personal insight
How everything began - and barely ended again
An often-cited cliché is: “I took a lot of photos as a child - so it was clear that I wanted to do it professionally too.” In fact, this cliché also applies to me to some point. I first came into contact with photography at an early age thanks to my parents' enthusiasm. However, my youth was followed by a period of disillusionment: growing up in a village, I got to know photo studios that mainly offered passport photos and family shoots - that seemed very one-dimensional and uncreative to me at the time. As I approached my A-levels and was looking at career prospects, I came across the communication design course at what was then the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences. I found it particularly exciting that photography was taught there as a separate module. A visit to the open house, and in particular the insight into the workshops, brought my passion for the medium back.
Studying between design, space and photography
My studies at the Peter Behrens School of Arts in Düsseldorf finally laid the foundation of my enthusiasm for architecture. The close links between the departments of design and architecture had a lasting impact on me. Some courses were interdisciplinary, and the use of the wood workshop in particular had a great influence on me. As part of a joint photography course with architecture students, I began documenting the new Wehrhahn line in Düsseldorf and was immediately fascinated. From thereon, it was clear that architecture would play a central role in my photographic work. However, the path to becoming an architectural photographer was not yet complete.
Crisis, studies, specialization
Towards the end of my bachelor's degree, I fell into a creative crisis and began to fundamentally rethink photography. I asked myself what significance photography, especially digital photography, still has today. We live in a world where images are omnipresent and the original documentary aspect of photography is increasingly receding into the background. In an artistic study, I dealt with abstract, analog photography and examined the tension between intentional and accidental composition. I took away two important insights: Firstly, photography continues to have a high creative and documentary value even in the digital age, or rather the creative distortion of reality has always played an important role. Secondly, I realized that my training was not enough for me to start my career. I therefore decided to study for a Master's degree in Photographic Studies at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, where I continued to explore the medium of photography and specialized in architectural photography.
Curiosity is the driving force behind my work
I think it's clear why I work as a specialized architectural photographer today. However, another, equally important question remains unanswered: Why do I practice this profession with so much passion? Finding the answer to this question took me some time of honest self-reflection. In the end, however, it turned out to be surprisingly simple: It's the desire to learn new things and get to know the people behind the projects. I've always been curious, enjoyed trying things out and was enthusiastic about new perspectives. This curiosity has remained to the present day and is one of the most valuable aspects of my job. I am inspired by the dedication with which architects develop their projects, the creative solutions they find and the stories behind a building. Every project brings new challenges, new faces, new stories and photography is the medium for me to make precisely these stories visible.
Of course, the financial aspect also plays a role - finally, photography is my profession. But earning money is not my main focus. For me, the real value is in the project itself and in bringing it to life visually. On the first look, architectural photography may seem sober and distanced, almost like a purely documentary discipline. But behind every building there are people - in the planning, in the construction and in the use. This human dimension is central to me and perhaps the most important reason why I am so passionate about my profession.
