2016

When I think about who I was in 2016, it’s hard for me to put myself back into that position.

Photographically, many of the things that shape my work today were already there back then, but I didn’t understand them yet. I was only able to really develop them during my studies. I moved away from nature photography and from what I would call calendar-friendly images. My first steps into rougher territory were already there in 2016, the focus on the banal came later. At the time, I still wanted to present analog photography as something better — more a way of setting myself apart than truly following a deep belief. Today, that doesn’t matter to me anymore. It has simply become my medium, and it is obviously (technically) worse than the digital alternative. Quality still matters to me, but the way I judge it has changed. It is now more about content than about technology, and I care more about light, exposure, and development than about high resolution or the best possible equipment.

The most important project for me was in 2018, when I photographed every day for several months using 35mm film and posted the results daily. During the summer, I sometimes shot several rolls in a single day. Looking back, this is where I learned the most — about photographic technique, good composition, and especially about my real photographic interests. I can only recommend this to every beginner. Daily practice reveals false ideas. It forces you to decide, to repeat, to fail. That’s how experience grows. It would have been better to do this earlier — film has since become almost twice as expensive, and that’s the only point where I feel nostalgic – Haha.

Compared to who I was in 2016, I am a completely different person. For me, 2016 was life before depression and anxiety disorder. I have been through a lot since then, but I have also learned a great deal. I am grateful for everything — even the difficult things — because they made me who I am today. I have much better access to myself now and can therefore show much more empathy toward other people. My photography has only benefited from this. I am able to bring something from my inner world to the outside. In this sense, my photographs are sometimes faster than I am. Overall, I have become a better person, and I hope I can say something similar in 2036. The journey has only just begun. Let’s make the best of it together.