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Christian
@ken.idie
Outdoor enthusiast and photographer based Germany
“WOW, it can really do that?” I asked my colleague. I knew something about photography and had heard about Adobe Lightroom, though seeing him doing the tricks was intriguing. He was able to take any photo and turn it into a stunning image only using this computer program. I mean, of course, he was a really great photographer, but I was amazed at what could be done with this software. Sure, I’d taken snapshots of people and landscapes before, but this was something else. Something that triggered me to begin my journey into photography.
I quickly went and bought a DSLR camera along with several how-to photography books so I could learn more about the subject. An Instagram account was created, and despite wishing that I would have started this hobby at a younger age, I was now well on my way. I’m only 40 years old today, so not too old (I think). I know many photographers, especially on Instagram, are 20 to 30 years old but, the extra life experience is also a personal advantage.
"My passion for nature actually predates my love for photography."
As a child, I always dreamed of becoming a scientist. My inquisitive nature made me fascinated with the planet, and science was always my favorite subject in school. Later I went on to study biology and chemistry at university before becoming a teacher.
Being fascinated with science and nature from childhood is one thing that has played a significant impact on where I am today. Another was spending time in Bavaria several years ago. This was the best holiday period ever. The people, the farm where we lived, the food, the weather, the landscapes, and the perfect photography conditions, everything was perfect. During this holiday, I went for several “sunrise-missions,” where I took many of my favorite images. For the first time, I learned how to see landscapes to create compositions and use light more effectively. My favorite conditions for taking photographs are definitely the composition of fog and/or light with nature.
"This combination creates a calm and soft scene. Thanks for that, Bavaria!"
I don’t live in Bavaria though, I live in Germany’s most crowded area, the Ruhr area. I’m around many people daily due to my job, so I need to balance this by listening to some good guitar music and photography. As often as possible, I take my camera and go by bike to the river Ruhr or sometimes I’ll walk into the nearby forest to enjoy the silence and nature.
I’ve traveled a lot within Germany, and there are so many beautiful places to visit. There’s Bavaria, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, the Eifel, Lake Constance and so on. But without a doubt, my most beloved place in Germany to shoot is not a specific place but rather anywhere out in nature. Lake Königssee (Bavaria) is one such natural landscape that’s an incredible, wonderful place to shoot. Yet, it’s full of tourists who just want to take “that” picture to post it online. They don’t really care about nature reserves or the ban on drone flights. Even some of the well-established photographers on Instagram often flout these rules, which is pretty disappointing. That’s not my idea of enjoying nature and photography.
"While respecting rules, respecting nature, we can still get the greatest shots."
I’m inspired by nature, of course. But many great professional photographers motivate me, too, such as Marvin Walter, Kilian Schönberger, Lina Kayser, Konsta Punkka, Stian Klo, so many of them. There are still so many things I want to learn about photography. I read books and articles, but the quickest way I learn is by doing. The more I shoot and edit, the more I learn.
It’s nice to look back on all my photographic experiences and now have a portfolio of images. Instagram can serve as an excellent platform for this, but I’ve never really been a fan of these types of social media sites. Everyone is constantly in the hunt for more followers, and for what reason, I don’t know. Perhaps because I’m slightly older than the usual crowd on Instagram, I haven’t succumbed to this way of thinking. I’m a little more relaxed about the whole thing. I hadn’t actually posted on Instagram for a long while because I needed a break, but I’ve come back recently because there are so many outstanding photographers and characters on the platform. I’m continuously finding great photos and people who I’m interested in.
A buzzard sitting perched on a tree, for example, only meters from you that flies away as soon as you’re about to press your shutter. The little moments like these are just as special to me as the end product when you have the photograph.
One of the best things I’ve seen happen was in Bavaria on one early morning trip. There were perfect conditions; the sun was rising, and there was a thick layer of fog for as far as I could see. I was actually on my way back home at the time, but I turned around and took one last glimpse of the mountains. Fortunately, because this is when I took one of my all-time favorite images.
"The image was of a hot-air balloon hanging above the foggy valley, with the mountains in the background."
I wouldn’t have taken this photograph if I wasn’t continually scouring the landscape for potential photo opportunities. You never know what opportunity may arise (behind you!) and then disappear just as quickly.
While photography has become a real passion for me in a short period of time, my family is my true passion. My wife and kids are always the anchors in my life, and they make me very happy. They make me realize I’ve got everything I really need, and I’m very thankful for that.
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