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Thomas Mauroschat
@thomascapes
Landscape photographer based in Germany
I have practiced different kinds of art before getting into photography. It fulfills my need to reveal and express myself creatively. Now, photography is a tool that allows me to visually and artistically share my perception of a place or landscape and the emotion connected to it. During my studies in Medicine (where creativity isn’t the most required skill) I dedicated lots of my time to creating music and DJ-ing.
I played mostly a mixture of Indie and Electronic music, also called Indietronic. My DJ-sets focused on alternative music. Preparing a DJ-Set is very time-consuming, like a photo where you need hours and hours of little adjustments until you get it right. You have to have a common thread for all your songs; the art is to stitch them together perfectly while holding the tension – so people that started dancing follow you the whole way through your Set.
"Just like with photos, where the colors and composition you choose need to do the same - they grab the attention of the viewer’s eyes and lead them through your whole image."
I learned the similarities between producing music and photos later on. I only started to get deeper into photography when I began to work and couldn’t combine that with music anymore. I had taken pictures long before, but with less music in my life, I felt the need to get deeper into this craft and learn how to convey emotions through photography. Because of my love for nature and being outside I knew that I had to concentrate on landscape photography.
I was not on Instagram at this time and I created my Instagram account years later because a professional street photographer recommended me to do so. Having seen pictures from other photographers basically solely in magazines and books, Instagram was like a whole new world of inspiration to me.
"I was flooded with pictures from the world’s best photographers and I instantly wanted to thrive and reach this quality."
Pictures that inspire me often have a unique composition and style. I don’t like copying photos from others – usually, I see something from somewhere else and then I try to find a place nearby that allows me to do something similar. Over time, I found my own style to convey what I feel. I use colors and light to show emotions – I am a fan of vibrant colors, but not oversaturated.
I have been shooting and discovering a lot in Sauerland, my home area, where I mostly focus on trees and treescapes. However, it really depends on the weather, with some fog also the small mountains look epic. One of my most remarkable memories in the region is simply standing with a friend of mine on a mountain top during sunrise, having fog below us and orange clouds above us.
It is true that traveling is an essential part of landscape photography, but traveling is also a privilege, even more in times of the pandemic. So even without these restrictions, I would not be able to spend all my time traveling. For me, landscape photography has become more than something to simply collect travel memories. That’s why my photography is also about the beauty that my region has to offer. Only here I can plan photos for a long time and can come back to places when conditions are best.
"It’s possible to create art everywhere, we are not restricted to iconic locations."
When I’m strolling through the Sauerland I am always looking for places that could work in specific weather conditions. Maybe a tree, a rock formation, or just a beautiful view – there is always something to look at more closely. As these soft hills and mountain shapes in the Sauerland are not as photogenic as the alps, it’s the details that matter. If something is not too impressive by itself, it requires more effort, connection to the subject, and maybe talent, to create a captivating photograph. I always try to have a specific object that is the main eye catcher, something that stands out. My focus in post-processing is to emphasize the main object and the feeling of light.
For now, my photography is a part-time and freelance occupation. I combine it with being a physician. The beautiful thing about being a freelancer is that I can completely decide how much time I want to spend on my projects. This allows me to manage my time accordingly. I don’t have to stick to any deadlines – I can’t force the weather anyway. I love to photograph landscapes over a long period of time – to see how much it changes (which I do in Sauerland now). I would love to do the same somewhere abroad in the future, too.
My wife and I have the dream of working abroad once we feel ready. We want to be sure to experience enough as a physician to work independently abroad, combining it with photography. Where we will go and when exactly we don’t know for now – the future will show!
What we do know is that traveling as a family is life-changing. Many talk about solo-trips and the impact of it on personal growth, but our first long journey as a family with our three-months old son was as impactful. It influenced not only who I am, but also my photography, and our relationship. It gives a whole new dimension to your life and would only encourage others to do the same.
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