In this article, Ariane shares how photography helped her navigate personal challenges, connect authentically with people and animals, and develop a philosophy rooted in empathy and artistic freedom. Readers will also discover her ethical approach to wildlife photography and her trusted equipment for both camouflage techniques and cameras.
Niklas Spether
@niklasspether
Landscape photographer based in Germany
My name is Niklas Spether and I am a 29-year-old landscape photographer from the beautiful Black Forest region in Germany. Currently I live in a small town that is a gateway to the Black Forest. I enjoy living here because of the proximity to the outdoors and life here is simply delightful.
"My passion for travel comes from the longing to find something new and to break free from everyday life."
There is nothing more valuable in life than spending time immersing yourself in another culture. You come back to every journey as a completely new person. I live by the motto: “The gladdest moment in human life is a departure into unknown lands” by Sir Richard Burton. Our world is so beautiful that you shouldn’t stop travelling even if you’ve been everywhere. Above all, you should be careful not to become a victim of mass tourism and rather search for places where you can be alone to enjoy them.
My passion for photography began at a very young age, since my father is a journalist and has always taken me on assignments for the newspapers. About six years ago it peeked, and I began seriously pursuing photography two years ago when I registered as a photographer. The interesting thing about photography is capturing moments that keep you excited, whether that is playing with the light and weather to get the perfect photo that excites everyone.
"I think photography is the most expressive kind of art."
"Ultimately my aim is to amaze the spectator, allowing them to feel like they were with me when I took the photo and how I experienced the moment."
That it’s worth going on a journey and seeing across your horizon. When I visited Iceland for the summer solstice, the light from the midnight sun was in the perfect position for several hours. It’s a dream for any photographer.
My time there was so incredible. Life is too short to waste on trivial matters. You should simply listen to your dreams and desires and chase the life you’ve always longed for. You shouldn’t patiently wait or postpone anything in life, because you never know what tomorrow will bring.
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