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Andrea Mäusli
@a.m_aus_z
Photographer based in Switzerland
As a child, I was very interested in the history of Native Americans. This is how I first came into contact with old black and white images. The expression of these pictures and the story behind fascinated me. The first Americans believed that with every picture a part of the soul of a person was captured; when I look at pictures of people now, I understand where this thought comes from.
"So much emotion can be transmitted through a photograph. It’s impressive."
"It didn’t take long before I had my first camera, my father's old Pentax, and was taking pictures whenever I could."
When I was 16 I rented a small room and turned it into a dark room and brought my films to the photographer in the village. The old man, owner of a small photography shop, told me what more I could do with my camera. He let me use his equipment, showed me tricks on how to manipulate the result with different settings of the enhancer, using different papers, time, chemicals, but also by waving with your hand while illuminating the photo-paper in a specific way.
"It was very interesting to learn from such a authentic and knowledgeable person, a real craftsman."
"I loved photography, but somehow this passion disappeared to the background. Several years later I started working for a food magazine and cooking show."
First I was preparing the shows, but this changed and slowly I started working for the magazine. I cooked the dishes and did the food styling for the photos of the magazine. Over the years I developed this photographic eye, even though it were other people taking the photos. It is essential to have a feeling for it, to know how to position everything so it looks good and attractive on a photo. Working so closely with photographers brought me further and helped me develop certain skills. Some of the photographers were very encouraging, telling me that I have a talent and encouraged me to try out things with the camera too.
"Today I work as a chief editor for another food magazine and take photos myself, simply with my phone."
"I enjoy shooting with my phone because it is very spontaneous; it gives you some kind of freedom in your work, as technical standards are lower and the whole thing is very lively and fast."
To be honest, the technical part of photography has never really interested me much from the moment it changed from analogue to digital photography. I love simple and classic stuff, in any area of life. Less is more, also in photography I believe. I hope it does not just look simple, but that it is simplicity with a twist. Something that catches the attention and make people smile or feel surprised. To me, that is the magic about the minimalist style. One of my favorite photos is one with a lonely tree on a snowy hill with a single cloud in the blue sky. I love it; I shot it on a day while travelling from Batumi back to Tbilisi, Georgia. We spent three days in springy warm Batumi on the beachside. This wintery scene and snow came so unexpected, it was surreal.
"I loved the scenery; it is kind of a fairytale picture to me, as how a kid would paint a tree and a cloud… Simple, but it has this little ‘something’."
"In early days I was fan of beautiful landscape shots and I still do this, but I have moved to a specific style with the minimal shots."
I believe not much is necessary to be impressed and helps us focus on the little that is shown. I also like spontaneous street photography, capturing a curious detail or subject that I noticed and that others may walk by without giving it much attention.
I try to take in everything that crosses my path, details, subjects, nature… Life is beautiful and I love to capture a simple moment.
"We can’t know what happened before or what will happen afterwards, but I can capture the truth at a specific moment."
I therefore do not edit any of my pictures. It is like it is, authentic and real. And with that reality, I aim to provoke a reaction of the beholder. I want to touch people in a way, make them smile or be astonished… I love it when I can pass on the magic I personally felt. There is nothing more beautiful than the present moment, because that’s all we have. So I want to show that whatever you are looking at, any visual aspect, could give joy.
Visiting other places or countries I believe help you to notice details of everyday situations, because these details are most often different from what you are used to and because it’s different, you suddenly notice them. Actually, directly after my studies I first started working as a travel representative. I had always been interested in traveling and the world, and working in this area obviously stimulated me. I have lived and worked in different countries and cities: Norway, Cyprus, Thailand and Hong Kong… I’m a curious person and I noticed these different details within landscapes, streets, people… These aspects that vary due to the different lifestyle influenced by the culture of the country.
"And even more beautiful, is to discover that beyond this diversity, people are having the same kind of needs and wishes everywhere around the world."
"One of my favorite ways of traveling is sailing."
I remember those moments early in the morning; anchored in a lonely bay, you get up in the morning, go outside and you feel like you’re almost alone on the planet. The sea seems to be endless, the water is smooth and looks like mercury. It is the most peaceful moment I can imagine, especially with a nice cup of coffee in my hands I can gaze at the sea and lose myself in the magic of the moment. And always when sailing, I remember my second favorite picture of a sunken ship.
"I took it 2015, sailing through the Dodecanese, unfortunately during the first big fugitive crisis."
Sailing so close to Turkey, we had a lot of ‘maydays’ coming through the radio all the time, but never really saw somebody in need. Then, one morning – beautiful, quiet, a soft light and a bit foggy – we passed this sunken ship. It was abandoned and we hoped the people could have left the ship alive. If I look at the photo it still gives me a sad but peaceful feeling at the same time: Even the most peaceful spots can have a rough story to tell.
"We all need triggers that help us develop and grow. But in the end, it’s you who needs to take steps and make decisions."
In my case, I got support from my family but photography was more seen as something to do aside. Arts was not really taken serious or seen as a profession, in general it still isn’t by the majority of people I guess. So, as I found joy in art, I walked my way and I was sure of it. That made realizing different steps towards where I am now easier for me. When I know what I want, I do it and I succeed, no matter the amount of work I have to put in. I allow myself to dream big. Isn’t it the most important in life? To have dreams? Living from traveling and photography would be my dream. Let’s see where I will get in the future by working on this dream and enjoying it each single moment, capturing the truth of the ‘here and now’.
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