Projects

I've lost count to be honest. At my last job, I did over 150 projects within a year. In away, I've never counted privat projects. They never truly felt being part of myself. Does tell you about my own fragmentation, doesn't it. There were some, however, that did resonate. It were the community-driven ones.

Pro Bono Headshots for refugees (2023)

I helped the refugee initiative Welcome to Barmbek to make refugees fit for the job market. Great headshots are an essential part of every application. We did a whole day. Great people, great photos.

Personal: It’s a bittersweet taste. Knowing how difficult the German job market can be. The bureaucracy, even when you speak the language. You can only help so much, I guess. “Most of them won’t make it”, said the initiatives director, “But we must trie.”

Pro Bono Photoshoot for refugees (2023)

The “Fördern & Wohnen” is a social institution in Germany. They run (due to lack of funding quite run down) apartment blocks housing mostly refugees. Once a year, they host a great summer fest for the community. I set up my equipment to do family photos and later took photos of the event. Much to the joy of the people.

Personal: There was young kid with burn marks all over his body. He took a liking in me. I let him take photos with my camera, he brought me juice and candy. We laughed. You know, there was relief in the air that day. A slight breathing in, breathing out. A human warmth. You could do a thousand fancy events and never feel that. It’s real.

Pro bono helping headshots (2022)

I offered free headshots to my LinkedIn community. I knew how shit it is to start a-new, having written more than 100 applications myself. Due to a server-hack at the Polytech Hamburg (HAW) a fierce secretary got hold of my offer – and almost ALL messages rushing in came from students.

I took each and everyone quite personal. A spend a full day each with a total of 8x people. I’ve booked a studio at my own expense for a couple, drove to Lüneburg just to take some photos in settings that supported the applicants desires.

Personal: One of the applicants later messaged me. She landed her first job – at a photo retailer.

Voluntary engagement political party VOLT (2024)

Photography for Spitzenkandiderende, Fotos HP, Content + Tiny House Tour Video-Podcast Live-Schnitt.

Personal: The state of a young political party was kind of reflective of my own inner state: chaotic. Ultimately, it takes a while for large organisations to form working structures. I think I didn’t wanna wait that long. I wanted to help moving. That worked semi well.

Beautiful & Lost | AI Production | #experimental

I regularly explore AI-tools and capabilities. It’s amazing how much progress is being made. I took on to create the stuff I couldn’t pull off for self-financed test shoots. Having written creative concepts and ideas all my life, it’s a great tool to bring my visions to life.

Personal: AI is excellent for exploration, terrible for precision. It never solves the real problem: not knowing what you want. Every creative knows the process is the work – that's where growth happens, not in the tool. Since AI is statistically used more for harm than good, maybe we should call it what we call other things primarily used to harm people: a weapon. I'm disappointed by those running these companies – too much influence, zero accountability.