L

ooking back, it was good to take

the required time of fifteen

months for this exciting topic.

This allowed many places to be visi-

ted and the objects to be photogra-

phed without time pressure.

Years ago, the first thoughts and emo-

tions about this title formed in my

head. The trigger of this impulse can

be found in my professional envi-

ronment. I often met people who ho-

ped that by owning a high-tech ca-

mera they would automatically get

"better" pictures. From a purely tech-

nical point of view, this expectation

is true, but not in the photographic

result.

Ultimately, social platforms also

flood us with lots of images. The im-

pression quickly arises that every

motif has already been photographed

by someone in the world. Complete-

ly in line with the trend of ubiquitous

fast-food photography, which is in-

tended exclusively for the moment, is

consumed and just as quickly falls

into oblivion.

A good reason to take up the chal-

lenge of "photography" anew and

leave the photographic mainstream!

From now on, put the focus more on

the everyday things that are worth

discovering and capturing by you.

Develop your own perspective to

take the motifs out of their contexts

and reassign them.

You have already taken the first step

towards this realization, otherwise

you would not be holding this book

in your hands. The next steps require

some time and patience until the

ability to "see deeper and further" is

awakened. The mind must also learn

to leave enough room for imaging.

The book is divided into individual

subject areas with varying degrees of

difficulty that can be targeted. Take

the "picture apparatus" at hand that

you are familiar with, i.e. the smart-

phone or camera!

I hope that you will go on a highly

motivated journey of discovery and

rediscover photography for yourself

in a special, exciting way!

Michael Nagel