There is no universal method for creating exclusive art prints. In photographic art, the motif and the light are always the starting point. The central question is: how do I discover my motifs, and which aspect of reality should appear in the final image?

I follow a variety of approaches. Essentially, I think in terms of photo series. Over time I have selected different aspects of reality that I want to express in my photographic artworks: characters in my portrait series Humans of the World, impressions of urban life in my Street Art Collection, and themes such as movement, traffic or time in my Rush Hours Collection. I currently work with more than a dozen themes. Depending on which series I want to expand, I take a different approach.

For example, with my Humans of the World series - typically shot in a studio - I often plan very carefully in advance. The models I photograph, the props and clothing, as well as the lighting setup all play an important role. I usually conduct at least two photo sessions with each model. The first is to get to know each other from a photographic perspective. During the second session then, I have a clear idea of which aspects of the model’s character offer artistic potential and the shoot is meticulously planned. Which camera should I use? Which focal lengths and apertures? How should the lamps and flash units be positioned? Do I need a specific background?

In contrast the process for my Street Art Series is completely different, since the motif is rarely predetermined. I might be in an unfamiliar city and this series is all about exploring its soul. So I head out with my camera - preferably a lightweight one - and wander through interesting neighbourhoods, always in search of compelling motifs. What I find attractive depends on my mood, the light and the time of day. I let the people, buildings and traffic influence me and inspire new ideas. On these exploratory walks I use only wide-angle lenses, for instance 16-35 mm, to capture the widest possible view of the scene. After reviewing the day’s photos, I select the motifs that resonate most and decide which ones I want to revisit. These might be the people and their clothing in a particular district, culturally significant locations, a graffiti or a combination of different aspects. Once I have identified these elements, I return another day. This time with lenses over 35 mm and sometimes even in the telephoto range. This allows me to draw subjects closer and emphasize specific details. When photographing people, I avoid influencing the scene. Observing from a distance helps ensure the images feel natural and authentic.

After reviewing the second set of images, I narrow down the final selection for the collection. Some photographs are ready for printing immediately. Often, however, they require digital development or editing. Brightness, sharpness and cropping are adjusted, so the motif stands out better in print. In my fine art series the images often undergo extensive editing. Here, realism is not my goal. This phase can be very time-consuming, especially when working with photo collages or multilayered compositions.

At the end of the process I choose the print medium. So far I have used high-quality fine art papers from Hahnemühle as well as Alu-Dibond. The printing is handled by WhiteWall, a company renowned for excellent quality and durability. For the future I do not rule out other suppliers and keep myself constantly informed in this regard, as print media is constantly improving. For me, absolute durability and quality are of the utmost importance. Hahnemühle and WhiteWall guarantee that prints on their fine art papers and the ink will last for several hundred years. Properties such as grammage, matt or glossy, textured or non-textured must be specified. Another important decision concerns the frame and passe-partout. I typically choose exclusive magnetic frames from Halbe, as they offer distinct advantages. Please note that frames and passe-partouts are not included in my prices, unless explicitly stated, as these vary depending on the choice of glass and cut-out preferences of the buyers.

You can find information related to WhiteWall premium prints under: https://www.whitewall.com

Information about the Halbe frames can be found at: https://www.halbe-rahmen.de/bilderrahmen/magnetrahmen/