The next chapter...

“Das Privileg eine Kamera in meinen Händen zu halten, und mit diesem Instrument Geschichten zu erzählen. Das Licht zu messen, um Momente zu erfassen, Menschen zu portraitieren,…Ihre Arbeit, Ihren Alltag und Ihr Wesen zu dokumentieren.”

*Mike Wolff, Februar 2020, Diplomarbeit am MAZ Luzern/ Studiengang Fotografie

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“The privilege of holding a camera in my hands and telling stories with this instrument. Measuring the light to capture moments,…to portray people,…to document their work, their everyday life and their nature.”

*Mike Wolff, Februar 2020, Diploma MAZ Luzern/ Photography”

The camera as an icebreaker

When reviewing the material I produced over the last decade, both as a visual artist and as a photographer, i am critically aware of the of the context, reflecting on how I managed to meet and spend time with the people in my photographs.

Especially when it comes to the projects which are more journalistic in nature and serve a documentary purpose , I sometimes forget about the image itself, but reminisce about the situation and individual or group I was able to portray as a result of the machine I hold in my hands.

Many times the camera is far away when meeting my protagonists for the first time, which paradoxically brought us closer together and enabled me to work the specific projects with a greater respect and understanding.

For me, this attitude is crucial, especially in this day in age, where we are surrounded and equipped with image recording equipment on a unparalleled scale. To honour and respect the space between us the the lense, before embarking on the journey together.

Real Riders on the Storm...

““Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”—Viktor E. Frankl”

This opening quote from Johannes Koch's Book "Break into Journalism" - Contact building tools and tactics represents for me personally one of the key elements to be a successful photojournalist and beyond. The author of the book has coached me before on my visit to Miami in order to reflect on a few journalistic methods that would assist me on the road ahead.

( Follow this link to get a free copy of Break into Journalism )

One's Attitude, the way I feel or think about something, the way I present my self and approach the situation and character in front of my lens is integral to the image I am about to capture.

Under the working title " Riders on the Storm", I planned to meet several locals who have sat out hurricane Irma. I wanted to hear their stories and what they have experienced not just in living through this particular storm, but the also the storms we are faced with in our daily lives.

Many encounters we had, numerous pictures were taken, and as I work my way through the archives, I remember fondly the meetings and people I was privileged to meet and portray on the streets of Miami.

I met Ray briefly in 2015 and he made quite an impression on me. A man who not just coined the street, but was coined by the environment we found ourselves in. And as I prepared my visit for the mission ahead,  and planning the Interviews for my visit in 2017, Ray instantly agreed kindly to be portrayed while having a chat about the questions I had.

The photo I took of him in December of 2017 on the streets of Wynwood is one of the most profound portraits in my portfolio so far. It's been part of exhibitions and is an integral image in my project folder that means a lot to me.

In a time of political limbo, where sentences such as  "Make America great again..." and similar phrases suddenly become chewing gum, It is a great honour for me to meet people that are real, that keep it real, ...fulltime.

It's these people that make not just America great again, but should also inspire others wherever we live and to keep on living, ...keep on loving, ...keep ...on riding, in a respectful manner.

Descending upon Art Campus...

Building on the success of last years ART CAMP SWITZERLAND action, I was invited to joined an International delegation of young artists for an Action painting session on the premises of Campus Attisholz.

Supported and hosted by BTS ( Beneath the surface) on the former "Kettenreaktion.jetzt", the artists were given access to the main Gallery space which has been recently refurbished by the crew to acomodate and extend future events continuing to showcase contemporary cultural exhibition, in order to adorn the main wall and give the main entrance a temporary mural greeting visitors to the showroom.

"Writings on the Wall"  Sung Won (Seoul/ South Korea) at work onCampus Attisholz, July 2017,Photography  © Mike Wolff

As I met the young artists of this years's project, I was profoundly taken by the omnipesence of poetic interpretation present in this year's personal works. Many Mythologies were quoted and visual anecdotes were telling of short messages of wisdom in this years works.