Every Sunday, I contact photographers previously featured on PHOTOSNACK and ask them to send me their spontaneous thoughts, observations, reflections, or advice.
Today, I am sharing the message I received from Astrid Riecken.
Astrid Riecken
I have been a photographer for more than 30 years, even made a living with it ever since I began my career. So I am one of the very lucky ones. I had my share of amazingly exciting but also challenging assignments. I am thankful for each and every one of those experiences and if I were asked how I would like to live my life I would do it all over again the very same way.
Today, I am more often focusing my work on nature and weather events. I like to venture out when there is dense fog or strong snowfall. These kinds of weather create a beautiful setting for photography. I am sure many members of your photography community appreciate this too. Lately, I have felt another inspiration through nature photography. It helps me to calm down, to feel grounded, to be present and in the moment. It's therefore a very helpful antidote to all the many external stress factors we are increasingly exposed to...
So if there is one thing I would like to share with your community, then it's that photography can help you to be okay and better cope with our world. For me, photography offers two important remedies. A safe place when I focus on nature, and a source of reconciliation when I work as a photojournalist. My photojournalistic work provides an essential opportunity. I create a record of events as they unfold. Like most of my colleagues, I strictly follow as a photojournalist the code of ethics issued by the National Press Photographers Association when I record those events.
Astrid Riecken was featured in PHOTOSNACK #460.
Sunday Editions connect you with photographers whose work you previously explored through PHOTOSNACK.
I want to reveal some authentic parts of the people behind the cameras. I don't ask them any specific questions. I ask them to share whatever comes to mind when they think about YOU, the newsletter readers. It makes their responses genuine and personal.
I hope you enjoyed today's Sunday Edition.
Until next time,
Tomasz
Such a thoughtful and beautifully written piece by Astrid. It certainly struck a note with me.
Thank you
Photography helps, it leaves me with this nice feeling too