That's Me
I am a writer, photographer and anthropologist. I love working with humans in extraordinary environments. Instead of just scratching the surface, I spend a lot of time exploring and analysing my field of work and research. I spent months in Indian Slums, weeks in a village in the desert and nights at hypnotizing rituals of a Pakistani Sufi shrine. Due to my ability to adapt to new (social) environments, I am able to connect to others quickly and dive into their worlds. I find familiarities where others find strangeness and I see the exceptional in daily routines.
All people share the same feelings, needs and rights. I want to treat everyone with recognizing their dignity and not drawing their life black or white. Their stories and images should emphasize the connection between all of us. We all laugh and cry. We all feel dissapointment and hope. We are human.
Sometimes, however, I need a break. Then I love to feel and capture the nature and silence without humans.
Bio
I was born in the city of Essen and grew up in a little town. In my childhood and youth, I loved to be outside and do creative activities. After finishing school, I worked as a paramedic and learned to stay calm, even in extreme situations.
I hold a B.A. degree of „Political Science and Economics“ from the University of Münster, Germany. During my studies I lived in Turkey and Pakistan for a while. These experiences have inspired me to do further research in the areas of culture and society. During my studies of Social Anthropology, I started focussing on South-Asia and tought myself the languages Urdu and Hindi. My language skills as well as the soft-skills of anthropological research paved the way for a 6-month research in India. I finished the M.A. of Social Anthropology from the University of Münster with my thesis „The Indian Dream? Social Mobility of Balmikis.“ My knowledge about social structures, tolerance and ethics help me to work with people and understand different social contexts.
Right from the start, my camera has been a tool to share my experiences all over the world. Later, it became an essential part of my work. Photography can build bridges and helps to question stereotypes and xenophobia. I want to combine aesthetics with content and connect people with different realities.