Anja Rippich

My photographic journey:

My journey into photography began with a toy camera – plastic, purple and black. I was fascinated by the process: loading the film, the “click-clack” sound of winding it forward, taking photos, and then, what felt like an eternity later, carefully removing the film without exposing it – followed by the long wait for the developed pictures. By the time I got the photos back, I had often forgotten what I had photographed. After all, film was precious and had to be used sparingly. And you couldn’t check if the shot had turned out – you only found out once you held the prints in your hands.

After that, photography faded into the background for a few years while other hobbies took center stage. That changed suddenly with a RICOH digital camera, which marked the beginning of my digital photography journey. The RICOH was my companion for many years – even through the first months after my first child was born. I loved that camera. Eventually, the viewfinder stopped working, and I switched to my first smartphone. I adjusted to it and, for many years, didn’t feel the need to photograph any other way. But the limitations – poor quality, blur, and pixelation – started to bother me more and more. That’s when I bought a Panasonic LUMIX, to pick up where I had left off with the RICOH.

At a family wedding, I captured some moments that felt especially meaningful to me. Afterward, the bride told me my pictures were the most beautiful of all – the highest compliment I could imagine. I was thrilled! With a new camera in hand, I soon realized I needed to better understand its many functions. So I signed up for a beginner’s weekend workshop in Hamburg with the photo school Blende2, where I learned about the exposure triangle, panning, shooting from light into darkness, and more. Inspired by other photographers and the variety of lenses, I soon added a compact mirrorless SONY 6000 with a fantastic lens to my LUMIX setup.

Since then, I’ve practiced more spontaneously than regularly, more through “learning by doing” than through structured or theoretical self-study – and always prefer learning with others over going it alone. At a photo exhibition at the district court in Itzehoe, I met some members of the Blende8 photo club and decided to join. The group dynamic and the focus areas align well with my desire to learn with and from others – but also to receive support, apply what I’ve learned, and deepen my skills as I develop my photographic voice.

My photographic philosophy:

For me, a photo always needs to be somewhat personal – tied to a moment or (my) emotion. Maybe that’s why I haven’t committed to a single genre? When I take pictures, it’s usually because there’s a reason or event that prompts me to use the camera – often my iPhone. Through Blende8 and other photographers in my circle, I’ve become more aware that for many, it’s the desire to take photos that comes first – and then an occasion or activity is planned around that. Although, for me, that often conflicts with environmental considerations.