David Köster

“Our earth is a unique composition of the most diverse habitats and natural settings. As a landscape photographer, it is my passion to discover these big and small wonders and to stage them in my pictures. As an artistic photographer, I am particularly interested in the natural play of light and colors, shapes and structures. My photographs are less about documentation and more about imagination and emotion. As a landscape photographer, I tell visual stories of the beauty of our world. In the best sense of the word, I want to “take the viewer with me on a journey” and arouse emotions in him with my pictures. I always combine this with the hope of being able to use my pictures to promote the preservation and protection of our earth. The focus of my work is the aesthetic aspect of our home planet. That's why my pictures are often idealizing. In this respect, my photographic approach differs from classic documentary or reportage photography. Irrespective of this, authentic implementation is important to me. On site, I try to implement my picture ideas largely through photographic means. Of course, I also use the modern possibilities of electronic image processing, which for me is an integral part of landscape photography today. In addition to the love of the free and wild nature, what appeals to me as a landscape photographer is the challenge. Extraordinary, haunting perspectives do not open up through convenience. They want to be discovered, run, climbed. Above all, it is essential to be in the right place at the right time. The weather and lighting conditions, the time of year and the time of day determine whether a natural motif can shine in all its beauty. The creation of most of my pictures therefore begins long before the shutter button is actually pressed. The research for unusual spots, the planning and the search for the optimal position and light takes up a significant amount of my landscape photography work. But even with the best preparation and despite all technical aids, one is never immune to the surprises of nature. Ultimately, I never know exactly what to expect "out there". But that is exactly what the “modern adventure” of landscape photography is based on for me and what makes this photographic discipline so fascinating for me. Landscape photographer – not just a job for me, but a calling.” David Koester