Behind the scenes: my first convention

My first convention was DoKomi 2026. A friend, Marcel, had spontaneously lent me his camera so I could take a few photos for a mutual acquaintance — my very first time with a real camera at a convention.

When Marcel moved on to other friends, I suddenly stood there alone: unfamiliar gear in my hands, thousands of people around me, and I had to figure out how to cope with it right then and there. At some point it got too much. I just stopped and let the hall wash over me.

I watched the people: the laughter between groups of friends, the joy over a costume that had turned out well, small glances and gestures that no one else captures. In that moment it became clear to me for the first time what photography means to me. It's not about the perfect shot or the most expensive gear — it's about capturing moments that are fleeting by nature but shouldn't be forgotten.

I went back to shooting with that perspective. Since then, at every shoot I deliberately look for those small, unremarkable but special moments. In the end, all I want my photos to do is give you back the feeling you had in exactly that moment.