Ute Reckhorn with Fuji 18 mm F2R

A: I started taking pictures back in 2012. After my youngest child started preschool I needed a creative outlet and photography has always been a hobby of mine so it seemed like something I could easily learn.

Ute Reckhorn with Fuji 18 mm F2R

A: I recommend starting with no expectations. Allow yourself to be surprised and play around. Actually play a lot. Over time you will discover how each wand effects the light, colors and sharpness of your image. Also, book a seat in my upcoming OMNI Filter workshop. The next run of this class starts early February 2022.

A: I love the work of Henry Cartier Bresson. There is so much to look at in his clever and often funny images. I love looking at black and white photography even though my own work is so full of color. Robert Maplethorpe and Debbie Fleming Caffery both impressed me with their authenticity. But honestly there are many more and we would need more time to talk about this topic.

Ute Reckhorn with Lensbaby Sweet 50

A: Doing the work. There is such a big gap between the images that are on my mind and the images that I actually make. This can be intimidating to a point where I doubt my skills. But over the years I have learned that most artists deal with that challenge and so I pick up my camera most days no matter what my inner voices are telling me.

A: I am self taught. I started copying work that I liked and quickly realized that I had a lot of learning to do. In reading books, studying the work of others, taking workshops (both online and in person) and surrounding myself with talented photography friends I learned a lot. I think having a photography community and being able to talk about the craft and sharing stories was the most important factor in my journey as a photographer.

A: My work is often about the atmosphere of a location and to be able to capture that feeling, I need to allow myself to calm down and immerse myself. The more time I spend to understand where I am and what the location and my feelings are about, the deeper connected I am to the subject, the more likely it is that I will create meaningful work, that is important to me, that feels right.

Ute Reckhorn with Fuji 18 mm F2R

A: I am a big fan of nature. I love the way being in nature makes me feel and how perfect and innovative plants, trees animals and landscapes feel. Photography is in equal parts art, passion and meditation for me. I dedicate time each day to spend with my camera, most often at the beach. The sound of the waves, the smell of the ocean and the whole landscape are inspiring to me. But my work is also about freedom. The wide open landscape, flying seagulls, there's so much to look at and I feel like I'm going on a journey when I do.

A: "Its not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." by David Thoreau.

A: The most rewarding part for me is when a picture makes my heartbeat stop. When I capture something out of the ordinary and it just feels right. This doesn't happen as often as I wish, but the hunt, the anticipation of the process is fun too.

Ute Reckhorn with Lensbaby Edge 35

A: I love landscapes and portraits. Landscape photography gives me peace of mind and is like meditation for me. I appreciate the calming nature or the craft. Portraits are super exciting. I love connecting with people to get to know them before I take their portrait.

A: My style is calming, colorful and adventurous.

A: For me it is important to build a relation before I take a portrait. I tend to feel people so this is relatively easy for me. But not everybody wants to be seen. So when people refuse to show their real person I find it much harder to establish a meaningful relationship and I think this is visible in a portrait. So my best tip is, try to be real and most people will respond to that invitation and show you their real me.