Similarities between my work and my photographic practice

At first glance, my two fields of work seem very different: community psychiatric nursing on the one hand, and photography on the other. Yet the longer I practice both, the more I realize how deeply they resemble each other.

I need presence and a sensitive way of seeing, an awareness for the whole, for details, for perspectives, and for subtle changes.

I have to make sense of what I perceive: Why does a situation feel coherent or not? What does my impression have to do with me? What story lies beneath the surface? This requires knowledge, context, and reflection.

I need to structure situations and reduce complexity. What is the core theme, where is the focus? What truly matters, and what is merely a distraction? What do we want to hold on to?

I rely on calmness, humility, and patience. Neither a meaningful image nor a quick solution can be forced. Much of it is preparation, and some things simply don’t come together at the first attempt.

I need the courage to step beyond the conventional. A textbook approach can be helpful, but often, it isn’t.

I aim to be authentic. People sense whether I am genuine. And images, too, only resonate when they carry an honest way of seeing.

I remain a learner - whether I encounter an unfamiliar diagnosis or a new context, just as I do with new photographic subjects, films, or techniques. In essence, I am always learning, while still trusting that what I am capable of is worthy of expression.

In the end, these are two paths that arise from the same mindset.