I can’t believe it. Three and half years ago I wrote the last post on this blog. Ironically, it was a time when my pen and photographic spirit were at a high point, promising a multitude of posts and photography. Silly me!
What happened? Or rather: why it didn’t happen.
In short, there’s too much to squeeze into the constraints of one blog post. Too much to explain, to share and ponder. After all, It was almost four years of my professional and personal life which, granted, has been very productive and fulfilling.
Ironically, the last four years was all about photography. I wasn’t flying all over the world teaching street and travel photography, writing books or sharing my work on social media. I wasn’t even photographing much. In fact, for the last year I haven’t even owned a camera. Can you believe it? What’s wrong with you, Olaf!
Yet, everyday was dedicated to photography. I‘ve spent the last four years building two photography magazines. Some of you already know my role in the Medium Format Magazine but it somehow wasn’t enough so with the help of friend and fabulous photographer, Steven Friedman, I started another magazine – ELEMENTS Magazine, this time dedicated to landscape photography.
From my life as a photographer, workshop instructor and everything in between, I turned into a curator, editor and publisher – roles which I cherish. For some reason, after years of photographing I found the change refreshing. It was a huge dare to build a magazine that would become the leading landscape magazine on the market.
I found it rewarding to work with the most incredible photographers in the world including Michael Kenna, Edward Burtynsky, Rachael Talibart and Charles Cramer. Working alongside Steven Friedman, Kasia, my beloved wife, Sally our editor and many other people, we built something special and lasting.
It has been incredible to work with great photographers directly, planning content, curating imagery with Steven, working on design, marketing the magazines, doing interviews or even visiting superb photographers such as Christopher Burkett. I learnt so much! And there is much more to come!
Why suddenly write this post? My answer might seem strange but this week’s announcement of the brand-new Fujifilm GFX100RF camera reminded me of my previous photographic life. It woke something up in me – the zest for travelling and shooting again. How strange! Why this announcement? I think because the original X100, which I was shooting with as one of the first photographers to do so was a very special camera for me. I even participated in one of the launches of the camera. I once owned nearly every iteration of the X100 and I dreamt about the medium format equivalent of the camera. In fact, in many conversations with my photographic friends I always said: “I wish Fuji would come up with a medium format X100.” For many years I thought such a niche product would be difficult or too bold to be cleared by corporate boards. Yet, here it is. I was so occupied with my work that I missed the rumours about this new camera. I stopped reviewing cameras or even watching the camera market closely a long time ago. In the era of influencers and YouTube celebrities I find the whole camera review game uninspiring.
When I saw the announcement I immediately ordered the camera. It was the first camera I had ordered for a very long time. Once again, I want to travel and shoot with a compact camera and see if I can still challenge my seeing. I even sometimes wonder whether it’s still in me! Of course, this is not just about the camera, but sometimes strange things influence you at a strange time. Go figure!
Soon I will be shooting again and I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life. It’s going to be fascinating to see how my current role as publisher and curator will work with my own seeing. Will these roles complement one another? If everything goes well, you will soon find my new work on this blog, in the Medium Format Magazine and the ELEMENTS Magazine. I trust we can revive our journey together. All being well, there will be no false starts. But no photos just yet.
P.S. I understand that most of you left this blog due to its inactivity but if by mistake or foolishness you are still here, please say hi in the comment section. I miss you and who knows – maybe we could arrange a photographic reunion. London? Paris? Or maybe Palouse? Any ideas?
So great to read you again Olaf
Great to see you back! After being absent on WP for some years myself, it’s cool to open the Reader and find a fresh post from a blog I used to check regularly!
Thanks for sharing this glimpse into the “before the photos” part of your process, Olaf. It’s a good reminder that great photography often involves a lot of groundwork and patience. I appreciate you pulling back the curtain and showing that it’s not always instant magic. This makes me even more curious about the project you’re working on!
Good to see you back Olaf, clicked into my bookmark and surprisingly found your update in recent!
Your x100f videos were great inspirations to me, i took a tons of photos with my x100f, and i also stopped photographing for several years now lol.
The new GFX100RF do give me the same x100f feeling, wish to see more of you work!
And looking forward to your phototgraphy world tour, have you consider about visiting China, could be great for a vibe change.
Greeting from Shanghai.
Hallo Olaf,
It’s been a while, but it is always nice to hear from you. Hope everything is well with you and family. To clarify my wife, Ineke, and I participated in a workshop, visual poetry, with you in London in March 2018. We were with a small group and you had a muscle man with a Leica as a helper. Your wife was filming you for a video to be published. Can’t imagine that it is 7 years ago.
I regularly enjoy reading and looking at your pictures in the e-book: Seeing simplified I bought in 2018.
I am on pension and I give lectures on visual language and streetphotography to photo enthusiasts. I enjoy giving those lectures because I was a college lecturer.
The new Fujifilm GFX 100 RF looks tempting. Would like to play with it before decing if it is for me for streetphotography.
If you ever decide to give a workshop or a photowalk in London or Paris or Berlin or….., we don’t know yet if we will participate, but we would appreciate it to be informed. Till a next time.
Gerald Peterson
The Netherlands
Great to read you again. I am so happy at the prospect of seing soon and again your special sight, vision of life. Welcome back to your blog.
Thank you so much Mob. I appreciate you being here. Your note made my day!
Hi Olaf! Wishing you all the best with the RF when it arrives. It’s good when something inspires us to go out and shoot after a break. If you ever do a meet up in London I’d love to join you! All the best, Ish
Hello Ish,
It is wonderful to hear from you. London is one of the top ideas for the meet-up. It would be truly great to get together again.
Hi Olaf
and welcome back in the life of photography.
Greetings from the south-West of Germany,
Friedemann
Thank you so much. I am so glad you are still here. All the best!
Hi Olaf! What a nice surprise to hear from you on your blog. I am “jealous” that you are purchasing that new Fujifilm GFX100RF….but thrilled for YOU! I’ve thought about you and the Berlin street photography workshop I did with you in March 2018. Remember how COLD it was and we kept having to pop in somewhere to warm up our hands? I ended up with many images that I’m really proud of, which must mean I learned a lot from you! I’m happy that you and Kasia are still a couple as these days one never knows. I still live in Seattle and if you have a reunion, I would certainly consider joining the group. I now have the X100V and consider street photography to be my passion and dare I say, my forte? Being able to walk about with my camera really got me through the pandemic, I must say, as it kept my creativity alive. I ended up doing a project where I took ONE photo I liked every single day for an year—and posted my results on Facebook from time to time. I’ll look forward to more updates about you and your projects. I love your energy and positivity and enthusiasm, Olaf!
Hello Susie,
Kasia and I had big smiles on our faces reading your kind and thoughtful note. We remember our time together in Berlin and yes, we will never forget how cold it was. I am so glad you are photographing and keep your creativity going. It would be wonderful to meet you soon. I will be updating this website and we will try to organise a sort of reunion. This is not going to be a workshop but rather a meeting of photographic friends. I am wondering about the location so it is convenient for the most people. Maybe we could do two – one in Europe and one in North America. Once again, thank you for saying hi. I will give you a shout when we are in Seattle. Hugs from both of us!
Pedrera!
Robert
My friend Robert!!!! It is amazing to hear from you. I just chatted with Kasia about our trip to Barcelona. Maybe we could come next year…
Dear Olaf, if you finally manage to come back to the blog, this wonderful trip will be enough for me. In the meantime, I keep the proposal about any Gaudi’s magical environments for the reunion.
Kisses and hugs to Kasia and yor family, Aina still reminds about her 🙂
Hello Olaf, good to see you back. I have missed yopur e-mails!
It is so kind of you. Thank you for being here.
Nice to see you “back in the saddle” Olaf. I look forward to viewing your photos with the new camera. We just returned from a month in SE Asia – talk about lots of photo opportunities!
Hello Doug, our coffee together is so overdue!
Glad you’re back! I too am on the waiting list for the GFX100RF…my new inspiration tool.
Thank you for saying hi Dave. Looking forward to seeing your work with the GFX100RF.
Great to see you posting again. I followed you in those early days of the 100X revolution! Looking forward to seeing your new work.
Appreciate your note a lot. It is great to know that you are still here despite my prolong absence. I will try to do better this time.
Hi from Norway! So glad to hear you’re back in the game. A lot going on in life, so my own interest (and time) for shooting has not been present – until now. Currently planning a trip to Japan this July and are going with my old X-pro2 and just a couple of primes (18 and 33 F1.4) to challenge myself properly.
Good luck on your adventure! I’ll definitely be tuning in to your blog again, as you were my very first inspiration for street photography with Fujifilm. Looking forward to it!
Hello Ed, thank you so much for your kind note. I will try to post something once I get the camera.
Hi Olaf well I’m still here and looking forward to your writings and photography. I too have been in the photography wilderness dabbling in film and digital and tired of social media. Love the pace and insight of longer form posting and magazines so can’t wait to hear and see more. Regards, David.
Hello David,
I am thrilled you are still here. Thank you for sharing your “wilderness” story with me. While I cherish my work as editor, my own photography went through a similar phase. I am looking forward to picking up my camera and trying to see again. Thank you for your support.
Olaf: So great to hear from you! And yes, a photographic reunion would be wonderful. My preference would be anywhere in Europe. Vicki and I were in Rome for eight nights in January and I took a bunch of photos, some of which you can see here. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC4hWj
Hello Patrick,
It is so wonderful to hear from you and knowing you are both travelling. Kasia and I fondly remember our time with you in Washington. I will try to organise a sort of reunion so we could all get together and shoot. It is not going to be a workshop and I am not going to charge for it. I want to get together and have a great time chatting and photographing like friends. Let’s see if there are others interested in the idea. And now I will take a look at your photos…