“While a painting or a prose description can never be other than narrowly selective interpretation, a photograph can be treated as a narrowly selective transparency. But despite the presumption of veracity that gives all photographs authority, interest, seductiveness, the work that photographers do is no generic exception to the usually shady commerce between art and truth. Even when photographers are most concerned with mirroring reality, they are still haunted by tacit imperatives of taste and conscience. [...] Although there is a sense in which the camera does indeed capture reality,not just interpret it, photographs are as much an interpretation of the world as paintings and drawings are.” (Susan Sontag 1977: 6)
The idea of my blog is driven by my passion of doing ethno- and photography. As an anthrpologist I’m traveling to many different locations in the world. While deeply hanging out among local people in the sense of Clifford Geertz my focus is always on stories people tell me. I try to understand local life and standpoints. A photo-camera is my very visible assistant. photo-ethnography.de combines photography and storytelling. As famous Susan Sontag said, “photographs are as much an interpretation of the world” – this is my philosophy of capturing cultural practice, interaction and places. To get an idea of my perspective through the lens, press the red button top left and follow my photo-ethnographies.
