PhotographyWhat type of job are you looking for? Travel Photography Photo Documentation What nationality are you? German What languages do you speak (and at what level)? German, native English, fluently spoken & written French, Beginner's level Chinese, Beginner's level What country or area are you looking to work in and why? I very much prefer Northern Thailand, Laos PDR and Northern Vietnam, because I travelled these areas for a photographic documentary about the Vietnam War leftovers in Northern Laos in 2008. I got in touch with a lot of villages and their inhabitants in these areas and am quite experienced in getting around and in touch with ethnic groups who are not so much used to being visited by Western folks. What countries have you worked in? I've worked in Germany (bar jobs and Graphic Design), India (bar jobs), Thailand and Laos (bar jobs and Photography) and China (as an English Teacher) What countries do you have a visa to work in? I have valid working permits for the European Union and I have experience in getting working visa for most East Asia countries except Japan, malaysia and Indonesia. What field do you currently work in? Currently I work as a photographer, author and graphic designer in Germany. What fields have you worked in before? I have great experience in all kind of design jobs (especially print media, photography and 3D). Furthermore I gathered some skills as an English teacher in South-West China, as well as several bar jobs around South Asia and as a free author for travelling experiences. What qualifications do you hold? I graduated as Master Of Arts at the University Of Applied Science in Trier, Germany. Which do you consider more valuable? Formal education or skills and why? I very much prefer skills, as I made the experience that a good formal education won't be able to compensate hands-on practice, especially in difficult matters such as travelling in different cultures and execute artful functions, like photographic skills and being able to write about it. Describe the benefits of working with others In complex projects, there is no substitute for a team to work with. The benefit of a working team is to be able to rely on the different skills of each other. If delegated well, a good team is able to produce results much quicker and accurate while being able to share and discuss all aspects of the project/ the work. Describe the benefits of working alone On tasks like travel photography, I preferred to work alone or with a maximum of two. The conditions of a travelling job need you to be flexible enough to change possibly most of the plans you worked out so far, which might be delayed or even completely destroyed by too many people involved in it. What was your worst working experience? My worst experience I had right after I finished a documentary about the work of UXO Lao in Xieng Khouang, Laos PDR. I worked out a concept and texts describing their excellent and dangerous work in demining field close to villages, when I was forced to realize that I wouldn't be able to share it with the media in Europe, simply because no-one was interested in it. I realized that many people I met in Laos relied on me in making their stories public, but I wasn't able to fulfill their trust in me. By this I learned a lot about relations between personal interests, working with public media and how not to give up on projects of great importance, which is why I keep up my work. What is the most important lesson you have learnt throughout your career? I began being interested in travelling work by, well, travelling. But being on a mission while taking a trip is much more different and sometimes unpleasant than being on vacation. You always need to bear your goal in mind, as well as your clients interests, otherwise you won't be able to finish your business successfully. What unique skills do you have? I have long-term experience in photography, especially in working in bad travelling conditions, as well as in writing tasks, which are essential for giving an ideal report on your work. I am also able to quickly learn languages and dialects, which gave me great opportunities to get in touch with not so well known locations and people. What would you consider as your 'dream job'? The job of a travelling writer/ photographer was always my main goal since I started meeting different cultures. Getting to know different parts of the world and share these unique experiences are a great challenge, and always worth the amount of work behind it. What are the most interesting aspects of your field? Getting in touch with people from very different parts of the planet, as well as the travel experience itself: working our how to get somewhere, where to sleep and eat and how to work under travelling conditions. What are the least interesting aspects of your field? Actually "waiting" is one of the least interesting aspects. If you are travelling as a job, you often need to make contacts in certain areas/for certain , which might take a while to work out, meaning standing still and having to wait for an appointment, a special person to show up or a phone call. How long in advance you need to know about a special job which meets your skills? Since I live most of the time in Germany, I need to learn about requests and conditions at least three weeks in advance, so I can make preparations properly. How can potential employers contact you? I can easily be contacted via email : species-521@hotmail.com Every mail will be answered. | 
