Photojournalism nominee

The 'Palio di Siena' is an ancient horse race dating back some 700 years, held two times a year in the heart of Tuscany at the Piazza del Campo in Siena.
It's not just a race though, to the people of Siena it is so much more, it's a game, it's about strength and honor, it's about belonging – it is a way of life.
In the end, all there is to win is a painted banner called the Palio. But thats just materially, what really counts is how you play and win and how you make sure your enemies loose. Worse than loosing is seeing your enemy win.

Born in 1984 in Freiburg, I grew up in southern Germany along the Rhine river.
Fulfilling a dream in 2003, working as a cowboy on a ranch in Wyoming, I portrayed the life out west and discovered my passion for photography and telling stories through pictures.
Eager to learn more, I got myself a three year apprenticeship in a commercial and advertising studio and started earning my photography skills.
Working abroad in 2009/10 with photographer and filmmaker Andrei Jewell in New Zealand, eventually led me to the point where I felt ready to start my own photography business.
Today I am a freelance photographer focussing mainly on commercial photography, collaborating with different agencies and publishers and teaching workshops.
It has always been my desire to go back to telling stories with my pictures since that was what initially sparked my interest in photography.
Last year I started working on my first photojournalistic project which is about the Palio in Siena.