I grew up on the outskirts of Trier, a town in the southwest of Germany. Much of my childhood was spent in a nearby forest right behind the house I grew up in. My love for sports eventually topped my passion for the outdoors, and my time in nature was swapped for time in gyms and on basketball courts. I was so focused on sports that my first camera, an SLR, never really caught my interest.

My photography journey began rather late in life—back in 2012—when I purchased my first DSLR before going on a holiday to the Galapagos Islands. Not knowing much about photography then, I was unsurprisingly disappointed with the results. To improve my skills, I took a couple of photography courses afterwards, and my love for photography was born. For the next ten years, due to my demanding job, my time with a camera in hand was mostly limited to one week-long workshop per year. Fortunately, these workshops took me to some of the world’s best photography locations.

While opportunities for hands-on experience were limited, I was keen to learn as much as possible. I, therefore, spent many late evenings reading photography articles, watching videos and online courses, and studying the work of other photographers. I am particularly drawn to photographers who have shown mastery in the areas of simplification, the use of light, and colour contrast. To honour their influence, I curate a list of inspirational photographers here on my website.

In 2023, I decided to leave my full-time corporate job. I am now self-employed and work part-time, which has given me more time for photography.

I live in London nowadays, which is not ideal for nature and landscape photography. Therefore, most of my photography is done afar and abroad. I love combining my photography trips with hiking and enjoy exploring sites with limited crowds. I especially love the silence of deserts, which starkly contrasts life in a metropolitan city. I mix solo photography trips with travelling with friends and occasionally join group trips to places that are harder to organise individually. I methodically plan my trips by spending time on Google Earth pre-scouting areas I plan to photograph, and then I let the light guide me once I’m on location.

In my photography, I try to follow the “eye-witness tradition”, presenting my images in a truth-to-nature approach. In the early days, I focused primarily on capturing grand scenes, but over time, I have shifted towards capturing more intimate landscapes. I enjoy the simplicity of my recent images, often excluding large parts of the wider context—including the sky. Excluding the sky also allows me to be less dependent on the weather.

I invite you to return to my webpage to witness my photography journey. You can also find me on Instagram (@torsten.pull).