During a four-week internship with Roland Wirtz, I assisted him in the planning of photographic projects and exhibitions, as well as with archival and inventory tasks. What left a lasting impression on me was his meticulous approach. His elaborately produced images were often planned months or even years in advance. Created with hand-built cameras and directly exposed onto positive photographic paper, each image is a unique original without a negative, distinguished by its physical presence and material quality.
The smartphone images shown here were taken during a spontaneous shoot at the Brandenburg Gate, that was lit up in response to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. For him, it was an unusually improvised, almost adventurous production and a striking contrast to his otherwise carefully pre-planned process.
Roland Wirtz passed away in 2023. Though my time with him was brief, it was deeply inspiring and formative. As a passionate photographer and artist, he leaves behind a lasting legacy.
