Photography's claim to truth: in the current discussion about AI-generated images, it is being tested once again. But for me as a reportage photographer, it has always been theoretical and non-existent in practice.

"What, in reportage photography? No truth?" One might ask. - Yes, even without retouching, manipulation or AI. Because: We select, shorten and have a perspective. We tell the story that we think is "the right one".

As part of my master's thesis in photography and visual media at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, I have now taken a completely new look at the medium's claim to reality and truth. Based on literature about photography, I have opened up these texts visually through associative, cross-media work. (Yes, these are texts about pictures that I am now turning back into pictures).

"Photography as imprint, trace and index" - themes that are as old as photography itself and still continue to pervade theoretical discussions today. The concept of the index (or the indexical) in photography goes back to Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914; mathematician and drawing theorist) and refers to the point-by-point transfer of reality. My very practical research question is based on this: "What do a footprint in the sand and a photograph have in common?".

Soon more details on this ...

Photography's claim to truth: in the current discussion about AI-generated images, it is being tested once again. But for me as a reportage photographer, it has always been theoretical and non-existent in practice.

"What, in reportage photography? No truth?" One might ask. - Yes, even without retouching, manipulation or AI. Because: We select, shorten and have a perspective. We tell the story that we think is "the right one".

As part of my master's thesis in photography and visual media at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, I have now taken a completely new look at the medium's claim to reality and truth. Based on literature about photography, I have opened up these texts visually through associative, cross-media work. (Yes, these are texts about pictures that I am now turning back into pictures).

"Photography as imprint, trace and index" - themes that are as old as photography itself and still continue to pervade theoretical discussions today. The concept of the index (or the indexical) in photography goes back to Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914; mathematician and drawing theorist) and refers to the point-by-point transfer of reality. My very practical research question is based on this: "What do a footprint in the sand and a photograph have in common?".