This is the story on how I entered and participated in the Photoworkshop of the ,,Kurt Weill Fest 2026''.
As you might have already guessed, I love photography! Especially when it comes to the capture of Architecture. Until this point I have been limiting myself mostly to photographing static scenes such as buildings, without any human interaction. When I recieved the information that the Kurt Weill Fest Dessau was hosting a photoworkshop themed: ,,In Movement'' I asked myself, what if I expandend my horizon and participate in such a workshop?
If you are not familiar with the term Kurt Weill Fest, here is a short explanation:
The Kurt Weill Fest is an international music festival held each year in Dessau-Roßlau. It is dedicated to the works and legacy of the composer Kurt Weill, who was born in the city. The festival features a wide range of performances, including classical music, opera, jazz, and modern interpretations of Weill’s compositions. Artists from around the world come together to celebrate his influence on 20th-century music. The event also takes place at historical venues, such as the Bauhaus Dessau, creating a unique cultural atmosphere.
I then convinced myself to write my application. And just after a few days, I was in!
Workshop Day 1 - The slow start
Location: MEISTERHAUS FEININGER - ''The Meisterhäuser Dessau are a group of modernist houses designed by Walter Gropius for Bauhaus masters in the 1920s. They reflect the principles of functional design, simplicity, and the close connection between art and everyday life. One of the most notable buildings is the Haus Feininger, which was home to the artist Lyonel Feininger. The house stands out for its clear geometric forms, large windows, and bright interior, embodying the Bauhaus vision of light, openness, and creative living.''
Me and a few other photographers from Dessau and surrounding regions sit inside the Meisterhaus Feininger patiently waiting for the host Laura Maria Görner to introduce the workshop.
Not much talking. Just some silent observing of the others. I guess thats normal though when you meet new people from various age groups. The silence first broke when Laura started her presentation on what movement in photography can mean to us. To further inspire us on that topic, we got our first photography exercise.
Grab your camera and start looking around the master house for things that catch our eye. It was interesting to see the thought process of all the felllow photographers and their approach to photography. I of course chose a black and white composition playing with light and shadows and also double eposures like the photo you can see on the left of your screen (or bottom if you see this on your phone)
Workshop Day 2 - Preperation for the Vernissage
On day two we started collecting little pieces of our current understanding of ''Movement in Photography''. The inspiration we saw the day prior already shaped an idea in my head. While the simple answer to the question on how to capture movement would be taking photos with a slow shutter speed, I tried exploring how static objects can create tension between them and with that a special kind of movement that can't really be seen, but can rather be felt from within. During one of those photo sessions around the masters houses I eventually had the idea of moving myself in front of my camera, intead of moving my camera in front of me. This is how I captured my Vernissage Photo on the very beginning of this workshop already.
Photography Phase
After some days in the Masters Houses we got some time to take photos in our freetime. I tried exploring different types from staged model shoots to architectural movement. I even took a trip to Berlin with the intention of capturing THE exhibition worthy photo. While edting though I didn't really feel any strong bonding to any of the photos that I created during the photography phase. Most of my photos felt either generic or had a very ,,Movement-Forced'' look to it.
During all of this time the photo that later got into the exhibition, had already been created on the very first day of the workshop.
These were some of my first tries of moving myself in front of the camera.
A shot from the exercise phase.
This photo is the one that later ended up on the wall of the exhibition.
METADATA:
Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ-101
15,3mm
19.01.2026
16.1 MP
5346 x 3009
SS: 1/6 sec /// A: f/8.0 /// ISO: 80
JPG
As the date of the Vernissage came closer, it was time for planning out where the image should be put in the exhibition room of the Hotel Radisson Blu, what printing measurements should be taken etc. This part was quiet hard to do, as this was my first ever photo print!
I eventually got it figured out though and the image was hung up and ready to be looked at.
28.02.2026 The Vernissage
Blood pressure was high and my heart was racing. Did everything work out well? Was my photo realy in the right spot?
As it later turned out, Yes it was!
There were loads of people coming to the opening of the vernissage. Much more than I expected honestly! It was a great feeling to look back to all of the progress that happened for this image to be put up in an exhibition. The progress was not only visible on my image of course. Even the beginner photographers in the workshop managed to explore the field of movement in photography and produced astonishing pieces of art!
The real suprise happened a couple of weeks after the vernissage though. I got an email from the Kurt Weill Foundation, that my image had been awarded by the jurie of the exhibition! I was staggered, that I had impressed the jurie of the Kurt Weill Fest with my shot.
Concluded I have to say, it has been an experience that will bring me foreward in my photographer pathway. I am glad that I got to meet so many fellow photographers as well, who I had the chance to learn from.
Now the image from the workshop has a very special place in my room, that I will always be able to remember the great time I had.
Special Thanks to:
Laura Maria Görner - host of the Workshop - @lmgart
Kurt-Weill Fest Foundation - @kurtweillfest
And all participants:
Anglika Spindler - @spindler.angelika
Holger Schneider
Anette Altmann
Madita Jung
Carola Pahl
Frank Peinhardt
Grit Lichtblau - @blaulichtg
Ingof Schmidt - @herrschmidt_fotografiert
Till Hemmann
Holger Schneider
Anette Altmann
Madita Jung
Carola Pahl
Frank Peinhardt
Grit Lichtblau - @blaulichtg
Ingof Schmidt - @herrschmidt_fotografiert
Till Hemmann
You can view everyones work + image description here: https://kurt-weill-fest.de/programm-2026/vernissage-publikumspreis/
My other photos that I took during the workshop can be viewed here:
