What’s a special kind of reward for a photographer—especially when you work in the artistic realm?
Exactly: an exhibition.

And yes, I’m genuinely happy right now, because starting today, two of my photographs are part of a group show at the Agora Gallery in New York.

The reason this is happening is the Chelsea International Photography Competition, which takes place every year. I entered last year—and I won. As a result, I’m now one of the 15 selected artists being exhibited.

I’m showing two works from my project EQUILIBRIUM, a series that focuses on endangered and extinct species. I’m incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received for this project from the Senckenberg Institute and Leica Camera Germany.

For New York, the two images feel especially fitting: they depict a passenger pigeon and an American bison—both animals with a strong connection to American history. The passenger pigeon was driven to extinction in the early 20th century. The bison population is slowly recovering today, but it too was critically endangered for a long time.

A big thank you as well to WhiteWall, who produced the prints beautifully and ensured they arrived safely in New York.

And here’s a small twist of fate: the photograph behind me was actually exhibited in this very gallery in Manhattan back in 2016. Crazy.

If you’d like to learn how I conceive and compose images like these from multiple layers, come join my workshop at Leica’s headquarters in Wetzlar on February 28.