In a world saturated with digital imagery, it’s easy to forget the quiet power of standing in front of a photograph in real life. Online platforms like Instagram and Facebook offer endless streams of visual content, but the experience of visiting a gallery or exhibition is something entirely different. It’s slower. More intentional. And often, more profound.

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Berlin. Leica M9, Summilux 50mm f1.4 ASPH

Slow Down – Take Your Time

When you walk into an exhibition space, you’re not just looking at pictures—you’re entering a dialogue. The photographs are curated, contextualized, and often accompanied by thoughtful commentary. You’re invited to pause, reflect, and consider not just what you see, but how it makes you feel. This kind of engagement is hard to replicate with a swipe or a like.

That’s not to say online inspiration isn’t valuable. It absolutely is. But it requires a conscious effort to slow down. Don’t just scroll past an image—stop. Let it speak to you. Ask yourself: Why does this photograph catch my eye? What is it about the composition, the light, the subject, or the emotion that resonates—or doesn’t?

Studying the work of other photographers, whether in person or online, is one of the richest sources of inspiration. It helps us refine our own vision, challenge our assumptions, and discover new ways of seeing. Exhibitions, in particular, offer a space where photography is treated not just as content, but as art. And that shift in perspective can be transformative.

Berlin. Leica M9, Summilux 50mm f1.4 ASPH

Finding Inspiration

Take Helmut Newton, for example. Known for his provocative fashion photography, Newton also had a remarkable eye for reportage. His images often blur the line between staged and spontaneous, offering glimpses into the lives of his subjects with a cinematic intensity. Seeing his work in an exhibition setting allows you to appreciate the layers of storytelling, the tension, and the elegance that might be lost in a quick scroll online. Newton’s photographs demand attention—and reward it with complexity. It may, or may not, be the way you or I want to do it. But watching it will undoubtedly make an impact, and small pieces of inspiration may lead to a different way to see the world and the way you capture moments. Not at as a replica but as a way to observe and capture moments.

For anyone going with me to the Berlin workshop, May 1-2 I will put in a visit at the Helmuth Newton Museum for those who are interested. I have been there several times and it’s absolutely worth a visit.

The last photo in this post, is a photo I keep going back to. This is one of my favourite colour photos from Berlin.