Interview with Walter Wackerlig

Hi Walter! Tell us about yourself in two sentences - who are you?

I'm a secondary school teacher in rural Austria but I've been taking photos ever since I was a child. As my wife comes from China we spend most summers with her family in Beijing, which offers a great contrast to the life we lead in Austria.

QWhat's the weirdest situation you've found yourself in while taking a photograph?

ARather funny than weird: At the entry of a 'Bright Eyes' concert in Vienna some years ago people were asked to leave their cameras outside. While I was still wondering what to do I was waved through by the security. They had a laugh at my M9 and did not object to my 'ancient' camera.

QWhat do you shoot on? What's your favourite set up?

AI've loved the Leica M system since I bought an M6 in the early 1990s. I was doing black and white then in a closet turned into a darkroom. This helps explain my love for monochrome images. Later I changed to the digital M9. I'm still using my 'old' lenses, mostly the 35mm standard and I've also got a 50mm and a 90mm lens. I think digital photography is great, playing around with your images and all. I use Lightroom for the basic adjustments and then try and add using the apps of the Nic Collection.

QWhat's your number one tip for an aspiring photographer?

AAll I can do is tell how I go about. If there's a number one tip in it for you, take it. I carry my camera (almost) everywhere and I try to get as close as possible. I also look for things that don't fit in or a new angle, something that makes you see things in a new light. On the other hand I simply take photos when a scene or a situation appeals to me.