How young photographers see Germany
From deconstructed clichés to everyday rituals, German photographers as young as 13 take a unique view of their country. Winners of a major youth photo award are presenting their works in Bonn through October 16.
An absurd look at normality
Is it science-fiction or just a new beauty technique? This unusual photo was taken during the Cosmetica trade fair in Hannover. The photo series "Trade Show" by Jakob Schnetz, 23, from Freiburg deals with social rituals and structures. "The strangeness of these pictures is meant to attract the spectator. The absurdity aims to let him reflect the familiar and the self-evident," explains Schnetz.
Typically German: the garden gnome
With his gnome in a black, red and gold pot, David Antonio Zuther, 15, from Hamburg is conveying the more or less mundane topic of garden plots. In his photo series "German Conditions," he focuses on tiny details from different worlds - all within the context of the traditional German garden.
Merkel's body language
Maximilian Mundt, 18, from Hamburg loves to dress up. His work, "Democracy," depicts himself as German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Mundt, winner of the first prize in his age group, portrays Merkel complete with her characteristic hand gesture.
Everyday life in the city
Carlotta Huber, 15, from Freiburg named her series "My Germany - My Freiburg - My home." She likes to portray aspects of everyday life that anyone can relate to - but from a unique perspective. This scene from an underground tunnel is something we've all encountered - but Huber shows it through her eyes.
Dashboard friend
Aleyna Maria Sagnak, 13, isn't old enough to drive yet, but chose to focus on cars in her series, "Germany, United Car Country." She photographs the small details associated with autos in Germany, from bobbing dachshunds to Mercedes stars and camping idylls.
A changing village
The photo of a traditional German shooting festival, known as a Schützenfest, is part of a long-term documentary that traces the evolution of a small village in Lower Saxony. Twenty-five-year-old Felix Schledding's series shows the withdrawal of British troops in the town and reflects on the topics "Home and Origin," drawing a connection between German and European history.
Good morning, Germany!
"I put my camera right next to my bed. The next morning I woke up and started picturing everything around me," says Sirin Demirelli, 21, from Mainz. She takes pictures of what she sees immediately after waking up and her photo series brightly embodies morning rituals.
A haunted German Christmas
Nanna Heitmanm, 20, from Hannover recorded the old and rather bizarre tradition of "Buttnmandls." Each year on December 5, the bearded, imaginary creatures rove around the region of Berchtesgaden in Bavaria, chasing Bishop Nicholas and threatening to carry off misbehaving children.
Alpine idyll
In a colorful denial of age, 24-year-old Maria lanziger from Weimar created a unique photo series called "Berndl Berchtesgaden." The collection focuses on the life of two elderly people living in rural Upper Bavaria and presents a mystical, romantic view of the region.
Happy birthday, Germany!
Germany’s birthday was a central theme for the German Photo Prize for Young People, since the submitted photos were taken in 2015 - exactly 25 years after German reunification in 1990. Felicia Frank, 13, from Frankfurt took a picture of Germany's former border between East and West.