Between the Bars

Taking pictures in bars has a long tradition in photography, from Anders Peterson, Krass Clement to Klaus Pichler. Usually bar photographs show the ones at the edge of society, but there is also a different kind of bar life. In the past years, I got more and more attracted to photograph inside bars. Observing how people interact with each other, or trying to be alone among others. The people I have photographed are not at the edge of society. They all have jobs, friends and relationships. They go to bars to unwind, to talk with people or just to be by themselves. Still there are alcoholics around, but never as visible as one would expect. For me personally, it is a challenge to not only photograph in these difficult light conditions, especially in color, but also to not be intrusive in the privacy of these people. Yet, it is important to me to document this part of life. Showing how people are among others. The photographs selected come from a longer series and have been taken in different bars in Berlin. Spending time in bars always reminds me of the Elliott Smith song “Between the bars”. “Drink up with me now and forget all about the pressure of days, do what I say and I'll make you okay and drive them away the images stuck in your head”. Between the Bars Taking pictures in bars has a long tradition in photography, from Anders Peterson, Krass Clement to Klaus Pichler. Usually bar photographs show the ones at the edge of society, but there is also a different kind of bar life. In the past years, I got more and more attracted to photograph inside bars. Observing how people interact with each other, or trying to be alone among others. The people I have photographed are not at the edge of society. They all have jobs, friends and relationships. They go to bars to unwind, to talk with people or just to be by themselves. Still there are alcoholics around, but never as visible as one would expect. For me personally, it is a challenge to not only photograph in these difficult light conditions, especially in color, but also to not be intrusive in the privacy of these people. Yet, it is important to me to document this part of life. Showing how people are among others. The photographs selected come from a longer series and have been taken in different bars in Berlin. Spending time in bars always reminds me of the Elliott Smith song “Between the bars”. “Drink up with me now and forget all about the pressure of days, do what I say and I'll make you okay and drive them away the images stuck in your head”.