The people at the Café Lehmitz had a presence and a sincerity that I myself lacked. It was okay to be desperate, to be tender, to sit all alone or share the company of others. There was a great warmth and tolerance in this destitute setting.

Shoot from the gut, edit with the brain

To me, it’s encounters that matter, pictures are much less important.

I don't care so much about form. Perhaps I did in the beginning, a long time ago. But now I just want to be as straight and simple and as true as possible.

You have to focus on what you are doing, not just as a photographer, but as a human being.

In black and white there are more colors than color photography, because you are not blocked by any colors so you can use your experiences, your knowledge, and your fantasy, to put colors into black and white.

There is not a big difference between life and taking pictures... You're in the middle of life, you're living, making love, eating, sleeping - and photography is part of it. And I don't say this because I'm being romantic. I say this because that's just the way it happens to be.

It (taking photographs) is all about longingwithout longing-no pictures at all.

For me, the camera is like an entrance to the private lives of other people. And if you are curious like me, it is a fantastic tool.

I can’t describe reality at the most, I can try to capture things that seem to be valid, the way I see them.