About Me
It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.
— Vince Lombardi
¡Hi! I am Stephan.
I am a professional scientist who was raised in Gelsenkirchen, a city in Germany’s Ruhr region known for its industrial heritage and its football club 1. FC Schalke 04. Like many children, I enjoyed outdoor activities, sports, and exploring. During my late teen years, I discovered photography. Equipped with my father’s photo kit, I began capturing images, initially on traditional 35 mm film. Later, to reduce the expenses, I switched to slide films. I developed a particular interest in photographing industrial scenes and nature, which remain among my favorite subjects.
The acquisition of my first digital camera, a Ricoh RDC-5300, was a game-changer for me. It eliminated the constraints on the number of photos I could take during outings, though the image resolution was limited. A few years later, I upgraded to the Canon EOS 20D, a true digital DSLR camera. I loved this camera and used it extensively to shoot many nice photos.
My photographic interests evolved as I started a family, with my children becoming frequent subjects. My career took me to various distant locations and eventually led to a relocation to Madrid, Spain, where I assumed a position as a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (UPM-INIA/CSIC). During this period, I began focusing on immortalizing my memories through my photographs.
After years of accumulating images on hard drives, I decided to setup this webpage. On one hand, to showcase my photographs and enjoy them myself more frequently and, on the other hand, to share them with my family and friends back in Germany.
Apart from photography, for more than 30 years, I have a strong passion for American Football, which has been a defining aspect of my life. My journey with this sport began on the field in the early nineties, where I played as a Middle Linebacker and Fullback for the Gelsenkirchen Devils, one of the few American Football clubs in Germany that can look back on an over 30 years lasting tradition. During my time with the Devils, we experienced the thrill of ascending to the 3rd German league, a testament to our dedication, teamwork, and relentless pursuit of mastering the complexity of the game. The memories of those days, filled with intense training sessions, strategic gameplay, and the camaraderie of my teammates, remain etched in my heart.
Football told me that life is a team game.
— Joe Namath
During my active playing time, I also served the American Football community as a referee, an activity that I pursued for a couple of years. This experience provided me with a unique perspective on the game, allowing me to appreciate the nuances of fair play and the importance of impartiality. Officiating games was both challenging and rewarding, as it required a deep understanding of the rules and the ability to make quick, decisive judgments under pressure. The last year has been particularly exciting for me as a football enthusiast. The emergence of the Madrid Bravos in the professional European League of Football (ELF) has reignited my passion for the sport. Since relocating to Madrid, I had longed for the opportunity to witness live football once again. The arrival of the Bravos has filled this void, offering me the chance to experience the electrifying atmosphere of live games and to support a local team.
