Meet Uli, our photography course instructor in Germany with a broad interest in photography.

Ernst Ulrich (Uli) Soja is a photography course instructor at Foto Gregor/Kamera Express, where he organizes and personally conducts photography courses. He also plans and organizes manufacturer-led courses for our branches in Germany and supports the German marketing team in organizing events such as in-house photo walks and special events. He is also involved in advertising activities like newsletters and Facebook/Instagram campaigns.

“What fascinates me about photography are the shapes, lines and graphic elements that I find in buildings and landscapes.”

I started taking photographs when I was about 12 years old. My first camera was an AGFA Pocket. Later, I used my father's Edixa mat Reflex until I was able to buy my first SLR camera, an Olympus OM-10. Since 2003, I have worked freelance as a photographer, graphic designer, and instructor. From 2010 to 2019, I held a teaching position at the Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts, teaching "Fundamentals of Digital Photography" and "Image Editing." I also conducted workshops and inter-company training courses for apprentice photographers at the Hanover Vocational School. For over 12 years, I have been teaching photography courses for our German Foto Gregor/Kamera Express branches.

Regarding my specialization as a photographer, I have a broad range of interests, but my main focus is on architectural, nature/landscape, travel, and advertising photography. More recently, I've also concentrated on artistic photography. My initial focus, however, was landscape photography, as I lived in the countryside and could quickly access nature or the forest. This later led me to travel photography as well.

What fascinates me about photography are the shapes, lines, and graphic elements I find in buildings and landscapes. I like modern architecture and appreciate the black and white representation of buildings. Architecture has always interested me; I would have liked to study it. So, my interest in photographing buildings developed quite naturally. I enjoy taking dynamic photographs of buildings and, for example, consciously incorporating converging lines as a design element into my compositions.

As a photographer, having the right equipment is essential. I work with different cameras and lenses, depending on the requirements of the shoot. I prefer mirrorless cameras because of their portability and lightness, but for certain shots I use my digital (and sometimes my analog) SLR cameras.

The choice of camera also depends on individual settings. I always adjust my camera settings to the shoot and the ambient light to achieve the best possible result. Shutter speed, aperture, and ISO are important parameters that I always keep an eye on.

“As a photographer, it is important to constantly practice and try new things.”