The silent Observer
Sebastian Schulte (18) is the official photographer of the passion play – He also takes part as an actor
The Camera is his constant companion: Sebastian Schulte excels at photography. (FOTO: REA)
BY ANTONIA REINDL
Oberammergau – In the background, inconspicuously in the background with the focus on the center, you will find Sebastian Schulte. He has a role on the stage of the Passion Play. But also apart of the stage he is very active. For a good reason: The 18-year-old knows how to shine beyond the stage and hustle and bustle. Schulte is a passionate observer. He captures moments, glances, motion, that others create. And because he knows a lot about his craft, the people in charge of the Passion Play not only employed the Oberammergauer as one of Caiaphas’s Servants, but also as the photographer. The sun shines bright this morning, it lets the snow glitter. Schulte is sitting on a bench next to the paraglider landing site, true to the play with long hair and beard. Next to him a black cube, his camera bag – his (almost) constant companion. Inside the bag he keeps his, how he calls it “Favorite Camera”, a Canon EOS 1Dx mark III. The sun is shining on to his face, firm and bright. This light isn’t optimal for pictures he reveals. You will find the best light in the Golden Hour or the Blue Hour, one hour before and after sunrise and sunset.
Since he was young the 18-year-old has been taking pictures. It all started with his father’s camcorder, whose zoom pushed Schulte to shoot vultures and eagles on holiday in Austria. Later he got his uncle’s DSLR into his hands. It didn’t take long for the first lens to finds it’s way into Schulte’s bag. As an adolescent he concentrated mainly on nature. The Oberammergauer quickly expanded his repertoire by capturing concerts and events, ultimately Schulte was taking pictures for the Ettal Monastery and the high school, where he graduated this year. The Ammertaler learned his craft “by trial and error”, he says.
“What I still struggle with is when people are uncomfortable in front of the camera.”
In 2018, shortly before the names for the Passion Play Actors were announced, the land line ringed. “Here is Abdullah”, the voice on the other side said. Schulte should come to the Passion Play Theater. That it was Abdullah Kenan Karaca, the second director, who was calling he didn’t really realize. As he arrived at the theater there were a few dozen applications on the table. Also Schulte’s. “With a special picture”, that his brother took, but he himself edited, Schulte explains. Before he knew it, he was chosen to be the photographer for the Passion Play. “Now I’m officially employed”, says the 18-year-old and smiles.
But the photographer captures more than only the world-famous play about the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On his website you will find a list of many different clients. Also, a portfolio: People and portraits, concerts, sports und traditions, urban life, landscapes and nature. Schulte doesn’t create much fuzz about him still having to gather experience. “What I still struggle with is when people are uncomfortable in front of the camera or fear the camera” he confesses. Also, with his astrophotography he “isn’t totally satisfied”. But maybe Schulte is simply too much of a perfectionist. “I’ll always find something that I could do better” he states and smiles.
“Panorama series as current project.”
There is little lack of ambition. When there is a new project, he often takes on a bit too much. In 2020 he took about 27 000 shots, last year “only” around 20 000, he states. With all these thousands of images, it begs the question: Which photographs decorate his four walls? “Old pictures in black and white”, says Schulte, who wants to study cinematography after the Passion Play. The Matterhorn, Brooklyn Bridge, Tom Brady. Next to some cameras and several lenses you will also find a guitar and drums in his room. When he thinks of his instruments, he remembers all the concerts he has captured. But he never really was aware of the music the bands played. When someone approaches him while working, he first needs a few moments to grasp what is happening besides the viewfinder. Joined with his camera Schulte seems to focus only on the picture. Only once the camera is put to side the 18-year-old can listen to the music.
Right now, he is working on a panorama series. For this, as usual, he makes plans before he sets out for a motif. He seldom waits for hours to capture the perfect moment. Even though this already happened a few times. For example, in Norway where he was photographing to stars. For two, three hours he waited. In the end the clouds hindered his intend. The Oberammergauer knows that sometimes you just need a bit of luck und remembers 2020: In the early morning hours Schulte wanted to shoot the Supermoon. But it was not anymore as big as he had hoped. So, the Ammertaler waited for the sun to rise. He released the shutter: One of his all-time favorite photographs has been created.
Artikel aus dem Garmisch-Partenkirchner Tagblatt
Nr. 13/Dienstag, 18. Januar 2022
Übersetzung von Sebastian Schulte basierend auf: Der stille Beobachter
