2020. What a year. Will it later go down in the history books as “the first year of coronavirus”? Will there be more coronavirus years to come? Will 2021 perhaps be even more “blatant” than 2020? I could write a whole novel about 2020, because so much has happened in this exceptional year – the year in which I worked on more different projects than ever before. But right from the beginning:
In late summer 2019, I took over the 15-year-old online business of a German living in the Seychelles. This business has nothing to do with the Seychelles or photography. I’m just realistic enough to know that in 20 years’ time I won’t be daringly clambering around on the highest rocks in the Seychelles to get the best possible perspective for a particularly extraordinary wedding photo. So I’ve been keeping my eyes and ears open for a long time to secure an additional, preferably passive, income in addition to my photographic focus. However, I probably don’t need to explain to anyone that passive income in the first few years after the takeover is anything but passive. This allowed me to make good use of the extra time I had due to the absence of a few weddings here in Germany and the absence of my trip to the Seychelles planned for June 2020. The business is scalable and is therefore expected to grow strongly in the coming years, which gives us a good sense of security. But her heart still clearly beats for (wedding) photography – especially in the Seychelles!
Three Seychelles trips were also originally planned for 2020. Two of these (spring and fall) took place as planned, but the trip planned for May/June had to be put on hold as the Seychelles sensibly closed its only airport on March 28 for several months for both inbound and outbound flights. It wasn’t until the end of October that we returned to the Seychelles for 30 days. On this (my 33rd) trip to the Seychelles, I experienced the islands as calmly as never before. Even on my first visit to the Seychelles in 1993, the beaches were more crowded than they are now in November 2020. Even at the world-famous Anse Source d’Argent and also at Grand Anse on La Digue, I was often completely alone for hours, even at lunchtime. This was unimaginable before coronavirus. The “forced reset” due to Corona has also done nature a lot of good!
Many couples who originally wanted to get married in the Seychelles in 2020 or 2021 have postponed their plans. This ensures that, for example, February 2022 – yes, you read that right, 2022! – is already largely fully booked. October 2022 is also already well filled. We can only hope that the pandemic will be largely “under control” by then. I am not yet 100% convinced of this.
What else happened to me in 2020? For example, I was a guest on the “Business Talk” podcast by Radomir Jakubowski, the best nature photographer in Germany for me, whom I have been following online for many years and always marvel at his fantastic nature photos. I was delighted when he contacted me a few months ago and asked if I would like to be the third professional photographer he had ever interviewed! Needless to say, I happily agreed immediately. We had a very interesting conversation for about 45 minutes. You can listen to the result here:
Today, on New Year’s Eve, I received a message from the Seychelles that I had been secretly hoping for for years. Today, December 31, 2020, the time had finally come. I’m happy as a little king about this and will probably take even more photos in the Seychelles in the future than before! But there is also some very sad news to report: On December 13, my father passed away at the age of 84. Almost exactly ten years to the day after my mother died.
I am now spending the last few hours of 2020 continuing to correct the book that I have been writing together with Robert Hofrichter, one of Europe’s best-known marine biologists. This nature guide to the Seychelles is going to be awesome! Robert writes about the entire flora and fauna of the Seychelles and often goes into great detail due to his extensive specialist knowledge. I correct (spelling and grammar have always been “my thing”), make additions where necessary and provide most of the numerous pictures that will later be seen in the finished book. The book is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2021. I will spend about 70% of this first quarter in the Seychelles, as my 34th Seychelles trip is just around the corner. 13 wedding couples are waiting to be photographed by me.
I will also be using my first mirrorless camera, which I gave myself for Christmas: The Canon EOS R5 represents a whole new chapter for me. My first impressions of the fantastic Eye-AF in combination with the Canon RF 15-35mm f2.8L IS USM, which I bought at the same time, are fantastic. A new era has begun! I’m really looking forward to putting the R5 through its paces for more than two months on my upcoming trip to the Seychelles.
I now wish you a “Happy New Year” into a hopefully great 2021. Stay healthy everyone!