In Focus: Hannes Becker

From the forests of rural Germany to the remote reaches of Iceland and Antarctica, Hannes Becker photographs landscapes shaped by weather, patience and unpredictable light. His work captures not just what a place looks like, but what it feels like to stand inside it.

Conservation

Sitting Down With

Hannes Becker

Words By

Urth HQ

For Hannes Becker, a photograph starts long before the shutter clicks. It begins with waiting for the light to shift, the weather to turn, or the landscape to reveal something new. Drawn to the North's ever-changing extremes, his work is less about chasing a perfect shot than staying open to what nature offers in the moment. Speaking to Urth, he shares how growing up surrounded by nature shaped his eye, why he never expects the same shot twice, and what keeps pulling him back into unpredictable places.

Above

shot with urth pro filter

Urth

What inspires your photography?

Hannes

Nature has always been a huge part of my life. Growing up in rural Germany, I was constantly surrounded by forests and open landscapes, and that connection still shapes the way I photograph today. I’m especially drawn to remote places in the North, where weather, light and the landscape are constantly changing. What inspires me most is finding a story within those environments and translating not only what I see, but also what I experience and feel in that moment.

Urth

How has photography changed the way you see the world?

Hannes

Photography has taught me to slow down. Instead of simply passing through a place, I spend time observing how the light changes, how the weather evolves and how small details can completely transform a landscape. It has made me appreciate nature on a much deeper level

and reminds me over and over again how small we are compared to the forces around us.

Urth

How do you stay creatively curious or avoid repetition in your work?

Hannes

I don’t chase the same image over and over again. Even when I return to locations I’ve photographed many times, I know they’ll never be exactly the same. Different weather, different light, different seasons. They all create new opportunities. I usually go into a shoot with an idea, but I leave plenty of room for spontaneity. Some of my favourite photographs happened because I embraced unexpected conditions instead of sticking to a rigid plan.

Above

Shot with Urth pro filter

Urth

What are your must-have tools or gear?

Hannes

I like to keep my kit simple… a reliable camera, a small selection of lenses and a few filters that help me adapt to different light and weather conditions. Urth filters are a permanent part of my kit because they allow me to control reflections, extend exposures, and stay true to the atmosphere I experienced in the field. Beyond the gear, patience is my most important tool. Waiting for the right moment often makes a bigger difference than any piece of equipment.

Urth

Can you share one of the most memorable shots you've captured?

Hannes

One of the most memorable photographs I’ve taken is an image of an orca in Antarctica last year. It was such an unexpected and rare encounter that, to this day, I still can’t quite believe it happened. If it weren’t for the photograph, it would almost feel like a dream. Moments like that are a reminder of why I keep going back into nature. You can never predict what it has in store for you.