Stefan Lenz

I’ve always admired the work of Zaha Hadid, and photographing the Masaryčka building in Prague had been on my wish list for a long time. I actually planned a trip to Prague with this building as one of my main photographic goals.

Its flowing lines and dynamic design immediately caught my attention, and I knew I wanted to create an image that highlighted its unique character in my own Fine Art style. I woke up long before sunrise to photograph the building in the soft morning light, capturing the first rays of the rising sun as they illuminated its distinctive curves.

Receiving this award is incredibly meaningful for me because it confirms that the direction I’ve developed over the years truly resonates with others. Every recognition motivates me to keep refining my artistic vision and to continue creating work that truly reflects my artistic style.

For me, selecting a competition image is almost as important as creating it. I look for photographs that represent my artistic vision at its best rather than simply choosing my personal favourite. I usually narrow my selection down to a few images and revisit them after some time with fresh eyes. If a photograph still stands out and tells the story I want to tell, I know it’s ready to be submitted.

Travel was the reason I first picked up a camera. I wanted to bring home more than snapshots. I wanted to capture the atmosphere and emotions of the places I visited. That simple motivation eventually grew into a passion that completely changed my life.

Fine Art Architecture has become my favourite type because it combines everything I love about photography: creativity, minimalism, and attention to detail. I’ve also always been fascinated by image editing, and this genre gives me the perfect opportunity to fully express that creative side.

I enjoy searching for clean compositions, waiting for the perfect light, and then refining the image in post-processing until it reflects the vision I had when I pressed the shutter. For me, every building is like a blank canvas waiting to be interpreted.

My main camera is the Sony A7RIII, usually paired with the Sony 16–35mm F 2.8 GM lens. This combination is perfect for my Fine Art Architecture work because it delivers outstanding image quality, excellent sharpness, and enough resolution to capture even the smallest details.

Since I often photograph large buildings from close distances, the wide-angle lens allows me to emphasise their scale and geometry while maintaining excellent optical quality.

My favourite feature is definitely the high resolution of the camera. It gives me the flexibility to refine compositions during post-processing while preserving the fine details that are so important in architectural photography.

I want people to feel a sense of calm and curiosity. My goal is to create images that invite viewers to slow down, explore the details, and appreciate the beauty that often goes unnoticed in everyday architecture. If someone spends a little longer looking at one of my photographs than they normally would, that’s the greatest compliment I can receive.

The biggest challenge was finding a perspective that felt both unique and true to the building’s character. I wanted to emphasise the organic flow of its lines and create a composition that highlighted the rhythm and elegance of Zaha Hadid’s design. Rather than simply documenting the architecture, my goal was to interpret it in a way that reflects my own fine art style.

I’m inspired most by modern architecture and the opportunity to discover new places through photography. Every city has its own architectural identity, and I enjoy exploring how light, geometry, and perspective can transform even well-known buildings into something unique. Travelling has always been a major source of inspiration, and many of my trips are planned around locations I want to photograph.

I can’t point to one single photographer who has influenced me the most. Instead, my biggest influence has been my own curiosity and the desire to keep improving. Every new destination, every interesting building, and every creative challenge has helped me shape my style. I believe inspiration can be found everywhere if you keep your eyes open.

I would encourage every photographer to participate in photography awards, regardless of their level of experience. Competitions are a great opportunity to challenge yourself, receive recognition, and gain valuable feedback on your work.

In today’s world, it’s easy to judge our photographs by the number of likes or views they receive on social media. But algorithms often reward content that is entertaining or instantly attention-grabbing, while a photograph that required days of planning and editing may receive far less attention.

Photography awards offer a different kind of feedback. They allow your work to be evaluated by experienced juries based on creativity, technique, and artistic vision rather than popularity.

My advice is to keep sharing your work on social media, but don’t rely on it as the only measure of success. Enter competitions, challenge yourself, and use the feedback as motivation to continue growing as a photographer.

My biggest piece of advice is to invest in your knowledge before investing in expensive equipment. Today’s smartphones and entry-level cameras are already capable of producing fantastic images. In the beginning, developing your creativity, understanding of light and composition, as well as growing your editing skills will have a far greater impact on your photography than buying a better camera or lens.

Instead of constantly thinking about your next gear upgrade, spend your time and money on learning. Take courses, study the work of photographers who inspire you, experiment with new techniques, and improve your post-processing skills. The camera is just a tool; your vision and knowledge are what truly make the difference.

Post-processing is where my creative vision truly comes to life. I’ve always been passionate about image editing, and it has been an important part of my photographic journey from the very beginning. Rather than simply enhancing a photograph, I use editing to shape mood, simplify distractions, emphasise the elements that matter most, and guide the viewer’s attention. My goal is never to change reality for the sake of it, but to create an artistic interpretation that reflects how I experienced the scene.

I believe AI has become a very valuable tool for photographers, especially when it comes to image editing. Like many technological advances before it, it has the potential to save time and unlock new creative possibilities.

At the same time, I don’t think AI can replace the human experience behind a photograph. The planning, the journey, the search for the right perspective, the perfect light, and the emotions connected to that moment are what make photography so meaningful.

For my own work, I see AI as a tool that supports creativity, not as something that replaces it. Technology will continue to evolve, but I believe the photographer’s artistic vision will always remain the most important part of the creative process.

Honestly, I don’t have one specific dream subject. What excites me most is discovering places I haven’t seen before. Every journey brings new architecture, new perspectives, and new creative challenges. As long as there are remarkable buildings waiting to be explored somewhere in the world, I’ll always have another destination to look forward to.