Focus on the North Sea
Four photographers. Three challenges. A North Sea adventure exploring the most beautiful coastal landscape.
Now is the time to see the North Sea in Schleswig-Holstein from a completely new perspective! Together with Nordsee-Tourismus-Service GmbH, we’ve invited four people—all with a deep passion for landscape photography—to our beautiful North Sea coast. In the coastal towns of Sylt, Amrum, Büsum, and St. Peter-Ording, they’ll face three different challenges that will push them to their limits—or perhaps even beyond.
In the “Focus on the North Sea” photo challenge, the four photographers will not only battle the elements and the forces of nature, but also compete against one another! Because they have a mission: to capture the most spectacular and unusual photos of the North Sea.
During the three challenges, the photographers will be accompanied by a film crew—so you can look forward to an exciting video series at the end! “Focus North Sea – The Photo Duel” isn’t just a photo trip—it’s an adventure that will let you see the North Sea coast, with its unmistakable landscape and unique inhabitants, through new eyes.
These four photographers are competing against each other
The stars of this series are four photographers—Marina, Long, Lennart, and Robert—each of whom stands out with their own unique style, creative ideas, and keen eye for aesthetics. The photographers include three well-known content creators and a wildcard winner from our North Sea community.
Armed with their cameras and their boundless spirit of discovery, they set off on an adventure and turn the North Sea coast into their personal creative playground. Each photographer tackles the challenges in a different coastal town.
Whether high up in the mountains or barefoot on the beach—driven by my curiosity and thirst for knowledge, I’m always on the lookout for new subjects and perspectives so I can share my fascination with nature and its inhabitants with others.
Marina Weishaupt
Photographer, Editor, and Author | @marinaweishaupt
Photo Duel Location: St. Peter-Ording in Eiderstedt
I shoot with: Canon EOS R5
My favorite subjects to photograph are: morning scenes with sun and fog in the mountains, by the sea, or in the moors.
I’d describe my style as: Colorful, light-filled, and with a keen eye for detail.
How I got into photography: It all started about 14 years ago with my first SLR camera. Since 2015, I’ve mainly been photographing landscapes, nature, and travel.
The Fellow Fighters
“In my profession, I combine my deep curiosity to see the world and experience it on exciting adventures with my passion for all kinds of creative work—especially photography and videography, but also music and design.”
Photo Duel Location: Sylt
I shoot with: Sony A7 III, Tamron lenses, and the DJI Mavic 3
What I love to photograph most: Surreal landscapes of all kinds combined with people in front of the camera
I would describe my style as: Atmospheric shots of impressive landscapes with beautiful, warm light or mystical foggy atmospheres.
How I Got Into Photography: I’ve always been passionate about all kinds of creative pursuits. During my dual-track degree program, I traveled to Iceland and Scotland during my breaks, and afterward I spent almost every weekend out in nature because I was so fascinated by the beautiful landscapes. That’s when I started taking photos and realized how much fun it was. Little by little, my hobby turned into a side business alongside my day job, until I finally quit my job so I could travel more and make a living through my own projects.
“When I’m not traveling somewhere in Germany or Europe for my photography, you’ll find me in Leipzig, where I’m planning my next trip to capture the perfect sunrise.”
Photo Duel Location: Büsum
I shoot with: Sony A7iv + A7iii
My favorite subject to photograph: Fog drifting through the mountains at sunrise.
I’d describe my style this way: In most scenes and images, I generally focus on earthy and warm tones. I see myself as a content creator who plays with colors and light to achieve the desired effect. But I don’t overdo it—instead, I strive for balance. When an image stirs a longing for travel and a spirit of adventure within me, I know I’ve hit the sweet spot during editing. That’s the goal I always strive for!
Here’s how I got into photography: In 2019, I found my father’s old camera in a drawer and decided to make photography my new hobby. Five years later, those first vacation photos and pictures of the family dog have turned into my passion and my career. Today, I work as a commercial photographer and content creator, helping brands and companies with their visual storytelling.
“I would describe myself as a very well-balanced, humorous, solution-oriented, and curious person. A tendency toward melancholy and a love for authentic culture are also very important to me.”
Photo Duel Location: Amrum
I shoot with: Leica M11, Leica Q2, and Mamiya 7 II
What I love to photograph most: The beauty of everyday life—architecture, street scenes, landscapes, details, animals, and anything else that catches my eye
I’d describe my style as: Warm images with natural light that invite you to dream and linger. They’re very often scenes that most people would probably just walk right past.
How I got into photography: I picked up my first camera when I was about 16 and took photos sporadically from time to time. Thanks to a former close friend, my interest intensified when I was 18 or 19, before I took a long break of almost 10 years. Shortly before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I got back into it full force and haven’t stopped since.
Q&A with the photographers
| Marina | Long | Robert | Lennart |
|---|---|---|---|
| I’m looking forward to the challenge of being spontaneously creative, and I’m really excited to see how the others tackle the assignments. | Especially when I’m taking photos with other people, I notice how much the resulting images differ. Everyone has a different angle, discovers different subjects, and chooses their own unique perspectives. That makes it all the more exciting when several photographers are sent out with the same assignment and almost certainly return with very different photos. That’s why I find the concept behind the “duel” so exciting! | When I heard about the idea, I was immediately thrilled that a German tourism marketing organization is willing to take a different approach to advertising. Based on my experience working with tourism officials, I know that marketing campaigns and photo shoots are often planned in advance and can sometimes be very rigid. That’s why I’m all the more grateful to finally be able to bring a breath of fresh air to the field and to have the opportunity to be part of this project on the North Sea coast. | To take on new challenges—and because I love photographing maritime locations in the Land Between the Seas. |
| Marina | Long | Robert | Lennart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experiencing the North Sea without really knowing what to expect. | I’m looking forward to the challenge of capturing the locations on-site as beautifully as possible, and I’m excited to see the photos taken by the other photographers. Especially because Marina and Robert, even though they both take travel photos, have very different styles: Marina is particularly good at capturing dreamy moods during the blue and golden hours with beautiful colors, while Robert creates impressive images through his expansive travel shots, where the landscape takes center stage. | I’m looking forward to the tranquility the sea radiates. The feeling of walking along the beach in the evening while the waves break rhythmically is truly unique. To be honest, I’m also just looking forward to being able to breathe freely again, since the North Sea will certainly help with my allergies, and the fresh air—unlike that of a big city—will do me good. | Finally, I’m looking forward to capturing the beauty of Amrum through my camera, taking a little break from everyday life, and tackling the challenges in a way that leaves me satisfied with the results afterward. |
| Marina | Long | Robert | Lennart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dull, hazy light without any contrast or a hint of sunshine is my personal nemesis. | Photographing these locations in good light is my biggest challenge. Light plays a crucial role in photography, so I always try to shoot early in the morning and late in the evening, when the sun is low in the sky. Of course, I’m always at the mercy of the weather. I hope for a clear horizon, scattered clouds at the zenith, and maybe a bit of haze in the air in the morning. However, I can’t control these conditions and have to adapt to the circumstances on site! | A photo in which light plays no role at all in the composition. Light is a major factor for me and my work. That would probably be a huge challenge for me. | To be in front of the camera instead of behind it, as usual. |
| Marina | Long | Robert | Lennart |
|---|---|---|---|
| My last two visits were marked by vast landscapes, a wild sea, a harsh wind—and very beautiful, colorful sunsets. | Space and freedom. Many years ago, I visited Amrum with my school class, and those memories have stayed with me very vividly. As someone who grew up in southern Germany, I always find it something very special to be by the sea. Seeing the endless expanse, breathing in the fresh sea air, and experiencing completely different landscapes always feels like being far away from everyday life, somewhere in a paradise where you can let your thoughts run free and find peace. | The mudflats and the search for the sea. But also peace, relaxation, and serenity. | Salty air, waves, freedom, lighthouses, nature, relaxation. |
You can look forward to three episodes
In three exciting photography challenges, the contestants must prove their talent. In our three-part video series, you'll learn all the details about the challenges and see how the photographers fared.
Episode #1: First Challenge – Get Moving
Episode #2: Second Challenge – Northern German Originals
Episode #3: Third Challenge – Rediscovering the Familiar
Filming in SPO and Eiderstedt
Long-Nong wins the photo contest!
The viewers have voted and chosen Long-Nong Huang as the winner of the photo contest! His photo shows the List-West Lighthouse on the island of Sylt and was taken during the third challenge.
