Essence

Unmistakable beauty and diversity

Since 1998, Jan C. Schlegel has been traveling regularly to remote places that are largely cut off from tourism and the Western world. On his tours, the artist observed the rapid loss of traditions and increasing changes in people's lifestyles due to globalization. The unstoppable changes awakened the photographer's urgent desire to portray people, capture impressions and preserve the traditional ways of life of these tribes in his pictures. Schlegel often stayed with a tribe for weeks with his assistant in order to get to know and understand their habits. This was the only way he gained the trust to create images with the desired closeness and intimacy.

He has traveled to over 60 countries in recent years, always in search of the unmistakable beauty and diversity of the peoples. His compositions, the strongly contrasting play of light and shadow, the inner power, as well as extraordinary perspectives provide a glimpse of the hidden cultural wealth of this world, which is becoming increasingly rare to find. Schlegel not only creates artistic photographs, but also documents and preserves unique works of art in his pictures - the people themselves.