X-MAS competition

Christmas is coming soon and the Public Relations department would like to make you happy. Join in and, with a little luck, win the nature calendar "Zittau Mountains - my fascinating home " by our housing and real estate student Tom Heinke. Unique aerial photos, beautiful sunrises and mystical seas of mist make the calendar not only an eye-catcher in your home, but also at your workplace.

We are giving away five A4 calendars among all participants via our HSZG website. If you want to increase your chances of winning, you can also take part in the prize draws on Instagram and on Facebook.

What do you have to do?

Send an e-mail by December 17, 2017, 11:59 p.m. to marketing(at)hszg.de with the subject "X-MAS competition with Tom Heinke" and answer the following question: Where is your personal favorite place in Upper Lusatia? The winners will be drawn from all entries after the end of the competition and notified accordingly.

Tom Heinke probably knows every corner of the Zittau Mountains: the photographer loves Upper Lusatia. He is 24 and a student of Housing and Real Estate Management at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. He has been pursuing his passion for photography for seven years. Recently, he even won first place in a photo competition organized by the 'So geht sächsisch' image campaign of the Free State of Saxony. The winning picture "Scharfenstein in a sea of fog" and other unique aerial photos can be seen in Tom's new calendar "Zittauer Gebirge - Meine faszinierende Heimat" for 2018.

A conversation about home and the right time.

Dear Tom, what do you need to take good photos?

A normal camera is enough, it doesn't have to be an expensive one. Even a smartphone will do. But the most important thing is to have an eye for a good subject. By taking photos, I become much more aware of things. 

You are studying Housing and Real Estate Management at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. Is there a connection between the course and your photography?

There is no connection in that sense. But in the real estate industry, photos of buildings might be needed from time to time. Interior shots are particularly important.

Why did you choose this degree course?

Because it is very versatile. A mixture of construction, law and business. This gives you lots of career opportunities. I didn't just want to study business administration.

Why did you stay at home? Wouldn't you find much more diverse motives in a big city?

As I found a good course here, I didn't have to go far away. I don't think I would feel as comfortable in the big city. Here you have peace and quiet. Every now and then I go to Dresden as a photographer, but I don't need a big city. The landscapes in the Zittau Mountains are very diverse.

Was there a trigger that brought you to photography? Or did your passion come almost overnight?

A few years ago, I went to a lot of Jenix concerts. I always wanted to photograph this band, just for myself. I bought my first SLR camera. But as there weren't concerts every day, I started looking for new subjects. That's how I got into landscape photography.

If you could describe your photos with three adjectives, what would they be?

Breathtaking, fascinating, enchanting. But I don't want to go too far out on a limb with that [laughs].

Who is your photographic god, your role model?

I don't have a photographic god. But I get a lot of inspiration from the internet. For example, I really like looking at the pictures by Max Münch from the GermanRoamers.

What do you find in the Zittau Mountains, apart from motifs for your photography?

The Zittau Mountains are the perfect place for me to relax and go hiking. The whole of Upper Lusatia is a great region for relaxation and new discoveries. The landscapes are very attractive.

You recently won first place with your photo of the "Scharfenstein in the sea of fog" in a photo competition organized by 'So geht sächsisch'. The winning picture and other unique aerial photos can be found in your new calendar. How did you come up with the idea of selling your own calendar?

It's already my fifth calendar. I wanted to show my pictures in printed form somehow. That's something completely different. I've been selling the calendar via my online store since the beginning. Since last year, it has also been available at the tourist information office in Zittau and at my exclusive dealer JJ-Bikes.

What does it feel like when you imagine people having your calendar hanging in their kitchen?

It's an indescribable feeling. It's really amazing. I'm always happy when people tell me how great they think my pictures are and that they're thrilled about them.

Which photo in the new calendar is your favorite?

My favorite picture is the September one. I was in the right place at the right time. A view like that is amazing.

Do you have any other projects planned that you would like to tell us about?

In the next few years, I would like to publish an illustrated book about the Zittau Mountains.

Where is your favorite place in the Zittau Mountains?

My favorite place is on the Töpfer or on the Hochwaldturm.

*The winners will be drawn by lot. Cash payment of the prize is not possible. The winners will be notified by e-mail. There is no entitlement to a prize. Legal recourse is excluded.

Text: Sophie Herwig