X-MAS competition

Christmas is coming soon, and the Public Relations Office would like to bring you some joy. Join in and, with a little luck, win the nature calendar “Zittauer Mountains—My Fascinating Home” by Tom Heinke, one of our students in Housing and Real Estate Management. Unique aerial photos, breathtakingly beautiful sunrises, and mystical seas of fog make this calendar a real eye-catcher—not just at home, but at any workplace, too.

We’re giving away five A4 calendars to participants selected at random via our HSZG website. If you’d like to increase your chances of winning, you can also enter the giveaways on Instagram and Facebook.

What do you need to do?

Send an email by December 17, 2017, at 11:59 p.m., to marketing@hszg.de with the subject line “X-MAS Contest with Tom Heinke” and answer the following question: Where is your personal favorite spot in Upper Lusatia? Winners will be selected at random from all entries after the contest ends and notified accordingly.*

Tom Heinke probably knows every nook and cranny of the Zittau Mountains: the photographer loves Upper Lusatia. He is 24 and a student at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, studying the Housing and Real Estate Management degree programme. He has been pursuing his passion for photography for seven years. He recently even won first place in a photo contest held as part of the Free State of Saxony’s “So geht sächsisch” image campaign. The winning photo, “Scharfenstein in a Sea of Fog,” and other unique aerial shots can be seen in Tom’s new 2018 calendar, “Zittauer Gebirge – My Fascinating Home.”

A conversation about home and the right moment.

Dear Tom, what does it take to take good photos?

A regular camera is enough—it doesn’t have to be an expensive one. Even a smartphone will do. But the most important thing is having an eye for a good subject. Through photography, I notice many things much more consciously.

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

There isn’t a connection in that sense. But in the real estate industry, photos of buildings might be needed from time to time. Interior shots, in particular, are important.

Why did you choose this degree programme?

Because it’s very versatile—a mix of construction, law, and business. That opens up many career opportunities. I didn’t want to just study business administration.

Why did you stay in your hometown? Wouldn’t you find much more diverse subjects in a big city?

Since I found a good degree programme here, I didn’t have to go far. I don’t think I’d feel as comfortable in a big city. Here, you have your peace and quiet. Every now and then I go to Dresden to work as a photographer, but I don’t need a big city. The landscapes in the Zittau Mountains are really diverse.

Was there a specific moment that got you into photography? Or did your passion just sort of happen overnight?

A few years ago, I went to a lot of Jenix concerts. I’d always wanted to photograph that band—just for myself. I bought my first SLR camera. But since there weren’t concerts every day, I eventually 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 get too carried away with that [laughs].

Who is your photographic idol, your role model?

I don’t have a photographic idol. But I get a lot of inspiration from the internet. For example, I really enjoy looking at the photos by Max Münch from the GermanRoamers.

What do you find in the Zittau Mountains, besides subjects for your photography?

For me, the Zittau Mountains are the perfect place to relax and go hiking. The entire Upper Lusatia region is a great place for recreation and new discoveries. The landscapes are truly charming.

Recently, you won first place with your photo of “Scharfenstein in a Sea of Fog” in a photo contest hosted by “So geht sächsisch.” The winning photo and other unique aerial shots are featured in your new calendar. How did you come up with the idea of selling your own calendar?

This is already my fifth calendar. I wanted to showcase my photos in print somehow. It’s a whole different experience. I’ve been selling the calendar through my online shop from the very beginning. Since last year, it’s also been available at the tourist information office in Zittau and at my exclusive retailer, JJ-Bikes.

How does it feel to imagine people having your calendar hanging in their kitchens?

It’s an indescribable feeling. It’s just amazing. I’m always thrilled when people tell me how much they love my photos and how excited they are about them.

Which photo in the new calendar is your favorite?

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

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

In the coming years, I might publish a photo book about the Zittau Mountains.

Where’s your favorite spot in the Zittau Mountains?

I love being on the Töpfer or at the Hochwald Tower.

*Winners will be selected by random drawing. The prize cannot be exchanged for cash. Winners will be notified by email. There is no entitlement to a prize. Legal recourse is excluded.

Text: Sophie Herwig