Featured Academy Artist: Toni Niederwieser

Artwork: Spätherbst

Spätherbst began as a photographic study of Toni Niederwieser’s local mountain, Wildseeloder, captured in late autumn after the onset of winter. Snow had already settled on the upper slopes, while the forests below still held onto their autumn colour — a quiet moment suspended between seasons. What followed was not a straightforward print, but a layered exploration of process, material, and intention.

Toni’s journey into art photography began with the Getting Started in Art Photography programme, where the idea of photography as a starting point — rather than a finished result — first took hold. As he progressed through Going Further in Art Photography, experimentation became central, and the camera gradually shifted from being the final tool to part of a broader creative workflow.

Working on Spätherbst, Toni began by printing the image on hot-press art paper, deliberately choosing a surface that invited physical inte...

For many of us caught in the relentless rhythm of daily life, it's easy to get ensnared in the treadmill of routine, where weeks seamlessly blend into months, and years slip away unnoticed. As an artist and the founder of the Art Photography Academy, I've come to recognise the profound importance of carving out dedicated time for creativity and the peril of perpetually staying on life's demanding treadmill.

In the midst of our demanding lives, the notion of scheduling creative time may seem counterintuitive to some. However, I firmly believe that "great art flows from a relaxed and attentive mind." This principle underscores the necessity of creating intentional spaces for artistic expression amidst the chaos of our daily obligations.

A poignant lesson on the significance of proactive creativity scheduling came to me during a conversation with an elderly and wise artist. Expressing my desire to emulate his artistic achievements, I said, "I wish I could do what you do," to which he re...