I recently attended the online exhibition “City” by photographer Christian Berg, hosted by the Goethe-Institut HCMC. The exhibition showcased urban life across various cities in Vietnam, highlighting both their unique qualities and the connections between them. I was inspired by the techniques he used to capture the vibrancy of city life.
Multiple Exposure
My favorite is his “Multiple Exposure” method, where he blends different images together to create a single, layered photo. This technique allows him to show different aspects of a city in one frame, giving a sense of movement, energy, and complexity (as seen in the cover image above)
Uncovering Hidden Patterns within a City
One of the aspects I found most inspiring about Christian Berg’s work is his approach to uncovering the hidden patterns within a city. This process involves a deeper exploration and connection with the urban environment, allowing the photographer to see beyond the surface and capture its subtle, often unnoticed details.
1. Collecting material through walking
Walking is key to exploring a city. It creates a direct link between the photographer and their surroundings.
As you walk, begin capturing whatever catches your interest. There’s no need for a specific purpose or theme, simply take photos freely. The more you revisit a place, the stronger your connection to it becomes, and the more you begin to notice its unique patterns and details.
2. Selecting and sorting the photos
Once you’ve collected your images, review them and group them by category or the stories they tell. This helps make sense of the material you’ve gathered.
3. Hunting with purpose
At this stage, your approach becomes more focused. Returning to places with a clear idea of what you want to capture helps uncover deeper patterns and connections within the city.