Recommended by ...

Peter Bitzer says:

The Internationale Photoszene has put together an extensive program for 2023. It is difficult to make a selection, and many of the visits will be spontaneous.

But some things are set: "Shall you return everything, but the burden" by Lebohang Kganye at the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum promises to be exciting, both thematically and in terms of the narrative methods.

In any case, I'll be watching "Next," the festival of young photography. It's always worthwhile to see what the new generation is doing.

Just as it's worth discovering a previously overlooked photographer: Uwe Steinberg "Mittendrin" at the Forum für Fotografie. When Hans-Michael Koetzle and Norbert Moos are involved, visual experiences are guaranteed.

Last but not least, I am looking forward to the selected photo books of the current Dummy Award (shortlist 23 and winner 22) at the Photoboomuseum (Atelier Colonia and K18 in Ehrenfeld).

Let's see what else will be added.

Peter Bitzer (*1954) was managing director of the photographer agency "laif Agentur für Photos und Reportagen" for almost 30 years. He studied German language and literature and politics in Marburg and worked from 1986 initially in marketing and sales for various magazines of the Pahl Rugenstein publishing house. From 1990-1992 he was employed as foreign sales manager at "Bilderberg Agency of Photographers" before joining the laif agency as co-partner and sole managing director. Under his leadership, laif became one of the largest picture agencies in Germany. Peter Bitzer was a member of the board of the German Association of Professional Image Providers (2004-2010) and on several juries, including World Press Photo, Canon Profifoto Förderpreis/New Talent Award and Lumix FREELENS Award. Since 2017, he has been a jury member of the Vonovia Award. From 2010 to 2020, Peter Bitzer held a teaching position at the Department of Photography at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts ("Das Bild im Kontext").