by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 1^st of June 2025

Ute Scherhag quotes:  "Photography and image editing are not just my hobbies; they are my passion."  
This sums up her outstanding architectural photography perfectly. Her preference for clear structures is evident in her work. So it's no coincidence that she finds most of her subjects in architecture. She is always looking at her surroundings, searching for interesting, exciting and aesthetically pleasing subjects to capture. Read on to find out more about this talented lady photographer and her beautiful work.

'Cleveland Clinic, Las Vegas'

Dear Ute, first, I would like to thank you for taking the time to answer this questionnaire. To begin with, could you please introduce yourself briefly and tell us more about yourself, your hobbies and any other projects you are involved in?
I have lived in a small, very old town in the middle of Germany since childhood.
As I don't have much talent for painting but wanted to visualise my ideas, I turned to photography. Like most people, I developed my love for photography with an analogue camera as a teenager.

How and when did you start your journey in photography?
I didn't have the time to pursue this hobby due to work and family commitments. However, that changed when I retired, and I was finally able to turn my ideas and visions into photos.

'V'

For many of us photography is either a hobby or a way of life. How would you define your relationship with photography?
For me, photography is much more than a hobby. I look at my surroundings as if through the viewfinder of my camera. This allows me to discover a wealth of interesting, exciting, and aesthetic subjects worth capturing, even if I don't have a camera with me.

'elevators'

What would be the most important experience so far that has influenced your steps in photography?
Taking part in photography competitions transformed my approach to photography. I started trying to give my images my own personal touch.

'Fraunhofer Institut'

Why are you so captivated by architectural photography?
My preference for clear structures is evident in my photographs. It's no coincidence that most of my subjects are architectural.

'Library'

Which is more important to you: the mood or story behind your images, or technical perfection?
For me, technical perfection is a given. Conveying a mood, or showing the story behind an image in street photography, for example, is also very important.

'Citygate 2'

'Medienhafen'

What is your relationship with your subject matter beyond simply observing it?
Do you carefully prepare the locations where you intend to take photographs?
Once I have taken a photograph, I consider whether I would have painted it in exactly the same way if I were an artist. Usually, there are distracting elements such as litter, dirt, damage to the façades, reflections, and so on. To capture my ideal vision, I remove these in image editing software.

'the painter'

I usually don't have time to prepare the locations I'm photographing, so I adjust lighting conditions afterward.

'Parkbrug'

'Citygate'

Describe your overall photographic vision.
The ideal photo I had in mind therefore doesn't exactly correspond to what I found. However, interfering with the architecture is never an option when editing images. In my photos, I simply try to capture my vision as closely as possible.

'FOM'

Could you tell us more about your workflow, from initial idea to final product?
Most of my architectural photographs are taken by visiting the buildings without considering the lighting conditions during the planning stage. First, I let the subject take effect, and then I start taking a series of photos. The most important work comes afterwards, during the editing process in Lightroom and Photoshop.

'the Wessel'

Where do you look for inspiration, and what inspires you most?
I find looking at good photographs every day inspiring.

'triangles'

'Taxi!'

Many people believe that gear is not very important when you are passionate about photography. However, could you please tell us what equipment you use (camera, lenses, lighting, tripod, etc.)?
A good image isn't solely created in the camera; the photographic equipment, whether a camera or a phone, must be capable of producing a technically flawless image. Lightroom and Photoshop are indispensable to me because they help me to realise my vision.

'subway' 

'hat and coat'

Which photo is your favourite? Please tell us the story behind it.
My favourite photo, 53W53, was taken by chance in New York. I was in a hurry to get to Fifth Avenue when I suddenly found myself standing in front of the transparent building next to the Museum of Modern Art. I took this photo on the run.

'53W53'

Which photographers or mentors have influenced you and your photography?
I have many favourite photographers whose pictures I enjoy looking at on 1x.com. However, I also admire earlier photographers such as Vivian Maier and Saul Leiter.

'Times Square sightseeing tour'

'Leica'

Now that we're almost at the end of this interview, could you please tell us about any photographic projects you'd like to be involved in?
A few years ago, I made a list of places that I absolutely had to photograph. Unfortunately, this list doesn't get any smaller because new places are constantly being added! So I still have a lot to do!

'photographer'

Is there anything else you would like to add, and what are your thoughts on using 1x.com as a home base for your work?
I showcase my images on 1x.com because the curation process enables me to ascertain whether they meet the stringent criteria. The feedback I receive in the form of publication or awards helps me to improve the quality of my images.

'rusty'

'the photographer'