Rock-Thrush
Ibex
Wheatear
About Me
Since my early days of youth, I’ve been interested in the natural world. Animals and plants in my neighbourhood have always fascinated me. After school I often went by bike into the surrounding forests, to the chalk hill areas, streams and rivers and meadows to contact nature there and take photos of its phenomena. I also often went deer-stalking, together with my uncle Werner who was a forest ranger near Schwalmstadt.
I became a member of the youth group of NABU, an organization dedicated to nature conservation. There I was involved in a lot of activities and projects to promote environmentel protection. Furthermore I realized that scientific lectures as well as brilliant atmospheric photos, have a great effect on people, particularly because increasingly more people have lost contact to the natural world, owing to their modern way of life.
From 1986 to 1995 I was a regular member of the ‘Gesellschaft Deutscher Tierfotografen e.V. ‘ , the German Society of Nature Photography, and won a lot of prizes at the GDT photo-competitions and exhibitions. In acknowledgment for my photographic achievements, I received the bronze needle and was listed then as one of the best 20 photographers of the GDT. Since 2017 I am represented in the GDT as a regular member again.
Meanwhile I enjoy very much giving lectures on nature photography in museums and natural history societies.
In contrast to macro-photography at the beginning of my photographic activities, I have meanwhile concentrated increasingly on diversified themes and forms of life, flora and fauna.
After a period of intensively taking pictures of amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, dragonflies, beetles and bats, I have concentrated –since 2008- on tele-photography, in particular the photography of birds.I was lucky to visit a lot of hotspots for nature photography when I used to tour with Joachim Griesinger (“Reisen in die Natur”), Duncan Usher and Klaus Bogon in various parts of the world. Besides many European countries I have been able to travel through Alaska and Patagonia, taking photographs of animals and fantastic landscapes. I also dedicate my thanks further to Michael Ochse, Fred Bollmann (Feldberg), also the "Father of Macro-photography", the recently and regrettably deceased Mr. Dr. Heiko Bellmann, with whom I was allowed to accompany on many excursions, including the Kyffhäuser region and the Altmühltal area. Last but not least I would like to thank Wiebke Lohrbach for creating this website and her patience with me. :)
It is a great privilege for me to be able to have been given the chance to see and photograph some of the most beautiful and interesting places in the world. Facing wild animals and being enthralled by unique sceneries have given me the necessary compensation and recreation I need for my demanding job as a solicitor.
The nature photos here refer to my surname and demonstrate the variety of my photographic activities.
Without the great help and understanding of my wife Bärbel, my two daughters Katharina and Friederike and my parents Helga and Dieter Stein I would never have been able to take such amazing photos. Many thanks for their efforts and continuous support.
Dr. Bernd Stein
Turnstone
Little Owl
Cep
