The beginning of a life-long love affair
1977
It all began with a hand-me-down Kodak rangefinder camera – back in 1977. Aged 12, I got obsessed with capturing sailing-boats on the shore of the Baltic Sea, and I dreamt of becoming a photographer. It took some 30 years to get me there, but here I am and I would not want to do anything else.
2022
12 years after starting my enterprise Down Under and after a brief return to the shores of Europe, I am excited to be back in Sydney – ready for the next exciting chapter.
- 500+ Projects Done
- 10+ years of growing my experience
Hartmut Toepler
photographer, storyteller, videographer, workaholic, coffeelover, perfectionist, traveller and explorer.
About me
Philosophy
If you don’t try, you will never find out if you can.
Passion
Photography, architecture and design, watches and vintage cars, food and storytelling. Oh – and I love a good coffee.
Stations
2010 – 2018
Self-employed commercial photographer in Sydney, focus on real-estate, product, food and fashion
2014
Accreditation as professional photographer with the AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photography)
2019 – 2021
Self-employed commercial photographer and freelance editor for newspapers in Germany
May 2022
Back in OZ – continuing the journey of living the dream
My love affair with photography
Passion
A short trip down memory lane to the day I got my very first camera…
Rozelle Tramsheds
Timecapsule
One of my all-time favourites – this shot of tram 995, which was sitting in the old abandoned Rozelle-Tramsheds for decades. Before the development of the site, the trams and busses were heavily vandalised and spray-painted. I still remember the smell of fresh paint inside…
Today, the Tramsheds host a posh food market – and Tram 995, that has been restored to her former beauty, is one of the main features inside. The history remains unforgotten.
From Hamburg to cuxhaven
Elbe River
A short journey along the Elbe River from Hamburg to Cuxhaven, where I spent the last 2 1/2 years. Worth a trip.