Rocks, weathered and washed by the surf, deposited in a creative process of nature, serve as witnesses to the Earth’s long history. Kurt Haefeli draws inspiration from visual rhythms and compositions in rock and ice formations. Stones, crystallized minerals, exert an almost magical effect on us humans. Even as children, we can hardly resist the fascinating variety of shapes and colors. We want to collect, preserve, and possess them. This passion also seized me as a photographer. It compels me to seek, discover, focus, illuminate, and capture rocks that sometimes evoke Japanese Zen gardens, on the sand plains typical of Iceland, and along coastlines. Sometimes, this happens like a flow of enthusiasm. I lose myself while photographing the rocks, immersing myself in an immediate experience. It is like merging with the surrounding nature. I then choose excerpts, shutter speeds, and apertures almost automatically, forgetting the real time. Of course, this type of photography is not without preparation and planning. Tides, surf, and lighting conditions change in different rhythms, requiring observation and analysis. Often, it takes a lot of patience, long waiting, and then quick action in short time windows.
Kurt Haefeli (*1954 / Switzerland)
Lives and works in Zurich.