NOBODY SAID IT WAS EASY. OR . NIHAO AND NOW ?

Some people probably already heard about my move to China. I moved here in order to expect better opportunities to live for less, eat better food, learn Chinese and find a job what finally gives me the chance to photograph or learn from photographers such as the guys from Rimagine, where applied for a photography assistant position. Let’s see what the future holds for me here in China. To be honest, I am obviously afraid, that nothing is going to work out like in Germany. Actually I had a plan which contains making wedding picture business with my friend James, get an apartment in Nanjing and enroll into the Nanjing university language program, so I do have a visa which allows me to stay in China for half a year. So far, I am not going to do any of those things. No wedding pictures, because I need to have a working license, no apartment, because I don’t really know if I get a job in Beijing or Shanghai or somewhere else in China. Shanghai has the best options though. Last but not least, I am not going to enroll, since there are definitely cheaper options like going to Hong Kong to apply for a one month F visa and extend it two weeks later for half a year for about 3,450 Yuan. The program would me cost about 9,000 Yuan, so I am quite happy I didn’t sign up yet, instead I will wait what happens with my applications I’ve send. So this is the most difficult time I had so far in my life. Yes, indeed. Since everything looks totally unclear and uncertain, I was happy to receive an Email from a visitor on my website from turkey who cheered me up with his words:

Dear Florian Ritter,

Great photos, I looked up  your site, and great portfolio.
I ‘m an amateur photographer since 5 years in Turkey and searching photographers and portfolios, to learn new things.
But this portfolio is the greatest one for me. First time I ‘m sending an e-mail to a phographer. But I realy wanted to
present my regards. Thanks for these photos…
Especially  Stories, Urban, People and Landscape.

Have a nice day…. and Regards

Gokcen Cidam

In this case, thanks to Gokcen

CHANGE LIFE AGAIN

After 8 months in Germany, living with and through the financial crisis I decided to emigrate from Germany and move to China. Who knows what exactly to expect there, but the chances to have lower expenses for daily life and the opportunity to take better pictures is higher and bigger than my love to Hamburgs Coffee shops. Not to mention cheap massages, good food, a beautiful language, beautiful landscape … . Nevertheless I’ll be in touch with contacts I made so far in Germany and try to update them with mailings, emails and other stuff.

First I’ll move to Nanjing, if its gonna be Nanjing for a longer time I don’t know, maybe Beijing. As long as people speak Chinese I don’t care much. I also decided to concentrate more on illustrations again instead of just ignore the ability I have.

So basically instead of being in Germany and go to China once in a while I’ll be in China and go to Germany once in a while.
Take care and enjoy your life as it happens and do what you need to do. Florian