On the Outskirts of Town
Photographer: Heiko Herrmann
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Rats (Rattus norvegicus) are intelligent and social animals. In city centres, food waste accumulates in trash cans and behind grocery stores. This attracts the rats. These adaptable rodents benefit from their proximity to humans and help themselves to whatever they leave behind. Accompanying the rats on their nighttime forays in precisely this environment was challenging. But the big challenge was not getting the rats in front of the camera. They are often very curious if you remain calm and know what rate do not like. For example sudden movements or strong smells they do not like. The big challenge was to photographically portray a species that many people consider not particularly photogenic and to lead the viewer of the image into the urban world of rats in an aesthetic way, making them curious about the rats, too.
The image was created in collaboration with Lilian Weintke ---> www.instagram.com/lilian.fotografie/
1/1250 • f/1.3 • ISO 6400 • -0.7 EV • Fujifilm X-H2S • 75mm • Sirui 75mm f/1.2 Sniper Series
