Hobby photographer Lukas Wolffram from Konstanz wakes up before dawn to capture extraordinary images of nature that reveal details invisible to the naked eye. The 30-year-old biology graduate specializes in macro photography, taking hundreds of shots during the optimal morning light hours but keeping only a precious few. "On a good morning, maybe four or five good pictures come out of it, then I'm very satisfied," he explains.
Wolffram's passion for photography began as a teenager, but his journey to professional-level work started when his parents gifted him a DSLR camera for his high school graduation. Over the years, he has accumulated extensive equipment and developed expertise in macro photography – close-up shots that display subjects in large, detailed format. His dual passions for biology and photography naturally led him to focus on capturing animals and plants in their natural habitats.
The photographer's meticulous preparation often begins the day before shooting. His alarm rings while it's still dark, allowing him to reach his chosen location just after sunrise when lighting conditions are optimal. He then has a two to three-hour window to execute his plans, during which he might take around one hundred photos of a single subject. Later, reviewing his work with a critical eye, he retains only the best images from each session.
"It appeals to me to make certain details visible," the 30-year-old explains, pointing to examples like the compound eyes of dragonflies. "These are things that many people never get to see." His fundamental interest in biodiversity drives him to photograph new and rare species, as well as discover new locations where different species can be found. He particularly enjoys capturing images of orchids and butterflies.
One of Wolffram's most significant achievements was photographing the endangered Apollo butterfly, which exists in only a few locations in Baden-Württemberg. "There are fewer and fewer suitable habitats where these animals can thrive," the biologist explains. The Apollo butterfly feeds on white stonecrop, a succulent plant that grows in quarries and parts of the Alps. This led Wolffram to the Danube Valley, where he captured his prized image.
The Apollo butterfly shoot required extensive preparation and observation. Wolffram had spent the previous evening minutely observing the creatures' behavior. "From 6 PM onwards, activity decreases significantly, even on hot days – they don't fly much anymore," he notes. Once the butterflies settle for the night, the photographer can begin work the following morning. He discovered the specimen that would later pose for his camera somewhat by chance the day before, and the resulting photograph ranks among his favorite images. "The Apollo is one of our largest and most beautiful butterfly species," he says.
The early morning hours, sometimes starting at 4 or 5 AM, don't bother Wolffram at all. The timing is crucial not only for optimal lighting but also because insects remain still in the morning cold. "It's beautiful that you have so much peace in the morning," the 30-year-old reflects. "You can be completely with yourself – it has something meditative about it."
While the Apollo butterfly required such meticulous preparation due to its rarity, Wolffram often enjoys letting nature surprise him during his photographic expeditions. "You never know what to expect. Nature always remains somewhat unpredictable," the biologist observes. When he finds an appealing subject, he can calmly consider how to execute the shot in the early morning quiet, thinking about lighting conditions and background composition.
These unplanned excursions regularly yield special moments, such as an encounter last year at the Baltic Sea. Suddenly, Wolffram found a Lesser Yellowlegs in front of his camera – a North American breeding bird that had flown across the Atlantic to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. "Something like this comes totally unexpectedly and fascinates me again and again," he enthuses. Photographing birds requires less preparation than macro work but demands more luck and quick reflexes. "It's about whether you catch the animal in time. You have to be very quick to react," Wolffram explains. "I like both approaches."
During international travels, he focuses primarily on bird photography. One of his greatest accomplishments is an image he captured last year in Ecuador showing a hummingbird with open wings. "That was in rainy weather and I had to react very quickly," the 30-year-old recalls. He also counts the Northern Lights he once photographed in Finland as a major success, though that required significant effort including a two-hour car drive and considerable luck with timing.
His favorite landscape image remains a photograph of the Milky Way captured in the Alps. "The time in nature with the camera gives me great balance from the hectic pace of the world," the 30-year-old emphasizes, which is why photography will always remain a meaningful hobby for him.
Wolffram currently shares his work on Instagram and plans to begin selling his photographs in the future. However, reaching people with his images remains more important to him than commercial success. "I want to show what exists in our nature and what people otherwise wouldn't have discovered," he explains. Through his lens, Wolffram continues to reveal the hidden beauty and intricate details of the natural world that surrounds Lake Constance and beyond.
