Table Tennis Club Neuhausen
Nathalia had to flee Ukraine. At the Neuhausen Table Tennis Club, she found a framework that helped her in many ways. Photo report for SAH Schaffhausen
Client
SAH Schaffhausen
Sports clubs are a crucial aid in the integration of people who have been forced to flee their homeland. Unfortunately, not all clubs are willing to open their doors to young people, many of whom still have limited German skills. Notable exceptions include the Schaffhausen Boxing Club , where we also conducted a photo report, and the Neuhausen Table Tennis Club, which has welcomed Nathalia into its training program.
Nathalia is putting in the effort, diligently learning German, and giving it her all in training. Both her German and her mental strength have improved enormously through the training. She's already leading her first training sessions and taking some of the pressure off the coach. Nathalia is already giving a lot back, and her training partners also appreciate her.
The SAH Schaffhausen is doing a lot to help refugees integrate into Switzerland. If we could award a rose like Schweizer Illustrierte does, we would give it to the SAH, but also to the sports clubs that offer such a great opportunity to foreign refugees who have fled to Switzerland. It's certainly a bit more challenging to integrate young women and men with limited language skills into training, but in most cases, the rewards are substantial.
Just like at the boxing club, Elisa Frey from SAH insisted on participating in the training. I was itching to get started, too, as I played a lot of table tennis as a kid (photos of me: Elisa Frey). After a few rallies, my old instincts and movements slowly returned, but of course, I had no chance against the outstanding Nathalia ;-)
Boxing Club Schaffhausen
Photo reportage at the Boxing Club Schaffhausen for the SAH
Client
SAH Schaffhausen
As part of the annual magazine, we photographed the Schaffhausen Boxing Club for SAH Schaffhausen . We followed Nasib with our camera in particular. He fled Afghanistan. Since he had already trained in boxing in Afghanistan, he wanted to train here again. In René Schäppi, he found an understanding trainer who doesn't discriminate against a person's country of origin. He encourages young people and treats them with respect. This attitude has led to more boys starting boxing training. Currently, nine immigrants are in training, and Nasib is already at the stage where he leads certain training sessions.
Photographically, the implementation was a challenge. The fast movements required short shutter speeds (or flash) and high frame rates. Ursula and I also brought a black background to create some images where the focus is on the people and the background is completely hidden. Looking through the images, it quickly became clear that the black and white photos, with their analogue nature, are much more powerful than the color ones.
Boxers sometimes have a negative image. They're considered primitive thugs. But a look behind the scenes reveals how demanding the training is. Strength, stamina, and coordination are all equally important. Training is essential in all three areas. SAH editor and JUMA instructor Elisa Frey participated in a training session as part of her report. Her conclusion:
"Boxing pushes you to your physical and cognitive limits – and it's actually fun! I've tried many sports, but I've never been challenged on so many levels. If you're looking for a full-body workout, boxing is the right choice!"
Abbassia Rahmani
Abassia Rahmani is a top athlete and member of the Swiss Paralympic Team. As part of a Sony Alpha 1 test, I was able to accompany her with my camera for two hours during her training in a former factory hall.
Client
freelance work as part of a camera test for Sony
Abassia Rahmani is a top athlete and member of the Swiss Paralympic Team. I saw a report about her last year and was very impressed by her personality. Now, as part of a Sony Alpha 1 test, I had the opportunity to accompany her for two hours during her training in an old factory hall. I wanted to capture some aesthetically pleasing images and a portrait of her. The time frame was tight, and I wanted to disturb her training as little as possible. We managed to capture some great shots, and it was a great privilege to meet such a wonderful person.
