I feel at home in White Lake, where I currently live. I feel settled and rooted. But I still automatically revert to the town that I grew up and lived in for twenty-five years whenever I am asked about my hometown – and that will probably never change. So, I chose Hamburg, in Germany, for this exercise.
Finding pictures to represent Hamburg was a more interesting exercise than I imagined. I only wanted to use my personal photos, because my personal connection to those places is important and dear to me. But I also realized that there is still a great overlap between the photos I pick and the ones that you might find in a tourist brochure. Reflecting on this, I realize that my own knowledge and perception of this city are of course much vaster than the few representations that I can use to convey a feeling for it.
However, I also notice how I absolutely love – and always have loved – showing people around Hamburg. And I think that is the reason for the overlap: I pick places that mean a lot to me personally, but at the same time, they are also picturesque spots for a tourist’s visit. The joy of sharing them goes hand in hand with my own enjoyment of them.
