Photography has been a part of her life since her school days, beginning with a course in analog photography. She found joy not only in capturing images but also in developing them in the darkroom. Later, as a flight attendant, she spent years taking typical snapshots and vacation photos, honing her eye for everyday moments.

In 2015, her photographic journey reached a turning point. By chance, she discovered a course titled “ZEN Photographic Art – Shaping Emptiness” by Jo Fahl. Drawn irresistibly to the course description, she followed her impulse and enrolled immediately. After this experience, she realized that photography had become an inseparable part of her life.

Upon returning home, she sought a deeper and more structured approach to the craft. She enrolled in the part-time program in Photography and Image Editing at the European Photography Academy in Rastatt under Matthias Gessler. After successfully completing the program, she continued at the academy in the project workshop, appreciating the combination of online seminars, on-site sessions, and project-based photography.

Over the years, her style gradually crystallized around quiet, contemplative images in both macro and ZEN photography. Macro photography allows her to reveal the beauty of everyday objects from unusual perspectives, in both color and black-and-white.

ZEN photography, however, transcends mere image-making. For her, it embodies a philosophy and way of life: an act of devotion, meditation, and presence in the moment. The absence of intention, the openness to the present, and the impulse-driven press of the shutter fascinate her. Her ZEN images, often in black-and-white, emphasize emptiness and invite viewers to pause and escape the busyness of daily life.

About two years ago, she discovered Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), motivated by a desire to “photograph as Claude Monet painted.” The painting techniques of English Romantic painter J.M.W. Turner and the Impressionists, especially Claude Monet, had long inspired her. She was captivated by the play of light and color, the suggestion of forms, and the ethereal quality of their work. ICM offered her the perfect medium to “paint with her camera,” a practice she calls heart photography.

Through ICM, she captures and conveys feelings and emotions rather than literal representations. The essence of a place or object, the mood of a moment, becomes the primary focus. The resulting images offer a dreamlike, sometimes magical perspective on the world, often reminiscent of Old Master paintings. She aims to enchant viewers, allowing them to briefly escape reality, immerse themselves in the image, and let their imagination roam freely.

Initially, she believed that historic cities such as Venice, Rome, or Paris were particularly suited to ICM photography, reinforcing a sense of timelessness. Over time, she discovered that urban environments and human subjects are equally compelling.

Today, she works almost exclusively with ICM, holding herself to the principle that the perfect image is created in-camera. Beyond an ND filter, she uses no additional tools, special camera programs, or post-processing effects. Minimal editing is applied only when absolutely necessary. Her work is a testament to simplicity, emotion, and the transformative power of photographic expression.

Cornelia B. Bienz is a contemporary photographer whose work explores the delicate intersection of emotion, light, and movement. Her journey with photography began in her school years with analog courses, where she discovered the joy of both capturing images and developing them in the darkroom. Later, as a flight attendant, she photographed everyday moments and travel experiences, cultivating an early appreciation for spontaneous beauty and fleeting impressions.

In 2015, a pivotal moment arrived when she discovered the course “ZEN Photographic Art – Shaping Emptiness” by Jo Fahl. Drawn by the philosophy behind the course, she followed her impulse to enroll, an experience that solidified her commitment to photography as a lifelong passion. Seeking to deepen her technical knowledge and artistic understanding, she enrolled in the part-time Photography and Image Editing program at the European Photography Academy in Rastatt under Matthias Gessler. Her time at the academy, combining online seminars, on-site sessions, and project-based practice, provided a foundation for her evolving artistic voice.

Over the years, Cornelia B. Bienz has developed a distinctive approach that combines macro and ZEN photography. Macro photography allows her to reveal the extraordinary beauty of everyday objects from fresh perspectives, rendered in both color and black-and-white. ZEN photography, in contrast, embodies a philosophy of presence, mindfulness, and meditative creation. Her images often emphasize emptiness and stillness, inviting viewers to pause, breathe, and escape the constant rush of daily life.

A defining evolution in her work came with the discovery of Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), inspired by a desire to “photograph as Claude Monet painted.” She has long been captivated by the Impressionists and the Romantic works of J.M.W. Turner, drawn to their nuanced play of light, color, and form. ICM offered her a way to translate these painterly qualities into photography, a method she calls heart photography. Through this technique, she captures emotions and sensations rather than literal representations, creating images that feel dreamlike, fluid, and often magical.

While she initially believed that historic cities such as Venice, Rome, or Paris were especially suited for ICM due to their sense of timelessness, she now embraces urban environments, landscapes, and human subjects alike. Her guiding principle is that the perfect image is created in-camera. Beyond using an ND filter, she avoids additional tools, special camera programs, or heavy post-processing. Minimal editing is applied only when absolutely necessary, ensuring that each photograph reflects an unfiltered emotional and visual experience.

Cornelia's work invites viewers to linger, reflect, and immerse themselves in the fleeting beauty of a moment. Her images, sometimes reminiscent of Old Master paintings, emphasize sensation, mood, and essence over literal representation. They offer an escape into a world of light, color, and emotion, encouraging a pause in which the observer can experience the present fully.

Through her ongoing exploration of ICM, ZEN, and macro photography, Cornelia continues to push the boundaries of visual expression. Her work has been shown internationally, and she remains dedicated to creating images that enchant, move, and inspire, offering a contemplative glimpse into the harmony between observation and feeling.

https://corneliabienz.com
https://www.instagram.com/miss_icm

Aug 15 Cornelia B Bienz

Aug 15 Hans Tackenstrom

Aug 15 Kodi Beverlin