Wildlife, Macro, Landscape, Travel, Events
Sarah Wolf photographs the world with an open eye – from a dragonfly on a reed to the night sky over Norway. The photographer, known as Sunshine Photography, has made Hamburg her photographic home. Her work spans wildlife and macro, landscape, events and street photography.
Q Photographing the northern lights means travelling, waiting, and often disappointment. What drew you to it – and what was the most magical moment?
Two years ago, when I started getting intensively into photography, it was nature photography above all that captivated me with all its possibilities. That's when I also consciously started engaging with the northern lights – and since then this natural spectacle has had me completely under its spell. Now, Germany doesn't exactly offer the best conditions for observing the northern lights, let alone photographing them. That only made my desire to see them and capture them the way I imagined even stronger. Last year and into early 2026, there were increasingly more opportunities in Germany to witness the spectacle.
In January 2026, conditions were finally ideal after several previous attempts that came to nothing. Already on the drive to the spot, I could see the light display in the sky from the car and was immediately captivated. I could hardly wait until the camera was finally on the tripod and my first shots were in the bag. That was already a truly wonderful and unforgettable moment.
About four weeks later I travelled to northern Norway with my partner – a very important trip for me. At various locations, perfect conditions came together for observing and photographing the northern lights. Every time I looked up at the night sky, it was simply magical. In those moments, the times when it doesn't work out don't weigh very heavily at all.
Q The world of spiders and insects is completely different from landscape or street photography. What fascinates you about it – what do you see there that others overlook?
Yes, it's a completely different kind of photography, because everything unfolds within a small space. But that makes it all the more exciting when you look more closely at what's happening in the small and usually hidden world around us – and that's exactly what fascinates me about it. Making this part of nature visible and presenting it aesthetically, and perhaps inspiring others to look more carefully and perceive the environment and nature more consciously. There's also one great advantage: you don't have to travel far – the meadow around the corner is usually enough to discover a great deal. I also observe animal behaviour here, for example how a dragonfly sunbathes on a reed or a spider builds its web. There is so much to discover.
Q You photograph a lot in and around Hamburg. What makes the city photographically interesting for you?
In autumn 2024 I moved north and discovered Hamburg in the process. I immediately noticed that this city has so much to offer and that I can develop myself photographically here very well. From urban life with countless great photo spots, great sporting events, many parks and forests, right through to the many folk festivals – the city simply has so much to offer.
Q You photograph out of passion but also for clients. Does something change when someone is paying – do you work differently, see differently?
First and foremost, photography is an honest passion for me, because it allows me to express my creativity and my view of the things around me. On the question of whether something changes when I photograph for a client or whether I work differently, I can only answer that I am always there with full passion and I make no distinction – because in my eyes anything else would not be honest and authentic.
Every time I looked up at the night sky, it was simply magical.
Q Which image cost you the most – patience, weather, nerves?
I don't think it's one particular image that has cost a lot in terms of execution, but rather certain situations or conditions that demand a great deal.
Q Which image – yours or someone else's – has genuinely moved you recently, and why?
Honestly, I can't give a definitive answer to this question, because I greatly appreciate the work of many other artists and photographers. It's usually more the work behind it – how the image or the project came to be – and you can feel how much heart and soul the person put into it.
Q What should people feel when they see your work?
I want my work to touch people, move them and stay with them.
Q What would you tell your younger self – the one just starting out behind the camera, not yet knowing where the journey leads?
A very interesting question. I myself am still quite young and have learned so much in the years that I have now been photographing. What I would pass on to my younger self is: always stay curious, be authentic, and simply have fun.
