Sometimes a photography workshop takes a completely different direction from what was originally planned. And often, those unexpected developments make the day particularly interesting.

"Just Feel Good" was photographed on a late summer day in the charming little old town of Herdecke in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

The original plan was to focus on portrait photography, with a touch of lifestyle. The historic surroundings, with their traditional half-timbered houses, offered plenty of opportunities and a distinctive atmosphere.

When Portrait Photography Turns into Fashion

But as sometimes happens during a workshop, things began to develop a life of their own.

What started as a portrait session gradually turned into fashion photography. And not traditional fashion photography, either, but something modern, youthful and confident.

Our model Raffaela was wearing a striking red outfit whose clean silhouette and vibrant colour immediately caught the eye.

There was just one little problem: the location didn't quite match.

The historic half-timbered houses of Herdecke certainly provided an attractive backdrop, but to my eye, they seemed somewhat at odds with the contemporary fashion aesthetic.

However, the participants were enjoying themselves and wanted to explore their ideas. And after all, that's exactly what a photography workshop should be about.

The customer is king – even when high fashion meets a historic German old town. 😉

A Photographer Can't Resist Taking a Few Shots

Of course, I also took a few photographs during the workshop.

Not because I wanted to create an extensive series of my own, but mainly to demonstrate certain aspects of lighting, perspective and composition to the participants.

That's how this photograph of Raffaela came about.

Her relaxed yet confident pose, the striking outfit and the late summer sunlight worked beautifully together. The image had exactly the sense of ease that I associate with modern fashion photography.

Only the background remained a small visual compromise for me.

An Idea That Needed a Little Time

When I returned to the photograph later, that contrast caught my attention once again.

Raffaela's pose worked. The lighting was right. The outfit had a strong visual presence.

But the historic setting seemed to tell a different story from the model and her clothes.

I began to wonder how the photograph might feel if Raffaela were standing not in front of a half-timbered house, but in a modern urban environment.

Somewhere that complemented the outfit, echoed its colours and almost suggested the atmosphere of a fashion show.

And that was where the idea for a new artistic interpretation began.

When the Setting Tells a Different Story

For the Painterly interpretation of "Just Feel Good", I didn't simply want to give the original photograph a painterly appearance.

I wanted to transform the entire atmosphere of the image.

Raffaela and her outfit would remain the centre of attention. The historic surroundings, however, could disappear completely.

Because sometimes it's not the subject itself that needs a new interpretation, but the world surrounding it.

From the Old Town to the Fashion Runway

For the new visual setting, I deliberately chose a modern urban environment that complemented Raffaela's outfit in both colour and design.

With the help of AI, I created a new backdrop that became the foundation for my Painterly interpretation.

I had a particular vision in mind: the scene should almost feel like something from the world of fashion shows.

Not a realistic depiction of a runway, but an artistic environment where fashion, colour and architecture blend together.

The new surroundings were meant to enhance Raffaela's presence rather than compete with it.

When Colour Takes the Stage

What I particularly enjoy is the interplay of bold colours.

The vibrant red-orange of her outfit meets intense shades of blue, bright areas of light and warm yellow accents.

What was originally dominated by dark timber beams and white facades now develops a completely different visual energy.

The environment becomes more abstract, more contemporary and much more closely connected to the fashion itself.

At the same time, the image moves away from its documentary origins and gains a new sense of artistic freedom.

Between Fashion and Painting

In the Painterly interpretation, the clear photographic structures give way to an expressive painterly visual language.

Shapes become simplified, colours grow more intense and the transitions between the model and her surroundings become more fluid.

Raffaela's pose remains the connecting element between both versions.

Her relaxed posture continues to convey confidence and ease. Yet while she is part of an everyday street scene in the original photograph, she now appears almost like a figure from a contemporary fashion painting.

And for me, that transformation is precisely what makes the interpretation so fascinating.

Two Visual Worlds, One Feeling

"Just Feel Good" demonstrates how differently the same photographic moment can be experienced.

The original photograph tells the story of a late summer workshop, an unexpected shift towards fashion photography and a relaxed moment with Raffaela.

The Painterly interpretation takes that moment out of its original surroundings and gives it a new stage.

A photograph taken in a historic old town becomes a vibrant, contemporary fashion-inspired artwork.

What remains is the feeling that was already present in the original: confidence, lightness and the simple joy of being yourself.

And perhaps that's exactly why the title fits so well: "Just Feel Good".

Discover "Just Feel Good" as Wall Art

The Painterly interpretation of "Just Feel Good" is also available as Wall Art. Its bold colours, contemporary fashion aesthetic and expressive painterly style give the artwork a distinctive presence.

Discover "Just Feel Good" in my PICTRS Art Shop.

Explore more stories about the creation of my photographs and their artistic interpretations in my Behind the Art project.

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