“I was born and raised in the most northern rural area of Germany, between the North and Baltic Seas. The southern Bavarians call us Fish Heads. At this latitude, one can experience island life by the North Sea, or rural agriculture villages, or small harbor towns on the Baltic Sea fjords. Life in the Baltic is tough and hearty, and my connection with its nature runs deep. The forests, fields, lakes, oceans, and beaches have been my backyard since childhood. Photography was at first a hobby and a vehicle of expression in art class, but by the end of the ’80s it became my profession. The camera became an extension of myself, and my body became part of the process; it just fit with me, and I responded to its action and its timing. Moving to the U.S. in the beginning of the ’90s opened up many photographic possibilities. I started organizing adventure trips to shoot products where I could take the clients out of the cities and back out into nature. At the time, I lived between Europe and the U.S. I was everywhere, testing and pushing myself. The sky was the limit then, and adventure and action sports were growing into an industry of their own. Before long, the field evolved and became about breaking limits—the concept that man could challenge himself in ways you couldn’t have dreamed of in the past. Photographic technology has evolved so much, especially in recent years, and it is often hard to tell reality from truth. So I strive more than ever for authenticity. My photographs are of real events, of human endeavors, and the truth and shock of the frame.”

STOCKLAND MARTEL SAYS: Jorg’s photographs fuse precision and the untamable. Precision in that Jorg is both strategic and thorough in his preparation for a shoot, much the same way that an Olympian vigilantly prepares himself to perform at his best. The untamable part? That’s the best way we can think of to describe the spirit of Jorg’s photos. He can get inside of an athlete’s head and heart to express what drives them, what they are trying to achieve, and why it’s worth the fight to get there. And he can harness the unspeakable beauty of a natural landscape so that we, too, can experience the state of awe that viewing it in person inspired. In fact, it’s essential to him that we feel as in awe of it as he did when he was there. Such is his sense of responsibility to nature. Often, Jorg shoots campaigns that combine these skills. Ads that capture the thrill of driving a snug, sporty convertible on a sun-bleached highway— wide-open powder-blue skies and mile-wide grins. A motorcyclist taking a bike out for an ecstatically dirt-spitting ride. Sluicing through sparkling snow on a pair of high-performance skis. The products are different each time, but at the heart of all of Jorg’s images is the humanity—the thrill of interacting with the product. For years, Jorg has been shooting video as well, a practice he is continuing now that technology has evolved so favorably. Something tells us we’re in for a wild ride—and we’re looking forward to it.