Augmented Reality

Every photograph begins with reality, yet reality is never limited to what reveals itself at first glance. It is shaped not only by what is visible, but also by perception, memory, and our ability to connect seemingly unrelated elements. What we see is always an interpretation of the world around us. The photographs in this series deliberately explore this tension. Encounters between people, architecture, light, shadow, and street art challenge familiar ways of seeing and open new layers of meaning. Painted figures appear to engage with passersby, walls continue the movement of the human body, and shadows seem to acquire a life of their own. The ordinary begins to lose its certainty, making space for new readings of reality.

Some of these visual constellations are discovered by chance and captured at precisely the right moment. Others are carefully orchestrated, with people intentionally placed within existing urban environments to interact with murals, architectural structures, or found visual elements. The staging does not create a new reality. Instead, it reveals the narrative potential already embedded within the spaces we inhabit. In this way, documentation and artistic intervention do not oppose one another; they become complementary approaches to exploring the same world.

"Expanded Reality" is therefore not about the contrast between documentation and staging. It emerges where observation and intervention meet in dialogue. The camera becomes both an instrument of discovery and a tool of creation, preserving those fleeting moments in which reality and imagination briefly merge into a single visual experience. These photographs do not offer fixed narratives, creating spaces for associations and the coexistence of humor, ambiguity, poetry, and social observation. They invite viewers to question what appears familiar and to reconsider the fragile boundary between the real and the imagined. What first seems self-evident gradually unfolds into multiple layers of meaning, revealing that every image contains more than it initially discloses.

It is through perception that individual visual elements become connected, forming new narratives and unexpected relationships. "Expanded Reality" is created not only in front of the camera, but also within the mind of the viewer. Place, time, perspective, and human presence combine to create a visual language that does not escape everyday life but transforms the way we experience it. Photography thus becomes more than a means of documentation. It becomes a way of seeing, one that uncovers hidden connections and draws attention to what often goes unnoticed. Rather than presenting reality as something fixed and absolute, these works suggest that it is open, fluid, and constantly redefined by the act of looking. The expanded reality presented in these photographs is not created through digital augmentation, but through a transformed way of seeing what has always been there.

Fondament has selected Walter Vogel for the Instagram feature “Bildgespräche” (“Image Conversations”) within the collaborative project and open call "Ich seh' etwas, was du nicht siehst." In the frame of this Artist Feature, we've asked her some questions to lift the veil and reveal the backstory behind her series’ opening image.

What do most people notice at first glance when they look at this image?

Most people first notice the two people relaxing in front of the tent. Only after a moment do they see the dinosaur in the background.

What is something that people often overlook?

Many people overlook the irony. The dinosaur looks scary, but it is actually a harmless plant-eater.

Which detail is most important to you, and why?

The dinosaur is the most important detail to me. I find it funny that both the dinosaur and the people seem rather heavy-set, creating a humorous picture of the future.

What reality does this image bring to light?

The image humorously reflects today's comfortable lifestyle and encourages us to think about our habits.

What do you hope people will take away after seeing this image?

I hope people notice the hidden irony and remember that first impressions can be misleading. The picture is funny, but it also makes you think.