Fernweh: A Sense of Longing for a Far-Off Place
Solo Travel Is Where Self-Discovery Begins
Fernweh is a word that feels bigger than it sounds, and it sits at the heart of Julia Nimke’s work. It speaks to the feeling of being drawn to places long before you know them. A quiet pull toward somewhere unknown. A longing for light, colour and stories beyond our everyday lives.
As a travel and interiors photographer, Julia has explored some of the most beautiful places around the world. The experience of getting there matters most, not just the destination. Rather than documenting a location, she focuses on the experience of being there.
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“I look for small, imperfect moments that tell a story. They turn an image into something personal, something that belongs to my memory and not just the location.”
Julia Nimke
Belonging in the Unfamiliar
Photography gives Julia’s solo journeys a sense of purpose, turning wandering into something more intentional. With a camera in hand, she slows down and notices what others might pass by. Subtle details. Imperfections that make a place feel real.
The camera becomes a quiet companion. It brings a sense of confidence in unfamiliar streets and often sparks connection. A question, a brief exchange, a shared moment with someone new.
And in that instant, something shifts. The unfamiliar feels less distant. More like somewhere she belongs.
Through her lens, she is not just passing through, but stepping into a place. Collecting moments that stay with her long after the journey ends.
“When I travel, I don’t just photograph the expected, I look for a way into the scene.”
Julia Nimke
Julia’s Gear
For Julia, the camera needs to be light, intuitive and always within reach.
She works with the Leica Q3 and the Leica Q3 43, two compact cameras that support the way she sees. Small enough to carry everywhere, yet powerful enough to capture each moment with clarity and depth.
Built around simplicity rather than complexity, they let her focus on what’s in front of her. With fewer distractions, her attention stays on the scene, not the camera.
The two focal lengths shape how she sees a place:
Leica Q3 (28mm): wide and immersive, ideal for capturing atmosphere, interiors and a sense of being there.
Leica Q3 43 (43mm): offers a more natural perspective, ideal for details, portraits and quieter moments.
Together, they allow her to move between being part of a moment and observing it.
See Beyond the Destination
Julia’s way of seeing isn’t a formula, but a mindset.
In the following short videos, she shares simple ideas on working with light, noticing details and patterns, using foregrounds and becoming part of the frame through reflections and shadows.
Collecting Moments
When the journey ends, what remains are the moments collected along the way. The quiet details that might have gone unnoticed at the time, but stay long after. They shape how a place is remembered, not just visually, but emotionally.
Later, they find their place within a photobook. Together, they become more than individual images. They form a story that stays, a way of returning not to a place, but to the feeling of having been there.
About Julia Nimke
Julia Nimke is a Berlin-based travel and interiors photographer whose work is shaped by a deep connection to place. Her passion for photography began at a young age. She gained experience in the darkroom, learning how to develop film and print her own images. She later trained as a photographer, completing her professional training at 22.
Her work is driven by a curiosity for what lies beyond the familiar. She’s drawn to being outside, to moving through new environments and to noticing the small details that often go unseen. Rather than documenting a location, she focuses on what it feels like to be there.
Over time, this approach has led her to work with clients across travel, hospitality and lifestyle, including Belmond, Lufthansa, Condé Nast Traveller, Soho House and Mandarin Oriental. Her work has been recognised by the North American Travel Journalists Association and the Society of American Travel Writers as well as the Applied Arts Photography & Illustration Awards.
Her images focus on capturing moments that feel authentic.
