Hello and Welcome! šŸŒˆ

My name is Stefan, and I work in a public library. As a child and teenager, I was an avid reader, wrote small stories, and always dreamed of being surrounded by books. Thereā€™s something magical about shelves filled with stories, knowledge, and imagination - which is why Iā€™ve even built my own library at home. Over the years, my interests shifted and I took various paths, but through a few detours, I found my way back to the library world. It still feels like Iā€™m on a lifelong journey to discover who I am.

I was born in a German socialist country that no longer exists, known to me mostly through stories and the memories of others. I was raised with ideals that seem out of place today, sharply contrasting with capitalism. Itā€™s strange to watch memorabilia and ephemera from that era slowly vanish, even though they once held so much meaning. Itā€™s peculiar how weā€™re shaped by ideas, places, and people weā€™ve never met, all while trying to carve out our own niche and identity - and still wondering, ā€œWho am I, and what is life really about?ā€ (Yes, melancholia is no stranger to me.)

Identity is a fragile concept and a theme thatā€™s followed me for quite some time, especially as a gay person. My journey of self-discovery has been deeply influenced by my love for literature, history, technology, and creative expression - with all its depths and highs.

What does this look like?

I studied history and philosophy, and Iā€™m fascinated by the patterns that repeat throughout time. Maybe thatā€™s what drew me to photography: a way to capture fleeting moments. I find joy in the tangible nature of analog photography - thereā€™s a unique beauty in capturing moments on film. I love photographing small details others might overlook, nature, landscapes, fleeting impressions of light, and sometimes taking pictures just for the sake of it. My old GDR and Soviet cameras are trusty companions, along with my Polaroid and Lomography experiments, where every shot is a surprise.

My love of writing and literature has led me to co-organize a queer reading stage with curated readings and open mic events. I also volunteer with AG Queer Lichtenberg when I can.

In the digital realm, Iā€™m an advocate for Linux and open-source software. I love tinkering with different distributions and exploring the vast Linux ecosystem. I co-organize a Linux User Group and volunteer with the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE), believing in the importance of free software and usersā€™ rights to control their digital lives.

My curiosity extends to the technical side of the internetā€”domains, DNS, and ICANN topics (I worked for a domain registrar for several years). Iā€™m always eager to learn more about how the web works and the intricacies of digital identity. Iā€™m also a Pythonista at heart, though Iā€™ve stepped back from programming lately to enjoy other aspects of life. Still, it remains a valuable tool for me.

I hope to share my passions, insights, and experiences hereā€”even if itā€™s just for myselfā€”as I explore literature, photography, history, technology, and gaming. I have a ton of ideas, but turning them into coherent sentences is another story. Sometimes itā€™s prose, sometimes lists, sometimes stories about my life, work, or photography - or maybe just a few sentences when my mood is low.

If youā€™ve made it this far, thank you for stopping by! Feel free to reach out - whether you want to talk books, cameras, code, or just say hi.

blog (at) analog.berlin

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XMPP: stefan@jabber.analog.red

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