“How do I see photography today? As a vast universe that goes far beyond the image itself.”
A key voice in contemporary photography and judge of our Open Call Award, Carol Körting has helped shape the genre of visual storytelling for close to a decade and a half as Photo Editor of Leica Fotografie International (LFI) magazine.
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Körting began her career as a freelance photographer before studying photo editing at the Ostkreuz Schule für Fotografie in Berlin, Germany. She joined Leica Fotografie International (LFI) magazine as photo editor in 2011 and has since produced and shaped countless photographic projects for the publication and its online platform.
A professional portfolio reviewer, Körting has served as part of the jury at numerous photography festivals and competitions. She has also collaborated as a photo editor at Der Freitag and Zeit-Magazin, and given talks in Mexico, Colombia, Italy, and Malaysia, as well as presentations on self-promotion tools at the VII Masterclass in Berlin.
Ahead of our annual Open Call Award (open for entries until the end of the month), for which she will serve as a judge, we spoke with Körting about her career, what she looks for in a photograph, and her advice for emerging photographers.
When did you first become interested in photography, and what drew you to it?
CK: I have always been interested in images, especially because I’ve never been a numbers person. Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated by metal magazines, family albums, and all kinds of photographs. In Bogotá, we lived very close to two photo labs, and in the surrounding streets, my sister and I would find random photos, which we collected and grouped by theme.
Thanks to my mother’s camera and a photographer friend who taught me the basics, I began photographing people on the streets of Bogotá. Developing and enlarging my own photos was the moment I truly fell in love with photography.
You started as a photographer before moving into editing. What led to that shift, and how did it shape the way you see photography today?
CK: Before working as a photographer, I studied web design. During one of my internships, my supervisors noticed I had a talent for selecting photos and images. At the time, I didn’t give it much thought and began working as a photographer thanks to my first job for a German magazine called DeBug.
CK: I felt it would be a good idea to strengthen my knowledge of photography, so I took a one-year photo editing course at Ostkreuz Schule. That opened up an incredibly rich world: I started working with Der Freitag, LFI, and Zeit Magazin. It wasn’t only the world of art and the many forms of photographic expression that opened up to me, but also the understanding of how to make a living from photography and move images beyond your own computer. How do I see photography today? As a vast universe that goes far beyond the image itself.
At Leica Fotografie International, what qualities make a photo story or photographer stand out to you, and what makes their work truly memorable?
CK: The projects that stand out are strong, cohesive series with a recognizable style where you can clearly see the artist’s signature. They deal with subjects or present images that are hard to forget, whether because of composition, theme, or technique.
It’s not only the quality of the work but also the quality of the person that makes it very memorable, a complete package of qualities.
As judge of our Open Call Award, what advice would you give to photographers hoping to make the strongest impression?
CK: Remember that judges spend every day looking at, selecting, and evaluating photography, and in our free time, we continue to consume even more images and content, so the level is high. You should definitely submit your very best work.
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The Independent Photographer, 2025 Open Call Award is open for entries until October 31. Submit your work here.