Always with Quality, Attitude, and Heart

By Ulla Büchner

Thorsten was ALWAYS there. When I started at imago 25 years ago, his first boxes of slides were on the light table: the familiar brown of St. Pauli, the bright red of the tennis sand court, flashing drops of sweat in the boxing ring, plays of light and shadow from the Volkspark. I waited impatiently for each new delivery of his analog treasures. Thorsten’s art was always special, his signature unmistakable for me. Many photos are a true feast for the eyes. How did he do it, how could only he see it? Thorsten Baering had the eye, the flair. The highest quality in his pictures. A creative virtuoso.

And a man of the heart. In an industry that needs people like him as a filter to cleanse itself. Thorsten was honest, humane, fair, open, curious and very approachable. Thorsten was ALWAYS there for me, right from the start. He guided me through the photographer’s jungle, built bridges for me across professional valleys and never put a foot wrong. Thorsten Baering was “my Baering”, my telephone joker. Thorsten was kind-hearted.
And Thorsten had attitude. He questioned some of imago’s ways, yet he fought for us, argued with colleagues and often despaired at the egotism of his profession. He ALWAYS stood by imago – for 25 years, with over 110,000 images.

“We still believe, it’s coming home, football’s coming home … Here’s Thorsten …” – First the anthem on the line, then him on the phone – never again, but ALWAYS in my heart. Unforgotten for all of us at imago.

A fine person has gone, far too soon.

Ulla Büchner on behalf of all at IMAGO