Photography & Telescopes
All the information at a glance
Shown here are examples of photos that have recently won awards in photo contests held by the German Photography Association (DVF)—the umbrella organization for club and direct members.
The DVF is synonymous with German amateur photography, and its offerings are aimed at beginners as well as advanced amateur photographers—and, last but not least, established semi-professionals and full-time professionals—through workshops, seminars, photo excursions, photo trips, and club meetings.
The official publication of the association is the DVF Journal.
Info: www.dvf-fotografie.de
Photo of the Month
“Setting Out in the Last Light of Evening” by Lutz Klapp of Schwalmstadt is one of the 12 winning photos in the 2025 DVF calendar contest (October page).
“Flight Over the Mudflats” by Gottfried Kalmbach of Nagold is one of the 12 winning photos in the 2025 DVF calendar contest (November page).
“Frog’s Eye” by Gerhard Schmidt of Illingen is one of the 12 winning photos in the 2025 DVF calendar contest (June page).
“Caribbean Dream Beach” by Roland Kennerknecht of Karlstadt is one of the 12 winning photos in the 2025 DVF calendar contest (September page).
“Anja” by Jakob Messerschmidt of the Obersulm Photography Club (Fotoclub Obersulm e.V.) was awarded a certificate in Category 3 at the 2025 DVF Baden-Württemberg State Photography Exhibition.
“Snowy Owl” by Klaus Tesching, a direct member of the DVF, was awarded a certificate in Category AK3 at the 2025 DVF Baden-Württemberg State Photo Exhibition.
Photography magazines
... in Germany
Profifoto
Photography Culture and Photography Technology
(10 issues per year)
Black and White
The Fascination of Black-and-White Photos
(6 issues per year)
DVF Journal
Current Photo Scene
Association Magazine
(10 issues per year)
www.dvf-fotografie.de/dvf-journal
Photography Equipment
Spectaris Expert Group
A gathering place for manufacturers of professional camera systems, amateur cameras, and accessories—to discuss market trends, technologies, and shared interests in the imaging industry.
Telecommunications
Spectaris Expert Group
A platform for suppliers of binoculars, spotting scopes, and rifle scopes—with a focus on nature observation, birding, and hunting. A space for professional exchange and collaborative initiatives.
SPECTARIS Offers
& mySPECTARIS Groups
Security & Defense Working Group
Connects manufacturers of components and systems for civil security and defense technology—including discussions on markets, technologies, and political frameworks.
Customs,Export Control, and Foreign Trade PracticesWorking Group
Discusses current topics in customs law, export control, sanctions, and trade barriers. Additionally: the latest news, surveys, and announcements on the group platform.
Info Channel: Export Promotion Tools
Information platform on trade show support and market development programs. Not an official body, but ideal for anyone who wants to stay informed about foreign trade support programs.
Marketing Information Forum: A forum for discussing trends and challenges in marketing—featuring expert presentations, practical discussions, and optional workshops to explore specific topics in greater depth.
HR Information Forum: A forum for HR professionals to exchange ideas, featuring external input, such as from HR consultants at Kienbaum. Topics include securing skilled workers, recruiting, and employer branding.
AG Service
A platform for companies offering technical services—covering topics such as servitization, smart services, DPP, human resources, business models, and after-sales growth.
Cybersecurity Working Group
A cross-industry platform for developing a shared understanding of cybersecurity—with a focus on technical and regulatory developments.
Circular Economy Working Group: A working group focused on implementing regulatory requirements such as the Battery, Packaging, and Ecodesign Regulations, WEEE, and Green Claims. Discussion of practical examples and potential solutions.
Substance Regulation Working Group Addresses current and planned requirements in chemicals legislation—from REACH to RoHS. Focus: Substances used in members’ products.
Sustainability Working Group - Reporting
Steering Committee on Sustainability Reporting (e.g., CSRD, CSDDD, VSME). Focus: legal developments, practical implementation, and reduction of administrative burdens.
Become a Member
Become a Spectaris Member
You can become a member of our association here:
Event Calendar
Photo & Imaging Germany
Photo and Imaging Events in 2025
Once again this year, numerous photo and imaging events and trade shows invite you to marvel, try things out, and take your own photos. Here’s an overview of some of the most important photo events in Germany.
18th "horizonte zingst" Environmental Photography Festival.
Photo & Imaging Market, a flood of photos on the beach, seminars, workshops. Zingst, a Baltic Sea spa town.
zingst.de/horizonte-photo-festival
f² Dortmund Photo Festival
In exhibitions, photographers and artists, students, and members of the public explore different perspectives on chaos—its forms, causes, and manifestations.
bpp Summer Light Festival in Bad Honnef
The Association of Professional Portrait Photographers (BPP) is moving forward into the future with a new leadership team starting in 2025.
13th Oberstdorf Photo Summit 2025
Theme: Water. Workshops, seminars, a photo fair/photo & imaging market, and an extensive program of events centered on photography.
DVF exhibition for the “Water” competition.
13th Wiesbaden Photo Days 2025
“Future? What future?!”
Photographic Art/Documentary. The Wiesbaden Photo Days is a festival dedicated to contemporary artistic and documentary photography.
Monschau Photography Festival
The photography festival, featuring numerous exhibitions and events throughout the Euregio.
kuk-monschau.de/photography-festival-25
PHOTON
See, Hear, Learn at the Saarland Photo Festival, Photo & Imaging Market, Kulturforum Illipse, 66557 Illingen.
1. Imaging World 2025
“Create. Explore. Have Fun.” at the Nuremberg Trade Fair.
Projects, workshops on action, street, and macro photography, analog photography, AI, the photo and imaging market, and accessories.
25th International Nature Photography Festival in Lünen
Nature Photographers of the Year 2025, Photo & Imaging Market, Heinz-Hilpert Theater, Lünen, 44532 Lünen.
93rd German Photography Championship 2025
Akademiehotel, 01109 Dresden, DVF National Convention, DFM Awards Ceremony and Exhibition, Gala Evening.
20th WunderWelten Festival
Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. Lectures, photo and imaging fair, supporting program.
Fernweh Festival 2025
Multivision presentations, workshops, seminars, photo and imaging fair. Erlangen.
6th Freinsheim Photo Days 2025
Von-Busch-Hof Freinsheim. Workshops and presentations, photo and imaging fair.
8th Pirmasens Photo Days 2025 Now Called “FOTOTAGEkompakt”
Alte Post Cultural Forum. Exhibitions, slideshows, lectures.
Trade Shows
& Trade Show Partnerships
Imaging World (Nuremberg)
Imaging World is specifically aimed at professionals in the photography and imaging industry. The event focuses on technical innovations, imaging ecosystems, and industry trends. For companies in the photography sector, it serves as a high-quality platform for networking, brand visibility, and partnerships across the imaging value chain.
JAGD & HUND (Dortmund)
Europe's largest hunting trade show is a must-attend event for companies that develop optical products for hunting and outdoor activities. With a strong focus on high-quality equipment, expert demonstrations, and an engaged audience, the trade show is an ideal venue for showcasing technical innovations and new designs.
IFA – International Radio Exhibition (Berlin)
IFA in Berlin is one of the world’s leading trade shows for consumer electronics, home appliances, and digital innovations. Since its founding in 1924, it has showcased the latest trends and technologies every year—from smart homes and TVs to AI-powered devices. With over 2,000 exhibitors from more than 130 countries, IFA is a key gathering place for industry professionals and tech enthusiasts.
IWA OutdoorClassics (Nuremberg)
The IWA is an international B2B trade show for hunting and sporting firearms, outdoor activities, and security—and thus also an important showcase for manufacturers of rifle scopes, telescopes, and observation equipment. Its focus exclusively on trade visitors makes it particularly attractive for sales, exports, and strategic partnerships.
OMR – Online Marketing Rockstars Festival (Hamburg)
The OMR Festival in Hamburg is one of Europe's largest digital and marketing trade shows. It brings together professional conferences, exhibitions, and networking events focused on digital marketing, technology, and innovation. With prominent speakers such as Kim Kardashian and Jeff Koons, the OMR attracts over 70,000 visitors each year.
The High Hunting and Fishing Authority (Salzburg)
This long-standing trade show is a key platform for suppliers of binoculars, rifle scopes, and outdoor optics in the Alpine region. Of particular importance is the close interaction with a target audience with strong purchasing power from the hunting, nature observation, and fishing communities—ranging from end customers to specialty retailers.
Your Contacts
What Our Members Say
Reliance on a regulatory early-warning system
“It’s astonishing how many regulatory requirements are imposed on us by Berlin and, above all, by Brussels. To help us as a company navigate these challenges, we rely on timely guidance from our association and on effective support during implementation. SPECTARIS excels in this regard.”
Falk Friedrich, Managing Director of Leica Camera Deutschland GmbH
SPECTARIS is a network booster
“Exchanging ideas with colleagues from other companies and related industries is very helpful in finding the best solutions for your own company. Photographic technology, remote sensing, ophthalmic optics, photonics, and laboratory technology have many similarities—sometimes in sales, sometimes in technology. At SPECTARIS, they all come together, which is another reason why NOBLEX E-Optics is a member.”
Thorsten Kortemeier, Managing Director of NOBLEX E-Optics and spokesperson for the Photographic Technology and Telescope Optics technical groups
