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Name: Daniela Skrzypczak

Occupation: Photographer, Publisher

Book: Among others: "Gesichter des Lebens" 2022, "Gesichter des Lebens" Invictus Games 2023

How did you come up with the idea for this unusual project?



It was an idea in the shower. I'm a very spontaneous person and originally wanted to photograph older people in retirement homes. My son was in the army himself for 13 years and suggested I take portraits of his comrades because I was different from the others. I read about the psychological problems that soldiers suffer after deployments abroad and their struggle to be recognised afterwards. So I decided to pay attention to these people and give them a face. I wanted to show people appreciation. 

The project has been running since October 2020 and since then I have taken portraits of around 140 people, including some members of the Invictus Games team from 2020 / 2022. This year 2022 also saw the publication of the first large photo book "Gesichter des Lebens", which contains around 600 photos. 

Last year, I photographed the entire 2023 team from the start of the training sessions. The illustrated book  "Gesichter des Lebens" - Invictus Games 2023" contains around 900 photographs of the German team and the 21 other nations. We wanted to create something lasting for the team and for the people, and we've done that. The photo book remains and their moments remain. If they are not feeling well, they can pick up the photo book and it can help them to get out of their slump a little better.  "Gesichter des Lebens" is not just two people, it is perhaps a growing movement and some people are involved. Mr Görlich was deputy chairman of the German Armed Forces Association until 2021 and is on the board of the Soldiers Veterans Foundation. He also became an author through the project and co-wrote the illustrated book. He is also a "photo assistant" (laughs). 

Everything is planned in the Bundeswehr, but not here. With "Faces of Life" there are no functions, everything "falls into the door" and then we just do it and see if it works.

"Faces of life is love, life and passion".

You had the  "Gesichter des Lebens" exhibition in Düsseldorf at the same time as the Invictus Games.

Yes, that was the plan, it was supposed to be your way to Düsseldorf with the team. We asked Klaus Voussem, member of the state parliament, to support us with our enquiry and he was very happy to do so. André Kupper then wanted to show the exhibition in his building for three weeks. Every member of the German team took part with at least one photograph. The photos were 2.50 x 1.50 metres in size. 

The team opened their photo exhibition together with their families and the President of the State Parliament. The patron, Mr Laubenthal, Deputy Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, came himself, also a face of life. Some politicians came, the Soldiers' Veterans Foundation, the German Hardship Foundation .... At the end of the exhibition, Mr Görlich and I signed the photos and everyone in the team got their photo to take home.

Can you summarise the message of  "Gesichter des Lebens" Invictus Games 2023? 

Show the world your face. With you, for you, together. People with mental illness in particular see themselves in a situation in which they do sport and in which they are strong. They give their best and that makes them happy. For me, the team always took centre stage. It was a cohesion, a growth, a solidarity, a team.  "Gesichter des Lebens" is love, life, passion. Giving people perception. 

A person cries with joy and says: Dani, please keep taking pictures."

Is there a special moment in Düsseldorf that you remember? 

Two people photographed for 8 hours every day, from the opening to the end. That's pure concentration, tunnel vision, moments of the heart, full concentration on getting the best out of it, namely for an illustrated book. An illustrated book that has never been done before. I was right in the middle of it and was able to capture moments of people who have achieved something they never expected. It does something to them. A person cries with joy and says, Dani, please keep taking pictures; that has to do with deep trust and you can see that in all the photos and especially in the resulting photo book. The illustrated book was made possible by the support of the German Armed Forces Reservists Association. The illustrated book is a gift edition - not for sale. 

"Never in my life did I intend to photograph people in the Bundeswehr."

Will you also be travelling to the Invictus Games in Canada?

I'm a person who lives in the here and now and doesn't make long-term plans. I never intended to photograph people in the Bundeswehr. Now I'm doing it. I'm not interested in uniforms, I take portraits of people. I have photographed the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Mr Breuer, and his deputy, Mr Laubenthal, and the shootings and interviews with both of them are on a great human basis. 

If we all do something together, we can walk through this world a little more peacefully again. 

Links to the project: 

www.gesichter-des-lebens.de

Vocko und Andreas Rückewoldt in Den Haag ©Daniela Skrzypczak, Gesichter des Lebens

©Daniela Skrzypczak, Gesichter des Lebens

Aus dem Bildband: Die deutsche Mannschaft auf der Bühne der Invictus Games in Düsseldorf

©Daniela Skrzypczak, Gesichter des Lebens