FOOTBALL IS BOTH CULTURE AND ART

December 17, 2024

Berlin-based photographer Lucas Dill talks to The Atlantic Dispatch about life in the German Capital, his influences and his latest vintage football shirt photography project.

I WANTED TO EXCEL

I spent the early years of my life in Indonesia and then grew up mostly between Brazil and Germany. I got into photography about 12 years ago as a hobby after getting my hands on an old Zenit analogue camera from the 1950s. I enjoyed snapping photos and seeing the results—it felt a bit like time-travelling.

Over time, what started as an interest turned into a passion. I began taking it more seriously, investing in better gear, and working on more project-oriented photography. I wanted to excel, so I dove deep into the theory and practice of photography and have been immersed in it ever since.

SUBTLE AND INVITES YOU TO PAUSE

I’ve always drawn inspiration from various artists and aspects of life, though it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how they’ve shaped my style. For one, I admire Sibylle Bergemann’s fashion and documentary work for its blend of realism with a subtle melancholic vibe.

I also admire Ernst Haas for his use of colour and William Eggleston for his ability to uncover something extraordinary in the mundane, everyday world. I’m particularly drawn to Neue Sachlichkeit’s (New Objectivity) philosophy, which emphasises objectivity and raw, almost cold realism.

What resonates most with me is photography, which doesn’t reveal everything at first glance. It’s not flashy or obvious, and it’s often not Instagram-friendly. Instead, it’s subtle and invites you to pause and sit with it for a while. That’s something I aim to incorporate into my own work.

CHALLENGING AND INSPIRING

No city is perfect, and Berlin can be challenging in many ways, but it’s a place that generally allows you to be yourself. Here, it’s less about status and more about expressing yourself and finding your voice.

The city attracts a certain type of person—those who crave expression and want to create—resulting in a vibrant, bustling creative scene.

Berlin is full of talented artists and photographers, which can be challenging and inspiring. It pushes you to grow.

Another thing I love about Berlin is its eclectic nature; there’s a place for every niche and every type of person. Plus, it offers great, still relatively affordable restaurants.

FOOTBALL IS BOTH CULTURE AND ART

Football has always been my greatest passion until photography came into the picture. I’m a passionate kit collector and self-proclaimed football nerd, but football has always felt like a separate part of my life.

Compared to São Paulo, where I used to live, football in Berlin feels much more niche, making it a bit harder to express this passion here. Still, I’ve always wanted to combine my two worlds—photography and football—in a way that feels authentic to me and my visual language. I’ve recently started putting some of those ideas into practice.

Football is both culture and art, on and off the pitch. I find that incredibly fascinating, not just from a visual perspective—focusing on kit design and aesthetics—but also through a documentary and storytelling lens, exploring fan culture and football as an expression of identity. This intersection is what inspires me.

At the end of the day, it’s really about having fun and bringing together the things I love most.