In I Am a Stranger in This Country Berlin-based photograph Frederik Rüegger shows us pictures from the two years he spent visiting the Roma and Traveller communities in Britain and Ireland. The book’s title is a nod to his reflects his status as a foreigner abroad and the Travellers as outsiders in British and Irish society.
“When I shoot I like to be invisible most of the time,” he says. “I want the moment to be the most natural. My aim is to provide an intimate and authentic portrayal of Traveller communities and to capture moments that reveal both the beauty of their culture and the challenges they face.”
“This photo [above] was taken at the Appleby horse fair. It’s one of my favourites in the book because there’s so much to discover. A good photo, to me, isn’t easy to understand – it’s like a riddle that might never be fully solved. It leaves space for speculation and imagination. I love that three generations are present in this single frame. The image feels almost from another time – certain elements, like the stroller, appear antique. I find that romantic, especially in contrast to how quickly everything else is evolving in our world today. Maybe that’s why I still shoot on film.”
– Frederik Rüegger, who became interested in the Traveller community after boxer Tyson Fury became boxing world champion in 2014 and declared himself “The Gypsy King”
“To me, photographing is 99% waiting and anticipating. But when all the stars finally align, beautiful things can happen. This photo, for me, brings together elements of fashion and documentary photography – two worlds I actively work in. I’m drawn to the effortless spontaneity of a snapshot, especially when it meets the elegance and extravagance of fashion”
– Frederik Rüegger
“Travellers are often stigmatised, and referred to as aggressive, closed or unfriendly. I didn’t experience any of that. On the contrary, I was welcomed and accepted”
– Rüegger
“As a documentary photographer, my work revolves around the profound and complex diversity of human culture. Each of my pictures is part of a larger narrative that captures and conveys the essences of communities and traditions, as well as the subtle interplay between history and modernity. My camera serves as both a tool and a witness.”
“When I came across this boy, I was struck by the power of the moment. The casual way he held his gun and walked his dog made him seem like an adult already. But as I began photographing, I started to sense the vulnerability and shyness beneath the surface. To me, photography is largely about understanding and learning from one another – a constant pull and push, like yin and yang. It’s about empathy, not just about pulling the trigger.”
– Frederik Rüegger
The book features an essay from Gerry Badger:
“The general ambience at horse fairs is a magnet for the photographer of a street photography persuasion. Rüegger’s vibrant, complex images capture all the excitement and social interaction in the country towns where Travellers traditionally meet – to display and trade horses but also to engage in a wide range of cultural activities, including selling other goods and making music together.”
“My work centres around the profound and intricate tapestry of human culture. Each photograph I take is a fragment of a larger reality, one that seeks to capture and convey the essence of communities, traditions and the subtle interplay of history and modernity.”
– Frederik Rüegger
Frederik Rüegger: I Am a Stranger in This Country is published by Kehrer Verlag
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