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Michelle
Michelle
Severin Jakob
December 29, 2025
A chance encounter, a common theme and that particular early morning mood: Severin Jakob used these elements to produce a series that draws the eye to the essential. He spoke with us and explained how it all came about.
LFI: Who is the protagonist in your pictures and what makes her special?
I met Michelle rather by chance – at the precise time when I was given the opportunity to try out the Leica Q3 43 in advance for Leica, and was able to use it to realise various projects. So, I didn’t really know her at first; then a friend introduced us.
I had always been impressed by anyone who swims every day in Lake Zurich, whatever the weather. When Michelle and I spoke together, we got to talking about swimming, and I immediately thought that could be the basis for a lovely picture series. The thing that struck me straight away about Michelle was her open, warm-hearted and spontaneous manner. When I asked her to be involved in the project, she didn’t hesitate.
What was the mood you wanted to achieve with this series, and how did you convey it into the photographs?
I wanted to work with a reduced visual language and allow the viewer plenty of room for their own thoughts. The picture are supposed to trigger positive emotions and longings – for quiet, for nature, for moments just for yourself. I conveyed this into the pictures, by deliberately leaving things out rather than adding. Little distraction, restrained colours and a quiet atmosphere. The compositions are kept open so that the mood can unfold and the viewer can slip into them, without visual overload.
The series does really have a very harmonious colour scheme. Did you use a particular time of day or lighting?
It was clear to me from the very start that I wanted to photograph in the early morning. At that time of day, Lake Zurich is like a shimmering carpet and the mood is very dreamy, calm and almost magical. Furthermore, we had clouds during the shoot. That was perfect, because it meant that the sunbeams were visible, as they gradually broke through the morning mist. That’s exactly the feeling that I wanted to capture – the moment when the day begins.
Were there particular challenges when photographing at and in the water?
Not really. Just one, which of course has to do with the water: if I had a specific angle or image in mind, I had to find a way to position Michelle so that it would work, while also finding a stable position in or above the water from which I could take the picture. It was a bit of a balancing act at times, but that’s exactly what makes photography in real locations so exciting.
Danilo RößgerLFI: Who is the protagonist in your pictures and what makes her special?
I met Michelle rather by chance – at the precise time when I was given the opportunity to try out the Leica Q3 43 in advance for Leica, and was able to use it to realise various projects. So, I didn’t really know her at first; then a friend introduced us.
I had always been impressed by anyone who swims every day in Lake Zurich, whatever the weather. When Michelle and I spoke together, we got to talking about swimming, and I immediately thought that could be the basis for a lovely picture series. The thing that struck me straight away about Michelle was her open, warm-hearted and spontaneous manner. When I asked her to be involved in the project, she didn’t hesitate.
What was the mood you wanted to achieve with this series, and how did you convey it into the photographs?
I wanted to work with a reduced visual language and allow the viewer plenty of room for their own thoughts. The picture are supposed to trigger positive emotions and longings – for quiet, for nature, for moments just for yourself. I conveyed this into the pictures, by deliberately leaving things out rather than adding. Little distraction, restrained colours and a quiet atmosphere. The compositions are kept open so that the mood can unfold and the viewer can slip into them, without visual overload.
The series does really have a very harmonious colour scheme. Did you use a particular time of day or lighting?
It was clear to me from the very start that I wanted to photograph in the early morning. At that time of day, Lake Zurich is like a shimmering carpet and the mood is very dreamy, calm and almost magical. Furthermore, we had clouds during the shoot. That was perfect, because it meant that the sunbeams were visible, as they gradually broke through the morning mist. That’s exactly the feeling that I wanted to capture – the moment when the day begins.
Were there particular challenges when photographing at and in the water?
Not really. Just one, which of course has to do with the water: if I had a specific angle or image in mind, I had to find a way to position Michelle so that it would work, while also finding a stable position in or above the water from which I could take the picture. It was a bit of a balancing act at times, but that’s exactly what makes photography in real locations so exciting.
ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE: © Severin Jakob
EQUIPMENT: Leica Q3 43 with APO-Summicron 43 f/2 Asph
LFI 1.2026+-
Jakob’s portfolio on space research in Switzerland can be found in LFI Magazine 1.2026. More
Severin Jakob+-
The Swiss photographer hasa keen sense for the unassuming and the authentic. Raised in Emmental and now based in Zurich, he has been working freelance on portraits, reportages and editorials since 2015. His interest in his fellow human beings and their lives shapes his work, as does his appreciation for the mundane. With a calm and objective imagery, he transforms small details into pictures with genuine intimacy and depth. More
