<strong>People matching artwork</strong>: Museum-hopper and photographer Stefan Draschan wanders galleries, keeping an eye out for people unintentionally matching the art they're observing. He's amassed a collection of striking photographs of people coordinating with art in museums across the world.
People matching artwork: Museum-hopper and photographer Stefan Draschan wanders galleries, keeping an eye out for people unintentionally matching the art they're observing. He's amassed a collection of striking photographs of people coordinating with art in museums across the world.
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>New beginnings</strong>: Draschan only branched into photography recently after a series of different jobs. "I just started photographing four years ago, I didn't know that this is a talent of mine," he says. "I had a bar, I was a teacher, I was a journalist, so I just did not know that photography was something for me."
New beginnings: Draschan only branched into photography recently after a series of different jobs. "I just started photographing four years ago, I didn't know that this is a talent of mine," he says. "I had a bar, I was a teacher, I was a journalist, so I just did not know that photography was something for me."
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>New hobby</strong>: Draschan says he picked up photography almost by accident: "When I quit smoking I started photographing," he says. "I needed something in my hand. I used first an iPhone and I just took random photographs."
New hobby: Draschan says he picked up photography almost by accident: "When I quit smoking I started photographing," he says. "I needed something in my hand. I used first an iPhone and I just took random photographs."
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Chance encounters</strong>: Draschan started his museum coordination series accidentally too. "It just happened by chance," Draschan tells CNN Travel. "I saw a guy matching an antique vase in the Glyptothek of Munich." After that, Draschan noticed other museum visitors unintentionally coordinating with the artwork -- and the series was born.
Chance encounters: Draschan started his museum coordination series accidentally too. "It just happened by chance," Draschan tells CNN Travel. "I saw a guy matching an antique vase in the Glyptothek of Munich." After that, Draschan noticed other museum visitors unintentionally coordinating with the artwork -- and the series was born.
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Art lover</strong>: The project plays into Draschan's passion for art and museums: "I'm really personally also interested in art," he says. "I also like theater, painting, sculpture, music, film."
Art lover: The project plays into Draschan's passion for art and museums: "I'm really personally also interested in art," he says. "I also like theater, painting, sculpture, music, film."
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>International museums</strong>: But Draschan doesn't have a favorite museum or gallery: "I would go in New York to the Metropolitan, to the Freer in Washington, to the National Gallery in San Francisco, everywhere -- it's mostly in each city maybe that I have a favorite museum," he says.
International museums: But Draschan doesn't have a favorite museum or gallery: "I would go in New York to the Metropolitan, to the Freer in Washington, to the National Gallery in San Francisco, everywhere -- it's mostly in each city maybe that I have a favorite museum," he says.
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Favorite paintings</strong>: Draschan names Edouard Manet as a favorite painter, but he says he finds enjoyment in the work of many artists -- from many movements: "For me the longest I've spent in front of a painting is certain Carvaggios. I can pass 30 minutes, probably without breathing, infront of Caravaggio."
Favorite paintings: Draschan names Edouard Manet as a favorite painter, but he says he finds enjoyment in the work of many artists -- from many movements: "For me the longest I've spent in front of a painting is certain Carvaggios. I can pass 30 minutes, probably without breathing, infront of Caravaggio."
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Artistic interaction</strong>: Draschan says he doesn't normally interact with his subjects. "If I'm photographing I'm in a very silent, poetic mood, very concentrated and speaking in between would be not so good," he says.
Artistic interaction: Draschan says he doesn't normally interact with his subjects. "If I'm photographing I'm in a very silent, poetic mood, very concentrated and speaking in between would be not so good," he says.
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Creative communication</strong>: But occasionally Draschan does speak to the people he photographs: "In one, it's of a couple and there's a couple standing in front," he says. "They were kissing each other, they were so cute -- I showed them the photograph."
Creative communication: But occasionally Draschan does speak to the people he photographs: "In one, it's of a couple and there's a couple standing in front," he says. "They were kissing each other, they were so cute -- I showed them the photograph."
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Social connections</strong>: Draschan also had one surprising moment -- when a woman got in touch via Instagram to tell him she was the subject of the photo: "Someone from, I think, Japan discovered herself in front of a Monet," says Draschan. "She wrote on Instagram that that's her."
Social connections: Draschan also had one surprising moment -- when a woman got in touch via Instagram to tell him she was the subject of the photo: "Someone from, I think, Japan discovered herself in front of a Monet," says Draschan. "She wrote on Instagram that that's her."
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>The power of photography</strong>: Interestingly, in several of Draschan's pictures, his subjects are taking photographs of the art. The photographer says he doesn't think this is a problem: "If you like photography you cannot be against anything," he reflects.
The power of photography: Interestingly, in several of Draschan's pictures, his subjects are taking photographs of the art. The photographer says he doesn't think this is a problem: "If you like photography you cannot be against anything," he reflects.
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Exhibitions and shows:</strong> Drachan enjoys sharing his photographs on Tumblr and his website, but he says exhibitions are the most important: "I'm an artist and I need to be in exhibitions, I like exhibitions if it's solo shows or group shows. It's very important for me to be showcasing the physical material itself," he says.
Exhibitions and shows: Drachan enjoys sharing his photographs on Tumblr and his website, but he says exhibitions are the most important: "I'm an artist and I need to be in exhibitions, I like exhibitions if it's solo shows or group shows. It's very important for me to be showcasing the physical material itself," he says.
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Making a living</strong>: Draschan also sells his prints: "The internet is just to promote it, but I live from selling the photographs," he says. He sells the prints individually or in unframed collections of 20.
Making a living: Draschan also sells his prints: "The internet is just to promote it, but I live from selling the photographs," he says. He sells the prints individually or in unframed collections of 20.
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Constant photographing</strong>: Draschan also takes photographs outside of museums: "All of my average day I take photographs, if I see lightning I try and capture a fantastic photograph of lightning," he says.
Constant photographing: Draschan also takes photographs outside of museums: "All of my average day I take photographs, if I see lightning I try and capture a fantastic photograph of lightning," he says.
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Museum behavior</strong>: He has other museum photo series: "People sleeping in museums" and a new project, "People touching artworks" -- "I see it and maybe it's quite dangerous for the artworks," reflects Draschan.
Museum behavior: He has other museum photo series: "People sleeping in museums" and a new project, "People touching artworks" -- "I see it and maybe it's quite dangerous for the artworks," reflects Draschan.
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Mankind's heritage</strong>: Draschan feels strongly about how people behave in museums and the preservation of museum artifacts: "This is the heritage of everything human mankind made," he says.
Mankind's heritage: Draschan feels strongly about how people behave in museums and the preservation of museum artifacts: "This is the heritage of everything human mankind made," he says.
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Future goals</strong>: Draschan is excited for what the future holds and where his photography will take him: "Everything's just pure luck, if something happens I take a lot of photographs, of everything. I could do exhibitions on lightning, churches, various things," he says.
Future goals: Draschan is excited for what the future holds and where his photography will take him: "Everything's just pure luck, if something happens I take a lot of photographs, of everything. I could do exhibitions on lightning, churches, various things," he says.
Courtesy Stefan Draschan
<strong>Searching for beauty</strong>: Draschan says that it's less about his photographs setting -- and more about the aesthetic quality: "I'm not only focused on museums, I'm always focused on beauty and on taking great photographs, this is my main goal at least," Draschan says.
Searching for beauty: Draschan says that it's less about his photographs setting -- and more about the aesthetic quality: "I'm not only focused on museums, I'm always focused on beauty and on taking great photographs, this is my main goal at least," Draschan says.
Courtesy Stefan Draschan