Stefan Dotter

Dotter was born in Bamberg, Germany on April 16th 1993. He currently lives and works as a visual artist focusing on the mediums of photography and film between Berlin and Tokyo.   

In 2012 he founded the interdisciplinary culture publication Whitelies Magazine, positioned as a cultural and visual dialog between the Asia-Pacific and what we perceive as the west. He currently runs the magazine from the position of Editor in Chief of the publication, which has published 9 issues so far.   

Stefan has been a consultant for the United Nations since 2019, working in education with UNHCR, teaching the next gerneration of photographers in Afghanistan in a joint effort with photojournalist Farzana Wahidy.  

In spite of his versatility, Stefan Dotter’s work is especially captivating because of its uniform writing, minimalist formal language and simple aesthetics, often drawing from Japanese influences. His series’ read like the continuous documentation of a precise and aesthetic view of the world, like the constant observation through the lens of an ingenious autodidact. 

Selected clients + publications: Adidas Chanel Dior Givenchy Hugo Boss Lacoste Maison Martin Margiela Montblanc Tiger of Sweden Thom Browne United Nations Atmos British Journal of Photography Document Journal Forbes Huffington Post Monocle Numéro Purple Magazine Revue Twin Vogue Zeit Magazin


website / instagram

Small blue ceramic vase with a single yellow wildflower on a rustic wooden table in a cozy Japanese kitchen.
Row of potted bonsai trees outside an old corrugated metal building with air conditioners in a quiet Japanese back alley.
Elderly male chef working in a steamy Japanese restaurant kitchen, captured with motion blur as he prepares food at the counter.
Worker in Japan holding a blue bucket with freshly caught fish inside.
Traditional Japanese bonsai nursery courtyard with rows of potted trees, stone pathways, and old wooden buildings on a sunny ...
Playful concrete creature sculpture peeking out from behind plastic storage crates against a weathered wooden wall in Japan.
Dimly lit wooden shelves in a Japanese workshop filled with neatly arranged ceramic pieces, tiles, and rustic tools.
Assorted handcrafted Japanese pottery and ceramics displayed on an outdoor market table, including teapots, cups, bowls, and ...
Warm bowl of Japanese ramen served on a wooden tray in a cozy restaurant setting.
Chef preparing a fugu pufferfish on a cutting board in a Japanese kitchen.
Young man tending bonsai plants in a lush Japanese garden courtyard outside a house.
Man browsing an outdoor bonsai garden in Japan, surrounded by large potted miniature trees on wooden stands.
Elegant bonsai tree on a wooden stand against a golden wall in a Japanese interior.
Elegant Japanese bonsai tree displayed on a low stand against a golden wall and blue floor.
Elegant Japanese bonsai tree displayed on a wooden stand against a golden wall in a traditional interior.
Traditional Japanese bonsai tree displayed on a wooden stand in front of a golden screen.
Elegant green bonsai tree displayed on a wooden stand against a golden wall in Japan.
Sunlit bamboo fence in a Japanese garden with a small stack of stones balanced on top of a post.
Vintage blue Japanese kettle with bamboo handle displayed on a wooden shelf in sunlight
Artistic still life of a moldy lemon resting on a curved wooden surface against a corrugated metal wall in Japan.
Farm worker in Japan harvesting citrus fruit from a tree, reaching up among green leaves with an orange basket hanging nearby...
Plastic crates filled with freshly harvested oranges in dappled sunlight on a Japanese farm
Rustic still life of oranges and lemons on a wicker tray in warm sunlight with yellow flowers in the foreground.
Close-up of wild plants and fluffy seed heads against a clear blue sky in Japan
Small wild red berry hidden among tall green grass in a sunlit field in Japan
Wild yellow and purple flowers growing densely in a natural meadow in Japan
Wild yellow and purple flowers growing in tall grass in a Japanese meadow.
Sunlit orange trees in a Japanese orchard with ripe fruit hanging among dense green leaves
Delicate white mimosa-like blossoms on a small tree in a grassy field under a clear blue sky in Japan.
Minimalist Japanese interior detail with two ivory-colored rods connected by a small metal chain against a patterned sliding ...
Rear view of a Japanese woman in a white kimono with an elegant updo hairstyle, seated indoors in soft natural light.
Woman in a bright red dress standing on the edge of a rocky cliff in Japan against a wide pale blue sky.
Dense green forest canopy on a mountainside in Japan, filled with lush summer foliage.
Dense green forest canopy in Japan with layers of lush trees and foliage
Dense bushes of bright pink azalea flowers in full bloom in a Japanese garden.
Minimal Japanese desk still life with warm table lamp, ceramic objects, wooden crafts, and small decorative items arranged on...
Woman with hair in a bun and red comb holds a Coca-Cola bottle to the side of her head in soft daylight.
Abstract patterned fabric soaking in water inside a stainless steel sink in Japan.
Rustic still life of assorted fresh vegetables and herbs on a wooden table in a dimly lit Japanese kitchen.
Rustic Japanese kitchen table with fresh leafy vegetables and a jar of preserved beans in soft natural light.
Close-up of a person’s hand delicately garnishing a dessert with flower petals on a dark plate in a moody, low-light setting.
Minimalist close-up of a bare branch with delicate pink plum blossoms against a dark, softly blurred background in Japan.
Rustic Japanese kitchen shelf with vintage pottery, teapots, and stacked floral dishes in a wooden cabinet.
Minimalist installation of a suspended wooden lattice cube casting shadows against a textured wall in a dim gallery space in ...
Rustic still life of raw lamb ribs with root vegetables, herbs, and traditional Japanese kitchenware on a wooden table.
Old metal kettles and pots arranged on stones in a shaded Japanese forest garden, surrounded by green foliage and fallen leaves.
Traditional Japanese shrine covered in snow during winter, with frosted trees and a stone lantern in the foreground.
Snow-covered shimenawa rope and sacred tassels hanging at a wooden Shinto shrine in winter in Japan.
Sacred rock in Japan wrapped with thick straw shimenawa rope and small Shinto shrine altars at its base.
Sacred tree in a Japanese forest wrapped with a shimenawa straw rope and white paper shide under a winter sky.