The Munich Security Conference is one of the most important security policy conferences in the world. On behalf of Studio ZX I documented two events in the accompanying programme of the MSC in 2026.
Compared to Davos, the atmosphere in Munich felt more pleasant to me. There are two reasons for that. On the one hand the MSC spreads across a larger area, which noticeably reduces the pressure. On the other hand Munich is familiar territory for me — I studied photography there and know the city well.
Both events were lively and very rooted in Munich's local character: Bavarian food, local beer, a touch of Oktoberfest charm in the background — and at the same time high-ranking guests from politics, business and security agencies coming together in the framework of the MSC.
What I particularly enjoyed about the MSC side events was a photographic detail: it was crowded. Very crowded. Very tight. What sounds at first like an obstacle is actually an advantage for an event photographer. The tightness creates anonymity. Shoulder to shoulder with the guests you can get very close without being noticed as a photographer — people's attention is on their conversations, not on the camera next to them.
That only works with preparation and calm, though. Anyone who pushes through a packed room stands out immediately. Whoever waits, observes, and positions themselves at the right spot becomes part of the setting — and delivers exactly the kind of images that define a networking format.
In a packed room you can stand shoulder to shoulder with someone — and no one notices that you are taking the picture.
Images
More assignments
