Stefan grows up in a small village in South Tyrol. Deeply rooted in nature, he is drawn early on to the football field, the ski slopes, and the mountains. At the age of eight, he climbs his home mountain for the first time by bike. The Dolomites become his playground, and movement his way of expressing diversity. What remains is a deep sensitivity for nature and the drive to explore his limits over and over again.

After finishing school and several months of rehabilitation, Stefan embarks on a photo trip into the Dolomites with friends. It is his first return to the mountains. Without any competitive thoughts, and with a camera in hand. Through the viewfinder, he starts to see the world with new eyes. What was meant as a distraction becomes a form of healing. Photography gives back to him what sport had taken away: a form of expression that comes from within. Free from pressure, free from comparison.

Back in South Tyrol, Stefan presents his work to a wider audience for the first time. The exhibition AOTEAROA showcases selected landscape photographs from his New Zealand journey – artful, minimal, authentic. The response is overwhelming. AOTEAROA becomes a turning point: an adventure transforms into a story, snapshots into expression. It is the moment when Stefan not only takes photographs, but begins to tell stories through his images.

Stefan discovers ski mountaineering and, at over 3,500 meters above sea level, gains a completely new perspective on his previous objects. During a multi-day high-altitude ski tour, he witnesses a striking natural spectacle: Saharan sand meets glacier ice. These observations form the foundation for his new series Glacier’s End – A Colourful Study of Our Changing Existence. Through it, he documents the transformation of the South and East Tyrolean mountains and glaciers – a series that combines adventure, artistic expression, and human awareness.

With ups and downs, Stefan completes his studies and embarks on a new adventure. Alone, he traverses all of the Canary Islands, without a phone and cut off from his usual contacts. After months of disorientation, he longs for vastness, freedom, and movement. Back in South Tyrol, he establishes a photo and video production company. Yet, he still feels an inner emptiness. In the same year, together with his brother, he opens the exhibition Glacier’s End – A Colourful Study of Our Changing Existence for the first time, gaining international recognition.

Despite his love for art photography, Stefan follows his inner voice and lets go of all material possessions that had defined him personally and professionally for years. He sells all his photography equipment and embarks on his first major adventure: Crossing Europe Twice. With little preparation or training, he runs 182 marathons in 182 days – from Portugal to the North Cape. He returns by bicycle. On November 3, 2024, Stefan successfully completes his double crossing of Europe. His project inspires thousands across the continent and brings him one step closer to his vision of Artventure.