This book combines photography and literature ina unique project. Over a period of fifteen years, photographerAlexander von Reiswitz captured randomlyselected people, who happened to be in the same placeat the same time, as fictional families in staged familyportraits. These encounters, photographed across variouscountries and cultures on four continents, inspired new fictional narratives. Renowned authors were invitedto create stories based on the photographs, inventingimaginary familial relationships and destinies for theportrayed individuals. At the heart of the project is therole of coincidence, which determines so much, afterall-not least what we call the right moment, the instantthat in photography produces remarkable snapshots,and in life brings people together or causes them to justmiss each other.

Alexander von Reiswitz (*1965 in Málaga) lives and works asa photographer and architect in Berlin. His projects featuring"studio animal portraits," such as Zoogestalten and Animal Stars,have been exhibited in numerous shows worldwide.