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According to Mannchen, “there are certain things and items in life that draw us in, especially as children: items that fascinate us because of their beauty, items that capture our attention because of their strangeness, items that stir our minds and take us on a journey in our imagination. Some of them never lose their effect on us, even when we are all grown up and have succumbed to being adults. Their fascinations still intrigue us after all these years. Such items help us to establish bridges to our childhood and in the end we experience, that it is never too late to have a happy childhood.”
In the series “Lost Boys,” he photographs such items: things that evoke the inner child in him and never seem to bait his curiosity; things that spur memories of childhood when the world appeared bigger and the problems, responsibilities, and commitments were much smaller, a time when friendships were unquestionably solid, bills nonexistent, and time irrelevant. He brings us back to the past when “the only commitment was to our dreams.”
Woman wearing sunglasses and a helmet sitting on an electric bike, holding a pug dog, against a plain wall background.
A young girl in a yellow outfit and sunglasses stands in a sunflower field, holding a sunflower in one hand and a woven basket in the other.
A young boy with short black hair, wearing glasses and a denim jacket with patches, smiling outdoors in front of a brick wall and chalkboard background.
A young girl with glasses and bangs peeks out from under a fort with colorful blankets draped over furniture in a cozy room, with a patterned rug and wall decor including a large, colorful butterfly.
A young girl wearing a red beanie, beige dress, and orange polka dot tights standing on rocky ground in a forest, holding a plush lion toy and looking up pensively.
A woman with red hair wearing a blue military helmet, a brown leather jacket, and a black shirt with white stars, holding a shield with stars and stripes in front of her, standing against a textured beige background.
A smiling child with glasses and short dark hair, wearing a denim jacket with patches, standing outdoors with a brick wall and blackboard in the background.
Young girl in green shirt and blue overalls standing on a gravel trail in a wooded area, holding a magnifying glass up to her face with one eye, making a peace sign with her other hand, and wearing colorful rain boots.
Child standing on a wooden bench in a wooded area, holding a plush lion toy, wearing a white dress, red beanie, glasses, and sneakers with socks.
A young girl wearing a red beanie, beige dress, and white sneakers stands outdoors on a mossy rock, holding a stuffed animal lion with a beige mane, while looking up at the sky surrounded by green trees.
Young boy dressed as a pilot or adventurer, wearing goggles, a striped shirt, brown pants, and boots, with a leather satchel and holsters, standing with arms raised against a plain, textured background.
Two wooden slingshots with black rubber bands mounted on a wooden pegboard.
A young child with curly hair, wearing only a diaper, is sitting on a wooden rocking horse. There is a box of Hipp Bio Combiotik baby formula placed on the rocking horse behind the child. The background features a white wooden wall and a colorful rainbow-shaped wall hanging.
A young child with curly hair wearing only a diaper, holding a wicker basket with a box labeled 'HiPP' inside, in a cozy, warmly lit room with wooden walls, a rainbow tapestry, and soft cushions on the floor.
A woman and a young child playing on a soft mat on the floor of a cozy room. The woman is pouring milk from a carton labeled "Holle Bio" into a bottle held by the child, who is lying on their stomach. The room has wooden furniture, including a crib and a cabinet, with natural light coming through a window.
A young woman and a small child playing with a teddy bear on a bed in a cozy bedroom. The woman is feeding the child from a bottle, and a carton of Holle Bio Pre formula is placed on the bed.
Two children wearing red cowboy hats and face masks, holding a sign that says 'Live as Lions,' in a wooded outdoor area with tall trees and rocky ground.
Three children standing on a wooden platform in front of a wooden wall, wearing cowboy hats and toy lion props, with one child raising a hand and others shouting or smiling.
Three children dressed as cowboys and cowgirls stand on wooden steps in front of a brown wooden wall, wearing large cowboy hats and holding toy lion staffs; one child is shirtless, while the others wear overalls and glasses.
Young girl dressed as a cowboy with a red hat, glasses, and striped shirt sitting on wooden steps, holding a lion-themed sign with the words "Live as Lions" and a stylized lion face.
A child and a puppy outdoors near a wooden fence, with a basket of vegetables and a carton of organic baby milk.
A woman with long brown hair, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, denim jacket, red bandana, and jeans, sitting on a stool with an acoustic guitar.
Child wearing a lion headdress made from paper and leaves, with an expression of surprise.
A young girl wearing yellow rain boots, green shirt, and denim overalls holds a magnifying glass and makes a peace sign while exploring a wooded trail, with sunlight filtering through trees.
A person wearing a red knit hat holding a plush lion toy outdoors with blurred green trees in the background.
A young girl wearing a beige dress, red knit hat, and brown polka-dot tights stands outdoors on a mossy rock in a wooded area, holding a stuffed lion toy.
Child in a beige dress and red beanie holding a plush lion toy, standing outdoors in a wooded area.
Display table with plush lions, wooden toys, signs reading 'Live as Lions,' and stuffed animal figures against a beige backdrop.
Wooden figurines of animals and people displayed on a wooden surface, with tree-shaped decorations and a sign that reads 'Live As Lions' in the background.
Display of wooden toys, signs, and decor with the theme 'Live as Lions,' including small figurines, animal-themed wooden pieces, and signs promoting a wild and free lifestyle.
Display of lion-themed toys and decor, including plush lions, wooden figurines, and signs that say "Live as Lions" and "Wild & Free" on a wooden table.