Franz G. Messenbäck, a surgeon living in Draßburg and working at the Oberpullendorf Clinic, has been honored with a prestigious 4-star certificate by the Association of Professional Portrait Photographers (bpp) for his exceptional work in portrait photography. The award recognizes his ability to seamlessly blend surgical precision with photographic artistry and creative expression.
At first glance, surgery and photography might seem like completely different worlds. However, Messenbäck, who works as a surgeon for Burgenländische Krankenanstalten-Gesellschaft m.b.H. and is currently stationed at the Oberpullendorf Clinic, demonstrates how surgical precision can be combined with photographic aesthetics and artistic expression. The Association of Professional Portrait Photographers, one of the most renowned professional organizations for portrait and people photography in the German-speaking region, recently awarded him their coveted 4-star certificate.
As a recognized specialist in thyroid surgery, Messenbäck led the surgical department of a major Salzburg clinic for nearly three decades and is considered a pioneer in minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. His meticulous attention to detail, innovative spirit, and aesthetic sensibility influence both his medical practice and his photography. "Surgery and photography have more in common than one might expect: precision, concentration, and a fine sense for details are indispensable in both fields," Messenbäck explains. "While surgery demands discipline and precision from me, photography gives me creativity and peace. Both passions belong inseparably together for me and enrich each other."
Since the 1980s, Messenbäck has devoted himself intensively to art and landscape photography. His photographic series range from English cathedrals to the landscapes of the American Southwest and the coasts of the Hebrides, as well as social documentary reportages in Senegal. For more than twenty years, he documented the Salzburg Open-Air Museum for a comprehensive book project. Thanks to this thematic diversity, his works have found their way into books, calendars, and selected publications.
Messenbäck has also made a name for himself internationally in the photography world. In 2012, the certified master photographer received the European titles QEP European Photographer (MQEP), the highest award from the Federation of European Photographers (FEP), which is granted to only a few photographers in Europe. At the 2025 FEP competition, he placed 8th in the Advertising & Commercial category with his product photographs. "Being recognized internationally as a part-time photographer in this highly professional environment means particularly much to me," he emphasizes.
In his studio photography, Messenbäck places special emphasis on technical precision and aesthetic clarity. Through deliberate lighting direction, fine-tuning of pose and expression, and clean visual language, he creates portraits of timeless elegance and high artistic quality. The 4-star award from the bpp also honors Messenbäck's portrait photography work. In his studio in Draßburg, he creates individual portraits for clients who value personality and craftsmanship quality.
With artistic sensitivity and technical skill, he creates images that endure beyond the moment - whether as business portraits, artistic staging, or personal memories. "Awards are both recognition and inspiration for me. But at its core, photography remains artistic expression, passion, and an inspiring counterpoint to surgery for me," Messenbäck concludes. His work demonstrates that the precision required in medical practice can translate beautifully into the art of capturing human character and emotion through the lens.
