Josef Sudek's Processes and Materials

[jmooney]

Hi All,

I've recently discovered Sudek and I'm trying to learn more about him and how he worked. Does anyone know what materials and chemistry he used? I know he switched to contact printing in 1940, any insights into other processes he used?

I'm smitten with his images so he could have printed on a dinner plate using mouse droppings and I'd still want to see it but I'm always interested in learning about these things for some historical perspective.

Jim

[William McEwen]

He had only one arm. Lost one in the war...

[Gudmundur Ingolfsson]

Have a look at this
http://www.steidlville.com/books/792-Josef-Sudek-Prag-1967.html

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Have a look at this
http://www.steidlville.com/books/792-Josef-Sudek-Prag-1967.html

"...sometimes happily spending the day with only bread and onions."

[Gudmundur Ingolfsson]

More information on the subject but in German
http://www.forum-fotografie.info/

In this place in Cologne Germany there will be a lecture and discussion on Sudek
on April 7. at 20 hours

[Michael Alpert]

This UTube video may be of interest, even if you do not speak Czech. In the second part of the video you will see Sudek using his camera in the field.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAHVmSTqYB0


As far as I know, Sudek used older equipment and materials that are probably not available. Most of the Sudek prints that I have seen have been warm-tone silver prints that are not remarkable for their technique but are amazingly beautiful in their artistry. There are traditional carbon prints that are also wonderful in their own unpolished way.

Basically, anything that Sudek could do technically is easily accessible to us with commonly available materials. Sudek's integration of sensibility and process is another matter: I don't think anyone can follow him down the somber artistic path that he spent decades to create.

[paulr]

I've rarely seen his original prints. In reproduction I find his work consistent awe inspiring.

[William McEwen]

We're straying from your question here, but I couldn't resist pointing out that Sudek's original home/studio has been restored and it's open to the public.

http://www.sudek-atelier.cz/new_web/eng/atelier_historie.html

[MIke Sherck]

Sudek is one of the photographers I admire the most. I love the short film Mr. Alpert linked to (above.) I looked for it yesterday but didn't find it, likely because Sudek's first name is spelled differently. If you haven't seen it, you really should and be sure to watch both parts!

It appears that a one-eyed squint and perma-scowl are part of the process. :)

Mike

[Rick Tardiff]

Have a look at this
http://www.steidlville.com/books/792-Josef-Sudek-Prag-1967.html

thanks for this .Rick

[Bill_1856]

Thank you, Michael, for sharing this. It is emotionally, almost physically painful, to see this old man setting up his tripod and then wrestling the 8x10 onto it with only his left arm.
And to see him opening the blind on his garden window to examine the wet print, then somewhat sadly closing it....
The melancholia of watching these films is perhaps somewhat offset for me by the glimpse of a TATRA in one of the traffic sequences.