A Few German Photographers

[Gordon Moat]

I did a search on LF Forum, and somehow only a few German photographers show up, so I thought I would use a new thread to introduce two more, and invite some commentary. While the work of these two is very different, I hope this can lead to some interesting discussion. Also, I'm not specifically picking these two due to the fact that I am from Germany, that is more of a co-incidence and not intentional.


The first to introduce here is Thomas Wrede. I apologize for his website only being in German, though it should be easy enough to view his images. I like the starkness of his landscape images, and those of the larger things in the world. The selective focus technique is another one I like that has come up in a few conversation in the past on LF Forums. Obviously, some images involve manipulation, and some are straight in-camera large format shots. One thing he commonly does admit to is sometimes cleaning up his images, but I don't find it obvious which images are manipulated later. Opinions?

Anyone having trouble with the German only website for Thomas Wrede can find out more at his listing on the f5.6 Gallerie. You can go to http://www.f56.net or use the direct link here.

The second is Thomas Kellner, who might questionably fit into a large format discussion. He constructs elaborate pinhole cameras that photograph many frames of 35mm film all at the same moment. Why I consider this large format is that he has a one time simultaneous capture on a large area of film. During the discussion about stitching, I thought of this photographer's images. Most of his prints are quite large, though not really technically limited by his usage of pinholes nor 35mm film ganged up inside a light tight box. The end results are not images that provide an easy understanding of process, and seem to require an explanation of techniques. Does lots of 35mm film ganged together equate to large format? How would you compare this technique to stitching?

Anyway, I hope some good discussion comes of this. I titled this Few instead of Two, because I am hoping for more comparisons to other photographers, German or others.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio

[roteague]

Thanks for passing this along Gordon. This brings back many fond memories. I lived in Wertheim, Germany back in the late 1970s. I went back for a visit in 2003, and am hoping to go back next year again.

[Walter Calahan]

Wrede and Kellner are both amazing. I lean towards Kellner for touching my interest more than Wrede. (There is English translations on Wrede's site, but you've got to dig deeper.)

I don't think it's neccessary to question whether Kellner is LF or not. I'm sure some people will, but for me, his use of 35-mm is part his self expression.

[David Louis]

Gordon – I feel your pain. I think the best photography today is coming out of Germany..Here are some example of the top of my head.

Bern and Hiller Becher
Thomas Struth
Andreas Gursky
Thomas Ruff
Elger Esser
Candida Hoffer
Thomas Demand
Michael Wesely
Uta Barth
Wolfgand Tillmans

And from the past too!
August Sander
Albert Renger Patzsch
Karl Blossefldt

[Gordon Moat]

Hello guys,

Thanks for the comments and additions. The obvious usual suspects could include the Bechers, Struth, Gursky, Hoffer, Demand, and Tillmans. Oddly enough, many of these photographers used (or still use) large format cameras; though whether that states anything about approach or is simply coincidence is another matter.

I think with Thomas Demand is an approach of manipulation before the image. There is a surrealism to the results, though is the sculpture the art or only the presentation of a photograph? Somehow this goes back to Wrede, who acknowledges manipulating (post processing), though it is tougher to tell when it was done.

Obviously some of the names mentioned studied with the Bechers. I suppose their influence might be apparent in some of their students later images. There is still that feeling that despite a few common aspects, I am having trouble defining what might be a German style.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio

[tim atherton]

and Michael Schmidt and Elger Esser...

(But there's also plenty of cool photographers elsewhere - even in the the USofA - like John Gossage)

[C. D. Keth]

Kellner's style is wonderful! That's as cubist as I've seen photography get. I like it very much and would love to see those big prints.