"I claim that a photo is always a small story. I particularly like it when "big feelings", philosophical or even existential things are discussed."
I love the enthusiasm of Werner Kiera. When I asked him the permission to publish his work with some words about his unique signature, he sent me in return a warmful "Ja!". How lucky I am... Thank you dear Werner.
Werner Kiera aka Datenverarbeiter is a famous photographer, multi-awarded and worldwide exhibited, who does photography since 42 years. I admire his captures of the loneliness in a world full of virtual friends we'll never see. I love the atmosphere he creates with his dark shadows and blurred photographs. At first sight, I recognize his particular and significative work, because hidden or shown, each of his photograph has its sense. It's the reason why I wanted so much to publish him :
" Photography to the amateur is recreation, to the professional it is work, and hard work too, no matter how pleasurable it may be." Edward Weston
Thank you dear Werner for your joy and your confidence. I'm glad to know you dear artist.
My favorite, my sadness that we share with Werner :
"In the same environment everyone lives in another world"
Arthur Schopenhauer
Meine Top Fotos
"unfounDED"
"The queen of the night"
"Fleur Noire"
"Fieber"
"Déjà-Vu"
Extracts of Werner Kiera's interview for Fotocommunity :
Translated from German.When did you start taking pictures?
I have been photographing since about 1976.
Already at that time I was not interested in a documentary depiction of the so-called "reality". Instead, I have tried with various measures to influence the image result. Double exposure, tearing on triggering, various filters, developing negative films as a slide and vice versa, film lye, sometimes also acids, exposing, flaming the negative, etc.
"Paranoia"
With the emergence of the first computer like Atari, Commodore and Mac, I am then to computer art resp. Computer painting changed because the increase of image design options - especially with the Amiga computer - was enormous. Shortly thereafter, I founded a computer art group called "Maya" with some friends.
From this period, the relative beginnings of electronic data processing, comes my stage name "data processor".
Can you still remember your first camera? Which cameras do you currently use?
My first camera was a Canon AE-1. In the year of publication (1976) I also started photography. Later followed by other analog Canon cameras, such as a T 90 and EOS 3, which of course I still have all. Then I have several digital, an EOS 500 D and an EOS 6 D. These many exotics, folding and boxing cameras, but also tiny spy cameras, especially suitable for photographing in the opera. I also have an original Polaroid SX-70. And of course various iPhones (4, 5, 6 plus).
With the iPhone, I discovered a completely new way to create photos. My series with the iPhone and a live webcam app called "Non Places" then has at the "1. Mobile Art Europe Award" won the first prize in the Berlin Museum of Communication 2013.
At this time I am essentially shooting analogue with the Canon A 1, digital with a Canon EOS 6 D, as well as with the an iPhone 6 plus. Common to all photos is that they eventually end up on my iPhone 6 plus for final editing to become that which then - wherever - appears.
Basement series
On your profile you quoted Robert Capa with: "Dear a good picture in bad technology, as a bad picture in good technique." What makes in your opinion a good picture?
In my opinion, a "good" picture is something you have not seen before. So divorced (as I think) almost all colorful pictures from the outset, because, with which we are flooded in our daily lives - not least through advertising.
"The Suspicion"
I find black and white simply nicer, moreover, it reduces the image information to the essentials: the forms. And is an island in the colorful experience of reality.
Secondly, I think, a good picture isfor me one that is not documentary in the strict sense, so does not claim to represent the so-called reality "correct". There is probably not much left in the world that has not already been photographed. Every day, billions of photos are uploaded to galleries or social medias.
Consequently, the area of the surreal and the fantastical offers itself here. Here you can design real picture innovations; not things that have been seen a thousand times or so.
An important point for me is that the photos are not always as crisp as ever, crisp, full of details and finally polished. I think very flatly, images that do not "betray" everything immediately, so they have a secret and with which you have to deal with it for longer than the usual 2-5 seconds and therefore are not an eyecatcher and above all, in the truest Sense of the word are not necessarily "beautiful", more rewarding. It is also important to me that a picture has itself for itself or as part of a series a picture title, which underlines what has been seen or only points in the desired direction.
And last but not least, I claim that a photo is always a small story. I particularly like it when "big feelings", philosophical or even existential things are discussed.
His beautiful captures of the loneliness
"In the same environment everyone lives in another world"
Arthur Schopenhauer
"Shortly before the end"
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"The Fifth Day"
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"The Moment"
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"The Bag"
"Your"
Most of your pictures are "alienated" and deliberately kept in black and white. Why did you choose this stylistic device?
According to the findings of quantum physics, there is only a limited existence of something like a fixed, that is, a determined reality. Quantum physics teaches that "one changes the observed world" through the act of observation, thus never recognizing it "as it really is". Consequently, one could say that everything is relative (out of focus) and that a so-called alienation would therefore only be a blurred image, just as the supposedly documentary photographed. And as far as black and white photography is concerned: in the true sense, as cognitive science teaches us, there are no colors "out there". They only arise in our heads. Since "outside" there is only black and white.
What tips can you give to beginners in photography?
I'm not sure if I'm the right person to give tips to beginners. Especially since everyone has a different intention when taking pictures.
All in all, I would say that you should pay attention to the formation of your own style, do not photograph everything across bed and consider topics for series.
More courage to cut. Not a few pictures win tremendously, if you limit yourself to a section and thus strengthen the image statement.
Retouching, of course, the native will not like to hear, sometimes brings clarity.
"Death of a salesman"
"Salon Noir"
"Romantic Love is Possible"
"Der Deal"
"The Gang of Three"
"This Heat"
"Die Magische Wand"
