May 31, 2018

Werner Kiera : a photo is always a small story






"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"
.






"The Fifth Day"
.





"The Moment"
.






"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"




May 25, 2018

Eric Daoust: when the beauty of the body is purely artistic and asexual









«Alone», with Amber-Jade



















I think what makes photography so beautiful is that everybody has a very personal interpretation of an image: everyone can apply his own vision or create his own story to the captured moment he is observing.



















His passion for photography brings Eric what he needs to flourish: it allows him to satisfy his creativity, which his very technical and analytical job does not allow him to fulfill, and it forces him to put aside his great shyness in order to be able to create a bond of trust with his models.








«Graceful», with Kate Snig







I now truly enjoy meeting new people and getting to know them. Moreover, I met many of my best friends through photography.






Initially self-taught, his first years in photography were devoted to landscapes. Too timid, his limited himself to this subject, feeling unable to collaborate effectively with people he did not know.




However, he had such a fascination with light and forms, that the exploration of the body through photography became increasingly imperative to him. In order to overcome his shyness, which was his only obstacle, he decided to facilitate his learning by taking part in workshops about portrait photography, studio work and interaction with models. To this, he added numerous readings on lighting techniques, on composition and on how to pose, in addition to a correspondence photography course. But mostly, he experimented all these new techniques with a trial and error approach.




In his early days in model photography, working in a studio was what he prefered: it allowed him to control the environment, the light and the shadows.









«Seductive Gaze», with Shiva Kay Peter 










Now, he is more and more inspired by various locations. Although he continues studio photography because of the arid winters in Canada, which limits the possibilities, he hopes to be able, increasingly, to explore different spots for his photoshoots.





I am in love with the deserts in the southwest of the United States. It's my favorite environment for photography. I wish I could travel more and explore Europe. I woud love to do a photo session in a castle in Scotland, to explore the beauties of Iceland, or to create images in a theater.










«Nude in the Valley», with Anais Palacios













«Naiad», with Mahee Blais Bernatchez









«Shade of the Mountain», with Jessica Dawn










«Desert Dancer», with Anais Palacios










«In the Clouds», with Jill Voss









For his photoshoots, Eric prefers to start with a basic idea, like a location that inspires him or a style of lighting that he would like to exploit, and then he moves forward in this exploration in a more spontaneous way. He moreover likes allowing the model to express herself through her poses, which a too precise idea would add a constraint to their spontaneity so essential to create.







«Studio Nude», with Rachel Dashae






























I always loved and been fascinated by the image. 
I like the idea of capturing a moment, a fragment of
 perfection that may never come back, and freeze it in time.

«Couch», with Kate Snig











































The models with whom he collaborates are his greatest source of inspiration and he loves to develop with them the ideas that they may have. A model with whom magic will undoubtedly operate will be the one who knows how to pose without needing to be directed and who will pass emotions through her poses and attitudes. Specific types of bodies, styles, or beauties are not necessarily aspects that will influence his creativity. The work in nude photography is about light and shadows that settle on forms and that create the very portrait of beauty.








«Lost in Thoughts», with Starla







I hope that my work can contribute to the idea that basically, nudity in artistic photography is not sexual. Nudity is beautiful and it should not be perceived negatively or be judged.






Several years ago, Eric had done an artistic nude session with a model whose mother was against the fact that her daughter was photographed naked. The model did the photoshoot anyway and later, she had shown the photos to her mother. This one had then contacted Eric to admit to him that she found the photos really beautiful. Knowing that she did not approve this project at first, it was one of the most beautiful compliments he had received in his photographic career.






Between the moment I am working with the model and the pleasure of seeing the final result and sharing it with them, I could not say what I prefer most. These are moments that bring me so much satisfaction and happiness.








«The Stairs», with Joanie D.










Eric appreciates the work of several photographers including Dan Hecho, Andre Brito, Eric Boutillier Brown, but he particularly likes the way Russians work in artistic nude. Igor Amelkovitch, Michael Tarasov, Pavel Kiselev, among others, have all his admiration.





He participated in a few collective exhibitions, but he would like, one day, to be able to do his own solo exhibition.









«Backyard Fence», with Kaitlin Chapple









There are so many things I would still like to explore in photography. I cannot imagine that one day I may stop practicing this form of expression.







«The Alcove», with Sienna Hayes








My dear Eric, I sincerely hope you will never stop developing your talent and pushing your art farther. Your photos honor our feminity, in all its forms, and it is a real privilege to work with you.





Because of your passion, your generosity and your great respect for the artistic nude photography as well as for your models, your own exhibition will probably come much faster than you can imagine.








«The Climb», with Christelle









May 21, 2018

My three days in Oceano Dunes



To make a long story short, I had an amazing 3 days of shooting in Oceano Dunes in April 2018 with 5 wonderful models.  The following photos are my favorites. Dan Van Winkle.













I've been coming to this place for just over 3 years.  The first time (March of 2015), I barely knew what I was getting into;  I had been invited by a group of photographers and models for a sort of shootout on the dunes.  There was 6-7 models and 3-4 photographers and we spent a fun weekend tripping around the area shooting in various locations in and around San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach, California.  That trip was fine, but I prefer shooting with less people about and this is why I generally avoid workshops.

I returned later in 2015 with a smaller group of pretty much just close friends for a much more intimate shooting and hanging out.  I didn't return for over a year at the end of 2016.  I didn't make it down there at all in 2017 and wasn't able to return until this year, 2018 in April.

Because I don't get down here that often, I wanted to really make it worth my while so, I invited my best model friends as well as my girlfriend (who is also a model) and I also set up some shoots with some new to me local to the area models that seemed promising. 





Erika, Friday April 27, 2018, 6:00 AM Start Time














































Whitney, Saturday April 28, 2018 5:45 AM Start Time












































































CK, Sunday April 29, 2018, 5:30 AM Start Time












































Sarissle, Sunday April 29, 2018, 6:00 AM Start Time



























































Group, Sunday April 29, 2018, approx 7AM























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