Conceptual nominee

"Protective Masks" – "Hong Kong Orchid" – "Wood" – "Fur" – "Razor Wire"

Although still committed to high aesthetic standards, in most Josef Dreisörner’s still lifes do not focus on aesthetic issues. Rather, in his still lifes he sees himself obligated – also as an artist – to take a stand on socially relevant issues. The choice of this subject must indeed be considered as unusual. The fact that the viewer initially reacts in a disturbed manner is a matter of calculation. Only a longer engagement with the work reveals on the one hand the theme that moves the artist, on the other hand it deliberately leaves room for interpretation and should invite further discussion.

Such pictorial statements are mainly realized by so-called large format cameras. Among others, Josef Dreisörner uses a Klimsch Praktika repro / process camera built in 1957 with a film format of up to 50x60 cm.

Direct exposures on black and white positive photo paper.
Camera type: Klimsch Praktika, Process / Reproduction Camera (Year of construction: 1957).
Lense: Rodenstock Klimsch Apo-Ronar 1:9 f=600mm
Camera Format: 60×60 cm
Film Format: 50×60 cm

Josef Dreisörner (born 1967)
Living in Munich, Germany
Mediadesigner, Photo Artist

Digital post-editing today allows repairing virtually every mistake and achieving any desired aesthetic result, but at a great cost. Where any result can be produced from any original image, seeing and sensual perception lose their value and significance, as does the technical and manual process of capturing an image. Josef Dreisörner rejects this current approach to the photographic workflow radically.

His KLIMSCH UNIKAT portrait shots yield perspectives of the human visage with downright surgical precision. In most of his still lifes, his concern as an artist is to draw the viewer's attention to socially relevant issues. Such pictorial statements are mainly realized by so-called large format cameras. Of particular note is the Klimsch Praktika reproduction / process camera built in 1957 with a film format of up to 50×60 cm (20×24 Inch). Photographs are taken analogue on black-and-white film or with direct exposure on black-and-white positive photo paper. The captures on film are realized by means of the Palladium /Platinum Print process.